Books for Counseling Topics

Books are a great way to talk to children about topics that may be uncomfortable or difficult to talk about. They have a way of speaking to us and reaching out like no one else can. Below is a list of books, divided into topics, to help you and your child with some of these topics.

Books about Feelings:

  • The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
  • Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods that Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis
  • When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang
  • The Way I Feel by Cornelia Maude Spelman
  • When I'm Feeling...Books by Trace Moroney
  • The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
  • Let's Talk about Feeling Afraid by Joy Berry
  • How Are You Peeling? by Saxton Freymann
  • Visiting Feelings by Lauren Rubenstein

Books about Friendship:

  • How to Lose All Your Friends by Nancy Carlson
  • Making Friends is an Art by Juila Cook
  • How Do I Stand in Your Shoes by Susan DeBell
  • A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker
  • Hunter's Best Friend at School by Laura Malone Elliot
  • Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes
  • The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
  • The Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale by Marcus Pfister
  • My Best Friend by Mary Ann Rodman
  • City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems
  • Franklin’s Secret Club by Paulette Bourgeois
  • Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
  • The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
  • Pink Tiara Cookies for Three by Maria Dismondy

Books about Diversity and Tolerance:

  • It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr
  • The Family Book by Todd Parr
  • You and Me Together by Barbara Kerley
  • The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss
  • If Only I Had a Green Nose by Max Lucado
  • The Crayon Boxy that Talked by Shane DeRolf
  • Whoever You Are by Mem Fox
  • The Potato Chip Champ by Maria Dismondy

Books about Cooperation and Teamwork:

  • Stone Soup by Jon Muth
  • Friends Afloat by Eliza Rosenbaum
  • The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel

Books about Career/Work

  • Work Song by Gary Paulsen
  • When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic
  • Everybody Works by Shelley Rotner
  • I Can Be Anything! by Jerry Spinelli
  • What Shoes Will You Wear by Julia Cook

Books about Self-Esteem/Identity

  • I’m Gonna Like Me! by Jamie Lee Curtis

Books about Bullying:

  • Being Bullied by Joy Berry
  • Teasing by Joy Berry
  • One by Kathryn Otoshi
  • The Tease Monster by Juila Cook

2nd Grade and Older:

  • Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig
  • Simon’s Hook: A Story About Teases and Put-downs by Karen Gedig Burnett
  • Nobody Knew What to Do by Becky Ray McCain
  • Say Something by Peggy Moss
  • The Juice Box Bully by Bob Sornson
  • The Weird Series by Erin Frankel

Books about Relational Aggression

(harm is caused by damaging someone’s relationships or social status)

  • The Secret Olivia Told Me by N. Joy

2nd Grade and Older:

  • Trouble Talk by Trudy Ludwig (girls in particular)
  • My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig

Books for Children’s Life Skills

  • How Full is Your Bucket. For Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer
  • Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
  • Words Are Not for Hurting by Elizabeth Verdick
  • Quiet Kid by Debbie Fox
  • Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler
  • My Day is Ruined! by Bryan Smith
  • What Were You Thinking? by Bryan Smith
  • The Misadventure of Michael McMichaels by Tony Penn
  • Kindness Counts by Bryan Smith
  • **Any book by author Juila Cook**

Lists and Categories adapted from: https://theschoolcounselorkind.wordpress.com/books-i-love/ and the Boys Town Press Trade Catalog