Written by: Zazi, Ziwalene & Zindzi Mandela Illustrated by: Sean Qualls For ages: 4-10 years Language: English Topics Covered: Historical Figures, History, Activism, Nelson Mandela, Apartheid, Social Change, Imprisonment, Black Culture & Identity, South Africa. Summary: I am shocked that I haven’t shared this book on Instagram yet, I assumed I shared it actual years ago. Well, today we remedy…
Tag: emotion
Why Do We Cry? [released 4/7]
Written by: Fran Pintadera Illustrated by: Ana Sender For ages: 4 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning, Emotions, Growth, Family, STEM. Summary: This is a very sweet story centered around a young boy named Mario asking his mother why people cry. Why, we cry for all sorts of reasons. Expressing emotions, such as crying, is a…
Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too)
Written & Illustrated by: Keith Negley For ages: 3 years and up Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning, Gender, Gender Stereotypes, Toxic Masculinity, Friendship, Family, Tenderness, Sadness, Love. Summary: This is an adorable book that helps to dispel myths that create toxic masculinity. Focusing on “tough guys” like superheroes, ninjas, and bikers, the book talks about how everyone feels feelings and it’s ok to…
Sweetest Kulu
Written by: Celina Kalluk Illustrated by: Alexandria Neonakis For Ages: Infant and up Language: Bilingual: Inuktitut and English; English. Topics Covered: Love, Family, First Nations People, Indigenous Voices, Inuit Culture. Summary: “Kulu” is an Inuktitut term of endearment, akin to “Mija” in Spanish. This book’s narrator is a mother speaking to their own Kulu. The…
You Hold Me Up
Written by: Monique Gray Smith Illustrated by: Danielle Daniel For Ages: 3-6 years Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning, Family, Kindness, Community. Summary: This book uses the title phrase “you hold me up” to speak about kind acts loved ones do for one another. This book is great for young children to learn acts of…
Who are you? the kid’s guide to gender identity
Written by: Brook Pessin-Whedbee Illustrated by: Naomi Bardoff For Ages: 3 years and above Language: English Topics Covered: Gender Identity, Self Expression, Acceptance. Summary: This book is written in a conversational format with the reader, letting them know that whatever they like and however they feel is ok and even celebrated! The reader has some…
I Am Jazz
Written by: Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings Illustrated by: Shelagh McNicholas For Ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Trans youth experience, gender identity, self-acceptance, self-love, courage. Summary: Jazz is just a regular girl! She loves dancing, the color pink, and mermaids. Jazz also has a “girl brain but a boy body”. Jazz explains that…
Captain Starfish
Written by: Davina Bell Illustrated by: Allison Colpoys For Ages: 4-8 years Language: English Topics Covered: Social-Emotional Learning, Anxiety, Fear, Courage. Summary: This book is about a young boy named Alfie, who gets That Feeling when he has to do something new. Alfie gets That Feeling when he has to participate in running races, at…
A Family is a Family is a Family
Written by: Sara O’Leary Illustrated by: Qin Leng For Ages: 4-7 years Language: English Topics Covered: Family, Self-Acceptance, Foster Families, LGBT, Acceptance, Family Structure. Summary: This book covers a multitude of family types when a teacher asks their class to describe who they live with. The narrator is nervous, because their family “is not like…
Life Doesn’t Frighten Me
Written by: Maya Angelou Illustrated by: Jean-Michel Basquiat Edited by: Sara Jane Boyers For Ages: 4 and up Language: English Topics Covered: Courage, Fear, Social-Emotional Learning. Summary: This book is the poem of the same title by Maya Angelou, coupled with the profound paintings of Basquiat. By having the illustrations fairly abstract, it allows the…