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:
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:
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:
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:
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
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
Books about Self-Esteem/Identity
- I’m Gonna Like Me! by Jamie Lee Curtis
Books about Bullying:
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
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
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