Recommended Books
A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
When Camilla gives up something she loves to be like everyone else, she comes down with a bizarre illness—a bad case of the stripes! How will Camilla get back to her true, unstriped self?
(emotion management, feelings, problem solving)
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
“Be kind” is nice advice, but how do you do it? A child navigates her school day trying, and sometimes failing, to be as kind as possible.
(being assertive, compassion, empathy, feelings, friendship, problem solving, understanding perspectives)
The Bully Blockers Club by Teresa Bateman
Lotty Raccoon loves school—until a bully ruins her fun. Adults offer advice, but she comes up with a solution of her own: She and her friends form a club to stop the bullying.
(being assertive, feelings, problem solving)
Come With Me by Holly McGhee
A little girl, frightened by what she sees in the news, asks her parents what she can do. Their simple, perfect solution is to say, “Come with me.” Hand-in-hand, they face the world.
(compassion, empathy, understanding perspectives)
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
When Duncan opens his crayon box, he finds letters—and nothing to color with. Each color has a different complaint! What can Duncan do to smooth things over to get them working again?
(being assertive, feelings, problem solving, understanding perspectives)
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle
A Chinese-African-Cuban girl secretly plays the congas, bongos, and timbales. But on her island, only boys are allowed to play drums. What happens when she lets her secret out is poetic, magical—and inspired by a true story.
(being assertive, problem solving)
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Chloe and her friends tease Maya, the new girl, for her old clothes and toys. One day, Maya's seat in class is empty, and Chloe learns a harsh lesson in missed opportunity.
(compassion, consequences, understanding perspectives)
Egg by Kevin Henkes
There are four eggs—one pink, one yellow, one blue, and one green. Pink, yellow, and blue baby birds hatch right away, but the green egg takes its time—and reveals a big surprise.
(feelings, friendship)
Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss
Horton the elephant hears a tiny voice coming from a speck of dust. The speck turns out to be Whoville, a tiny planet full of tiny people. Horton faces a lot of teasing in his gentle, sweet quest to protect the miniature community.
(feelings, friendship)
How Do Dinosaurs Play with Their Friends? by Jane Yolen
Would a stegosaurus hog the toys? Would a triceratops take over the whole swing set? Or would a T. rex be a good friend and give you a boost or his turn at the slide? Even the most intimidating dinosaur can play nice.
(friendship, problem solving)
How Full Is Your Bucket? by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer
One morning, Felix wakes up with an invisible bucket floating above him. Every time someone is unkind, it empties out a little more, but every time someone is thoughtful, it fills a little. And Felix learns how words and small actions affect the people around him.
(compassion, consequences, feelings)
It’s Okay to Make Mistakes by Todd Parr
This little book is like a reassuring pep talk. Did you color outside the lines? Then you were creative! Were you clumsy, or did you invent a new move? This cheerful book will have you looking on the bright side of everything.
(feelings, skills for learning)
Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari thinks he’s totally ready to jump off the diving board—until he starts to climb the ladder. After some helpful talk from his dad, he does some stretches, takes some deep breaths, and surprises himself.
(emotion management, feelings)
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Brian is a quiet kid, and he feels invisible. But the new kid in class might have it worse—he gets teased on his first day. Brian draws him a picture, and that little act of kindness changes everything.
(empathy, feelings, friendship, problem solving, understanding perspectives)
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
CJ complains about the rain, taking the bus, and not having the same cool toys other kids have. But with some gentle humor and encouragement from his grandmother, he begins to see the beauty all around him.
(compassion, feelings, understanding perspectives)
Most People by Michael Leannah
When the world looks scary, it’s reassuring to remember that most people want to be kind, helpful, loving, and funny. This book meanders through a busy city showing all kinds of people helping, playing, and sharing.
(compassion, feelings)
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete
Callie and Charlie are twins, and they have a lot in common. But Callie also notices that there are quite a few differences between them. Sometimes it’s hard for Callie to play with Charlie, but she focuses on her brother’s strengths.
(compassion, feelings)
My Mouth Is a Volcano! by Julia Cook
Louis has a lot of important things to say, and the words just erupt out of his mouth. Then, one day in school, he realizes that other people have volcanoes for mouths, too.
(emotion management, empathy, skills for learning)
Noni Speaks Up by Heather Hartt-Sussman
Noni tries to be thoughtful, but she loses her nerve when she sees another kid being bullied in front of her. But things change, quickly, when she decides to use her words.
(being assertive, compassion, emotion management, problem solving)
Not Your Typical Dragon by Dan Bar-el
Dragons are supposed to breathe fire. But Crispin’s breath produces anything but: beach balls, marshmallows, whipped cream, and other surprises come out of his mouth. Crispin is sad, until the day his unusual ability comes in handy.
(feelings, friendship, understanding perspectives)
Old Turtle and the Broken Truth by Douglas Wood
In a place where people have only part of the truth, life becomes very difficult. A little girl goes on a journey to see her friend, Old Turtle, who helps her replace the missing piece, and bring peace back to the community.
(consequences, empathy, problem solving)
Sadly Ever After? by Elise Allen
Set in the world of the Pixar movie Inside Out, this story shows how each of Riley’s emotions remembers an ordinary day very differently. All of the other emotions try to lift Sadness up out of her mood.
(being assertive, compassion, feelings)
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Amos takes the bus to the zoo every day to spend time with his friends, Elephant, Tortoise, Penguin, Rhinoceros, and Owl. One day he wakes up with a cold and can’t make the trip, so his friends return his kindness—and leave the zoo to go check on him.
(compassion, empathy, feelings, friendship, understanding perspectives)
Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Davis Pinkney
This book tells the story of the Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-in in 1960: Four students who took Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s call for nonviolent protest to heart calmly and bravely made history.
(being assertive, emotion management, problem solving)
Talk and Work It Out by Cheri J. Meiners
Kids share their strategies for working out problems with other people. They use empathy, imagination, and calming strategies—and they play!
(being assertive, emotion management, feelings, problem solving)
What Should Danny Do? by Ganit and Adir Levy
Danny is training to be a superhero, and he faces a lot of choices. Make them with him: There are nine possible stories in this slim book. Each one shows how decisions can shape a life.
(consequences, empathy, skills for learning)
When Sophie Thinks She Can’t by Molly Bang
When Sophie feels like she can’t do puzzles or math, she learns the most important word: “Yet.” She learns that when she tries and grows, she gets smarter every day. She just hadn’t figured out puzzles—yet.
(problem solving, skills for learning)
The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, MD
Becoming the Parent You Want to Be: A Sourcebook of Strategies for the First Five Years
by Laura Davis and Janis Keyser
Emotionally Intelligent Parenting: How to Raise a Self-Disciplined, Responsible, Socially Skilled Child
by Maurice J. Elias, PhD, Steven E. Tobias, PhD, and Brian S. Friedlander, PhD
Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
by M. Kabat-Zinn and J. Kabat-Zinn
Good Friends are Hard to Find; Help Your Child Find, Make and Keep Friends
by Fred Frankel
The Heart of Parenting: Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child
by John Gottman, PhD, and Joan Declaire
Helping Your Anxious Child; a step by step guide for parents
by Ronald M. Paree, Susan Spence, Vanessa Cobham, and Ann Wignall
Helping Your Child Overcome Separation Anxiety or School Refusal
by Andrew Eisen & Linda Engler
Homework Without Tears: A Parent’s Guide for Motivating Children to Do Homework and to Succeed in School
by Lee Canter and Lee Hausner, PhD
How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and How to Listen so Kids Will Talk
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
The Mindful Child: How to Help Your Kid Manage Stress and Become Happier, Kinder, and More Compassionate
by S. K. Greenland
Positive Discipline; for preschoolers
by Nelsen, Erwin, and Duffy
Queen Bees and Wannabes (a book about the trials female friendship)
by Rosalind Wiseman
Raising a Thinking Child: Help Your Young Child to Resolve Everyday Conflicts and Get Along with Others
by Myrna B. Shure, PhD, and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo
The Difficult Child
by Stanley Turecki, MD, and Leslie Tonner