Making a friend, and managing feelings are universal skills that need to be taught children. All of these read-alouds open up the door for thoughtful conversations.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doreffeld
Taylor, our main character, builds a beautiful block structure. The block structure gets knocked down. She is devastated. A zoo full of animals try to help and leave Taylor feeling more alone. The rabbit comes to comfort Taylor, and simply listens. The rabbit stays until Taylor is ready to pick herself back up. This book does what picture books should do, captures a full range of emotions in a simple, beautiful, concise way.
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I walk with Vanessa, A story about a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoet
A wordless picture book tells the story about being bullied, new at school, alone, and left out. It shows what one person can do by reaching out to another person. The back contains teacher and parents tips about how to talk children through this book. There are many possible classroom extensions with this book.
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I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness
The Color Monster: A Story about Emotions by Anna Llenas
Everyone has mixed up emotions some days, so does the color monster. He feels all sorts of things and needs to sort them out. This pitch perfect book shows children how to sort through what they are feeling, and always affirming every feeling is ok. The illustrations are beautiful, creative, and wonderful. It reminds me of Dr. Suess’ many colored days. Every parent and teacher should read it out loud to small people they love.
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The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions
Hedgehog Needs a Hug by Jen Betton
Hedgehog wakes up feeling a little blue, and all he wants is a hug. No one can see past his prickles, and all the animals shy away from him. Finally, he finds skunk, who also needs a hug. This time hedgehog has to look past the stink and be a good friend to get a friend. In the end, they both get a hug that will make them feel better. Simple, sweet, with a perfect lesson, reach out to the person that might seem stinky or prickly at first, and you just might find the perfect friend.
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Making a Friend by Tammi Sauer
Beaver is very good at making things, but he cannot make a friend. He tries very hard, but it just doesn’t happen. Finally, he makes a friend, a snowman. Racoon comes along and helps him. When they are finished, they see that snowman is not very fun to play with. However, they realized how much fun they had together. There it was, a friendship created. I love everything Tammi Sauer has written. I simply love her books. Buy them all, she is a genius.
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My Heart by Corinna Luyken
Corinna Luyken is a master of both illustration and writing. Our hearts are deep wells of emotion, able to open wide, break, and mend. This book makes an abstract concept, our heart, concrete and accessible for young children.
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Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal
A delightful and poignant book about how our words and feelings are intricately linked. It reminds us all to be kind with our words and loving to ourselves. Perfect for preschool and younger elementary.
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Mostly Monsterly by Tammi Sauer
I adore this book, it has been out 9 years now, yet it has stood the test of time. Tammie originally wrote this as a valentine’s day book, but it came out all monsterly. Bernadette is a monster with a secret, she is nice and sweet on the inside, not a proper monster at all. She can’t fit in at monster school unless she learns to be a little more like a real monster. However, in the end, she becomes mostly monsterly, and stays true to herself as well.
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Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
Mr. Hatch lives in a grey world, his days are the same, without joy. One day a mysterious package of chocolates arrives at his door, with a simple note, “somebody loves you.” These words change Mr. Hatch’s life, he begins to smile and care about other people, and everyone begins to care back. When the mail man comes back to tell him the box of chocolates was not for him, he is devastated. However, he now has made real friends, because he was brave enough to love them first. This is my all-time favorite Valentine’s Day book. Read it to every grade, older children love being read to, and young children understand the meaning of the story. I love this book.
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I was riveted and sometimes torn to pieces reading Educated. Westover’s account of her childhood in remote Idaho is captivating. If you read only a few books a year, this should make the list. Tara’s parents are fundamentalist Mormons, prepping for the end of the world. They live with their seven children isolated from civilization and society. Traditional medicine is strictly forbidden, as well as the public-school system. This book was hard to put down because her experiences were so extreme. It seemed impossible that a young girl could grow into a functional adult after surviving such an odd upbringing. At times I had to take breaks, the account of abuse by one family member was so disturbing. However, I had to know how it ended. I particularly appreciated how she portrayed herself in a brutally honest light. She recognized her own skewed thinking and habits, as well as her family. Her journey of healing and establishing a healthy mindset is the most inspiring story I have read all year.
Anna has not left her house in a long while. She feels safe and secure at home, and that is where she stays. Her New York City home sits across from a park, looking straight into the neighbor’s window. Anna is not working right now, she is on a break from her practice as a child psychologist. With so much time on her hands, she begins to watch the neighborhood with detailed intensity. When a new family moves in across the park, something does not seem quite right. As she gets to know them more, she is convinced they are suspicious. When she believes she has witnesses a crime in the neighborhood, Anna loses all sense of reality and fiction. The story unravels in unpredictable twists, and devastating back story all woven into a suspenseful read.
Clementine has written a deeply moving account of her life as a Rwandan Refugee. At six years old she survived the genocide in Rwanda. For years, she lived through conditions that would break any human in two. The book travels back and forth from Clemetine’s adult life to her childhood in Africa. I learned so much about the roots of conflict and the ripple of devastation it spread. Clementine’s description of her feelings, how she wrestled with the residual trauma are beyond moving. Without empathy for what others have suffered, we cannot treat others with compassion and kindness. I was gripped with sorrow, and amazed at the author’s fighting resilience. This memoir is necessary and worth every moment. I am thankful she was brave enough to put this story into words, and I am thankful I read every one of them.
Beginnings and Book Ends 