Social and emotional learning

Three books for Earth Day

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Into the Wilderness by Haven Iverson, illustrated by August Zhang (Roaring Brook Press, 32 pages, ages 4-8). The narrator describes family backpacking trips into the wilderness that started when the child was a baby, carried in a backpack up the mountains. Later on, they are able to carry progressively bigger backpacks and heavier loads, learning to read a map and enjoy moments of solitude. The natural world makes the difficulties of school and navigating friendships seem far away, but eventually the family drives home and school begins again. The narrator hangs up their backpack, but sometimes pulls invisible gifts from it that were acquired in nature: strength, wonder, bravery, and quiet. Includes a two-page note from the author about her own experiences in the Colorado wilderness, as well as information about the 1964 Wilderness Act, original people of the American wilderness, and tips for being a good steward of the wilderness.

Kids will be empowered by the narrator’s story to go on their own nature explorations. This would be a great book to share at the beginning of camp or a family hiking, camping, or backpacking trip. I love how it shows the power of wilderness and the natural world that can be carried into the rest of life.

The Greenies by Emma Mills, illustrated by Sara Nicole Kennedy (Henry Holt and Co., 256 pages, grades 3-7). After her parents divorce and her mom gets a new job, Violet has to move and start a new school mid-year. The only kid she knows is her cousin Kris, whom she considers a bit of an oddball. Happy to meet some kids she likes, Violet goes to a secret under-the-bleachers gathering during lunch–and promptly gets caught and given detention along with the rest of the group. They’re assigned to help high-achiever Isabel who’s trying to start an environmental club. The other kids aren’t so enthusiastic and find a variety of ways to get out of doing too much work. But when their fooling around results in still more trouble, Violet and the others feel bad. She finally breaks down and admits to her mom what’s going on at school, as well as how much she misses her dad and her old friends. Together they come up with a plan that gets Violet on the right track and ultimately results in the formation of a real environmental club: The Greenies.

Another fun middle school graphic novel that’s sure to find readers from the Raina Telgemeier crowd. Mills and Kennedy do a great job creating the memorable characters that constitute Violet’s new friend group, and kids will be happy to learn that this is billed as book 1. It’s a bit of a stretch to connect it to Earth Day, but perhaps we’ll see more environmental club action in book 2.

The Vanishing Sea: The Tale of How the Aral Sea Became the Aral Desert by Dinara Mirtalipova (Chronicle Books, 40 pages, grades 1-5). In a prologue before the title page, Dinara Mirtalipova shares information about the Aral Sea and how it disappeared in just a few decades due to mismanaged irrigation projects, including two pages of maps that show this progression from 1960 until 2021. Then the brief story begins, “A long, long time ago, there was a lake so vast that the people called her Mother Sea.” At first, people are content with the fish and drinking water the lake provides, but over time they grow greedier. “Like a selfless mother, the Sea gave them ALL of her resources.” The tale ends with a question: “Can the people save Mother Sea?” An author’s note tells of her journey to the desert in a remote part of Uzbekistan, along with photos of her mother in 1963, picking the cotton that led to the sea’s destruction. There’s a brief history of the Aral Sea with a timeline from 305 CE to the present, as well as information on local and global ecological impact.

This sobering story is a good reminder of what prioritizing human greed over the environment can do. The main story, illustrated in Dinara Mirtalipova’s unique style, could be shared with primary grade students, while the additional material at the front and back of the book makes it a great resources for older kids.

Tying up loose ends

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Loops by Jashar Awan (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 3-8). The young narrator addresses the reader, expressing frustration at too-big sneakers. They then take readers through the shoe-tying process step-by-step, which sometimes–but not always–results in success. That’s okay, because “learning to be a big kid! It doesn’t happen all at once.” On the playground, this big kid demonstrates skills on the swings (“I used to need a push. Not anymore.”) and the slide (“after some practice, things that were once scary aren’t anymore”). A whirl on the merry-go-round results in a lost shoe, with an ending that brings the story full circle.

This is a great book to share with young kids, offering messages that celebrate independence and “being a big kid” as well as offering empowering self-talk when things are hard and require practice and persistence.

The Sweater: A Story of Community by Larissa Theule, illustrated by Teagan White (Viking Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 3-8). When Holly the raccoon sees a bird that looks like “he’d been through some things,” she changes her plans for a fall hike and visits her neighbors instead, asking each one to give something to help the bird. Back home, she knits everything into a warm sweater that she presents to the bird. When she notices gaps in the old woodpecker hole he’s moved into, she gives him advice on how to shore things up, and before long the other animals have gathered around to help. Winter comes, and the animals are forced to stay in their homes, where they read, play games, and try new recipes. The little bird is grateful for his sweater and warm home and wishes for a way to say thanks. And one morning, when the wind “overslept,” he steps out at sunrise to share his beautiful song. The others hear the song, which “like a thread of sunshine, it looped around their hearts and knit them together.”

I really can’t overstate how adorable the illustrations in this story are, and the message of how small acts of kindness can make a difference and build a community had me choking up the first time I read this to a class.

Lessons in self-reliance

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Mungo on His Own by Matthew Burgess, illustrated by Julie Benbassat (Clarion Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). When Mungo is still hungry after dinner, his mother gives him permission to go out and forage for berries. Alone in the night for the first time, Mungo is scared of cars and owls and other noises he hears. But he remembers his mother’s lessons and safely crosses the road and hides in a hollow tree from the owl. He also recalls how his mother told him that wonders sometimes happen when “we stand inside our fear on four feet, eyes sharp, breathing deep.” So Mungo bravely goes on and is rewarded, not only with a berry feast but with his first experience of snow. When he gets home, his mother is waiting for him, proud of his accomplishments and ready to snuggle up for bedtime.

Not only does this story feature an adorable fox and lush illustrations that portray all different times and seasons, but it’s a great lesson for kids venturing out into the world for the first time and for parents learning to let go. There are lots of good messages about facing your fears and remembering safety rules but having the courage to keep going.

Bored by Felicita Sala (Neal Porter Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). Rita is so bored, she can’t think of a single thing to do. She can’t read, draw, think, or even look out the window. Heavy sighs and moaning, “I’m so b-o-o-o-red” get no response from her family except for her brother telling her she’s weird. Rita starts wondering how many other bored people there are in the world. She pictures them all boarding a bus, then traveling to Bored Island. A funny thing happens when they get there, though. Everyone is so bored that they start doing things like building with driftwood and starting a band. A high school student’s yawn turns into a yodel, and she accidentally discovers how to talk to whales. A pair of twins stare at their watches for so long that they actually warp space and time. By the time Rita’s mom calls her to dinner, she’s so busy with her imagination that she tells her mom she doesn’t have time to eat.

Although screens are usually the “solution” to boredom these days, this cute and entertaining story shows readers another way to combat it: imagination. The illustrations, including the color palette, do an excellent job of conveying the drabness of a boring afternoon contrasted with the brightness of Boredom Island and the imagination.

Slice of life picture books

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Every Monday Mabel by Jashar Awan (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 3-7). Monday is the best day of the week as far as Mabel is concerned, and the reader slowly gets to find out why as Mabel wakes up early, grabs some cereal, and heads outside, ignoring her older sister (who thinks she’s boring), her mom (who thinks she’s cute), and her dad (who thinks she’s funny). Perched on a chair, she hears the garbage truck before she sees it, and its arrival is worth the wait! Mabel cheers as the truck’s mechanical arm grabs the trash can, dumps the trash, and puts it back down again. As Mabel heads back home, the truck rumbles down the street, and the reader gets to see other eager faces pressed against their windows, enjoying the spectacle as much as she did.

Who doesn’t enjoy a good vehicle book? This one nicely captures the sights and sounds of the garbage truck, but it also celebrates enjoying small moments, something kids often do better than the older people in their families. The last page, showing other kids eagerly awaiting the truck, is a perfect validation of Mabel’s enthusiasm.

Broken by X. Fang (Tundra Books, 48 pages, ages 3-7). When Mei Mei accidentally breaks Ama’s cup after scaring Mimi the cat, she worries what will happen when Ama finds out. Ama serves tea, where she scolds Mimi about the broken cup. Mei Mei is tempted to let Mimi take the blame, but, overcome with guilt, she finally makes a tearful confession. Much to her surprise, Ama doesn’t get mad, but hugs Mei Mei, then goes about fixing the cup, reminding her that every patch and repair has a story to tell. On the last page, Mei Mei enjoys a slice of cake while Ama sips tea from her newly-mended cup.

This simple story will resonate with anyone who’s ever felt guilty about confessing a misdeed to a loved one and/or experienced forgiveness for said misdeed. There are some excellent lessons, but they are put forth in such a gentle and relatable way that kids won’t notice that they’re getting a good dose of SEL education.

Perceiving the world around us

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Balloon by Bruce Handy, illustrated by Julie Kwon (Chronicle Books, 44 pages, ages 3-7). A young child is devastated when a flock of pigeons causes him to let go of his orange balloon. Refusing a replacement, he goes on a search for the balloon through the city park. Illustrations show different objects that appear to be the balloon–a bit of an orange frisbee hidden by a picnic blanket, an orange cap on the head of a musician obscured by a crowd–but when the full picture is revealed, it’s never the balloon. Finally, the boy spots something else orange: a kitten for sale. He and his mom adopt the kitten, and the boy tells it, “Balloon. That’s your name.” As the two sleep together on the last page, astute readers will notice the tiny shadow of a balloon against the full moon. Includes an author’s note that tells how the story was inspired by his son, who also named his cat after a lost balloon.

This nearly wordless book is so much fun, giving kids an opportunity to guess what the various orange objects are and to spot the squirrel that enlivens many of the illustrations. The final page provides a most satisfying conclusion, not only with the boy and his new kitten, but the balloon in the background and a stuffed squirrel sitting on a bookcase.

I Hear the Snow, I Smell the Sea by Janice Milusich, illustrated by Chris Raschka (Anne Schwartz Books, 48 pages, ages 4-8). Neveah enjoys the four seasons with her mother using her senses of hearing, smell, taste, and touch to experience them. Playing in the snow, taking a spring stroll, walking on the beach, and playing in the fall leaves, she enjoys the sounds, smells, and textures all around her. While she never mentions being visually impaired, the story and illustrations imply that, but it doesn’t slow her down from experiencing each season to the fullest.

I have a blind student who started kindergarten this year, which makes me extra appreciative of this book, not only for her, but for her classmates who can learn about perceiving the world through other senses. The simple illustrations do a great job of portraying the different seasons while leaving a great deal to the imagination, which will be inspired by the descriptions in the text.

Creating community

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No More Chairs by Dan Gill, illustrated by Susan Gal (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, grades K-3). On the first day of school, Mr. Gill’s students ask him why there’s an extra chair at the front of the room. He tells a story of when he was a kid, and he went to a birthday party with his best friend Archie. At the door, the host’s mother stared at Dan, who was white, and Archie, who was Black. “You can come in,” she told Dan, “but your friend cannot, because there are no more chairs.” At first Dan doesn’t understand, although Archie seems to, and he offers to bring a chair from home or sit on the floor. But when the mom is adamant, Dan finally realizes what’s going on. “Give these presents to Steve,” he says. “We’re going back to my house, where there are always enough chairs.” On the way home, Archie tells Dan he will speak up for him if Dan ever feels like he can’t speak for himself, and the two friends share a big bowl of ice cream. And that’s why, Mr. Gill explains, he always keeps an extra chair in the classroom, to make sure that everyone knows that there are always enough chairs, and everyone is welcome. Includes an author’s note of how he always told this true story from his childhood to his classes on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday to help them understand the meaning of the day.

Use this short but powerful tale to either kick off the school year with a message of inclusion or to begin a conversation about the civil rights movement. It’s a story that will resonate with kids of all ages, as well as with adults, and points to the importance of people with privilege speaking up for those who are being marginalized.

Sunnyside School: A Community Helpers Book by Lindsay Ward (HarperCollins, 40 pages, grades K-3). Welcome to Sunnyside School! The first two pages show 39 different jobs that people have at the school. Then the story begins, with siblings Ali and Matty starting second grade and kindergarten, getting walked into the school by their mom. As the two go through their day, they meet all kinds of people: front office staff, classroom teachers, specialists, cafeteria staff, and more. Sidebars give additional information about their jobs, while questions are sprinkled throughout the text to keep kids engaged, and characters talk to each other via cartoon bubbles. Ali’s best friend has just moved away, and Matty’s going to school for the first time; each of them is successful and finding a new friend. At the end of the day, both kids meet their mom and report an excellent first day. Includes a search and find activity for kids to go back and find things like pencils and backpacks in the book, as well as a glossary.

This is an outstanding introduction to all the people who work in a school woven into a first day of school story that kids will relate to. I thought about reading this to kids at the beginning of school, but there’s so much information packed into it that it almost felt overwhelming to read it all in one sitting. it would be a great book to revisit a few times during the first week or two of school, as well as a good one to share with kids at home before their first day.

Life lessons from animal friends

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Axolotl and Axolittle by Jess Hitchman, illustrated by Sarah Rebar (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 40 pages, ages 3-8). Siblings Axolotl and Axolittle are very different–big sis Axolotl lives life to the max while younger brother Axolittle is quieter and more studious–but they’re still the best of friends. When Axolotl’s boisterous play ends up destroying Axolittle’s painting, though, an axo-squabble ensues. Finally, Axo-dad-l comes in to calm things down, and after a bit of a break, family harmony is restored.

Axolotls seem to be having a moment, due to Minecraft, I guess? Whatever the reason, this book will definitely catch the eye of many a young reader, and they won’t be disappointed by the lively rhymes, clever axolotl (and axolittle) plays on words, and relatable family situations. This would make a great sibling gift for the older child in a family with a new baby.

Don’t Trust Fish by Neil Sharpson, illustrated by Dan Santat (Dial Books, 40 pages, ages 4-8). After an introduction to mammals, reptiles, and birds, the narrator gets to fish: DON”T TRUST FISH! There are so many reasons, and those reasons grow more preposterous as the book goes on. Some have gills and some have lungs. Some live in salt water, some in fresh water. Very shifty. They live underwater where you can’t see them. They may be in your home, spying from that aquarium, and reporting back to the king fish! And they like to eat poor, innocent, kind crabs…which readers will learn on the last page is the animal responsible for all the information in this book.

I’ll admit I didn’t love this book the first time I tried reading it, and I only looked at the first few pages. But the four starred reviews and inclusion on possible Caldecott lists led me to take another look, and I’m happy to say that now I get it! It would be a fun story to read aloud and have kids try to guess who the narrator is. Dan Santat’s illustrations, of course, add immeasurably to the fun. It could also be a great introduction to a discussion with older kids about considering sources of information in the news and on social media.

You and Me, Anemone by Rachel Vail, illustrated by Chris Raschka (Greenwillow Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Using clever rhyming text, an anemone makes a plea to readers not to BOOP it, then goes on to encourage kids who prefer not to be booped to assertively make their wishes known. The anemone explains that it likes living harmoniously in community with other anemones, and that not being touched doesn’t mean that it doesn’t enjoy the company of others, “to live side by side in our own kind of unity! Resplendent, independently, extending as far as eye can see.” Includes an author’s note about how she learned recently not to touch anemones and giving kids tips for communicating their own preferences as well as noticing those of others.

This is an ingenious book, combining interesting information about anemones with ideas for kids on how to notice what they may or may not want and expressing that. The illustrations are made to look like applique on burlap, with lots of textures and colors.

Be the change

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Stalactite and Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Two nubs of rock in a cave greet each other as the one above drips a steady stream of water drops onto the one below. They’re friends from the start and enjoy the company of other more transient creatures as they witness the history of life on Earth. First a trilobite, next an Ichtyostega with some new legs, then a triceratops who enjoys a dazzling light display before disappearing. Ice Age creatures give way to early humans, and finally, contemporary human tourists marvel at the stalactite and stalagmite that are almost touching each other. A futuristic city appears outside the cave, then darkness as the two fuse together into a column of stone. Includes additional information about some of the creatures and a timeline of the time period covered in the story.

Enjoy a warm, fuzzy friendship story while simultaneously feeling insignificant as you follow this rocky relationship over millions of years. Drew Beckmeyer makes it look easy to create an amazing picture book with plenty of humor that introduces the entire history of life on earth.

Papilio by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser (Viking Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 3-7). Three friends and beloved author-illustrators have created a story in three parts about Papilio, a black swallowtail butterfly. In the first, by Clanton, Papilio hatches from an egg and explores life as a caterpillar before creating a chrysalis. Tabor takes the story from there, narrating from inside a chrysalis that is almost eaten by a bird. Having safely survived, the newly emerged butterfly’s tale is told by Musser, as she learns from other flying insects how to use her wings. The stories are tied together by Papilio’s interactions with a mouse, and readers will enjoy seeing the different depictions of it by the three different artists. Includes additional information about butterfly metamorphosis, as well as notes from each of the creators about how they came up with their stories and illustrations.

I was excited to see this book by Ben Clanton and Corey R. Tabor, who are well-loved in my library (I’m not yet familiar with Musser’s work), and it did not disappoint. Kudos to them for taking on the well-worn tale of butterfly metamorphosis and finding something new. It’s fun to compare the illustrations, which are similar but have distinctive differences from the three different artists.

Caboose by Travis Jonker, illustrated by Ruth Chan (Harry N. Abrams, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Hippo loves being first in line, and he’s learned all kinds of tricks to get there: running, sneaking, even slingshotting to the head of the line. But one day, Hippo takes it too far, and Fish gets hurt. “You may not be first anymore!” declares the teacher, and Hippo is banished to the end of the line. It takes a little adjustment, but before long, Hippo has a series of strategies to make sure he’s always the caboose: walking like a turtle, politely letting everyone go ahead, pretending his sneaker has a giant knot. But “caboosin’ it up” causes Hippo to go too far once again, and now his assigned place is in the middle of the line. And the middle proves to be the best place for him, right in the center of all his classmates.

Hippo definitely cracked me up, and there are lessons to be learned about working with others. Kids may recognize themselves or a classmate as Hippo slowly learns line etiquette and how to be respectful of his classmates. The illustrations are adorable, with a huge variety of animals, but I have to say I struggled a little to grasp the lesson Hippo learned at the end.

Graphic novels that deal with tough issues

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Crumble by Meredith McClaren, illustrated by Andrea Bell (Little, Brown Ink, 208 pages, grades 3-7). Emily’s mother is often traveling to promote the family bakery, so Aunt Gina and Emily run the shop and keep things going back home. The two of them know how to infuse their baked goods with feelings, helping people to feel happier or more relaxed when they eat them. When Aunt Gina suddenly dies in a car accident, Emily and her mom are overwhelmed by grief. The only way Emily knows how to process her feelings is to bake, but baking while sad results in terrible-tasting pastries that somehow no one can stop eating. When Emily ends up making all of her classmates sick, she has to slow down and find new ways to deal with her feelings. She and her mom slowly create a new normal, and the last chapter shows them running a new baking school, while Emily has developed more empathy for people around her who are suffering.

This cheery graphic novel takes an unexpected twist when a panel showing Aunt Gina’s wrecked car changed everything for Emily. From there, the story does an excellent job showing how she processes her grief, feeling overwhelmed by it at first, then slowly finding a way to acknowledge her feelings and move on, even though things will never be the same. The reactions from the other kids–trying to cheer Emily up, asking too many questions about her aunt’s funeral–are helpful in showing readers what may or may not be helpful to those who are grieving.

Cassi and the House of Memories by Dean Stuart (Viking Books for Young Readers, 272 pages, grades 4-7). Cassi loves spending time with her grandparents, but sometimes Grandpa’s mind wanders. When he forgets who she is, Grandma reassures her that he is still there and that he loves her. One day, Cassi goes into the backyard with him, and he disappears into the woods. When she goes in search of him, she discovers a giant structure that looks like Grandpa’s head. Inside, she discovers all kinds of memories from Grandpa’s early life. Cassi is able to put herself into those memories, and in an exciting climax, to help change one of them from a traumatizing event to one that makes Grandpa into a hero. Eventually, she meets up with her present-day grandpa, and he leads her back home, where Grandma is waiting with dinner, not worried at all, just sure that the two of them have been having fun together. An author’s note tells of his experiences with his own father’s dementia and how he created this book for kids who may be dealing with someone in a similar situation.

I saw this book described as “melancholy” in a review, and that’s a perfect word for both the story and the artwork that creates an alternate world inside Grandpa’s head, where memories come and go. Cassi’s ability to change some of the memories demonstrate how selective and imperfect all of our memories are. A thought-provoking book that will help kids see those with dementia in a new way.

Struggles at school

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Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia, illustrated by Brittney Williams (First Second, 208 pages, grades 3-7). Stella is excited to start fifth grade, but her excitement turns to panic as the homework starts to pile up and she falls further and further behind. She and her two best friends often play a favorite video game, but when a new manual comes out, Stella feels alienated when she can’t keep up with her friends’ reading. And to add to her worries, the big fifth grade project isn’t the art project she was hoping for, but one that features students’ writing. When Stella’s teacher calls home, she’s sure she’s in trouble, but it turns out that the adults in her life want to help. Once she’s gotten a dyslexia diagnosis, Stella’s able to work with special education teachers to develop new skills to help with her reading. This also takes away her shame at feeling like she’s not as smart as everyone else, leading to an honest conversation with her friends that helps them resolve their issues. And Stella’s understanding teacher lets her create a graphic novel for the writing project that allows Stella’s artistic talents to shine.

Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke (Graphix, 256 pages, grades 3-7). Mira’s determined that middle school will be a fresh start for her, but on the first day, she finds that, once again, she can’t bring herself to talk at school. Home is a different story, the place where she can be herself and pursue her passion of stop-motion photography. But this haven is taken away when former-friend-turned-mean girl Chloe comes for an extended stay. A phone call from school alerts Mira’s parents to her selective mutism, and she begins to work on her issues with an understanding therapist. A kind and patient new friend, Alex, also helps her by volunteering to be Mira’s partner with a project and defending her from bullies. Mira learns to take things one step at a time, communicating with notes and whispers. She even finds a way to reach out to Chloe (by letter), opening the way for them to resolve their differences. By the end of the story, Mira’s enjoying sixth grade, learning to succeed in her own way. Includes a note from the author (creator of the Mr. Wolf’s Class series) about his own struggles with social anxiety and difficulties talking in public.

These graphic novels offer stories that will both empower kids who may be dealing with learning differences like Stella’s or social anxieties like Mira’s, and create empathy in kids who may have classmates like them. I loved how the girls got help and support both at school and home but ultimately had to find their own ways. Each was able to discover her own talents and see her struggles as something she could overcome while staying true to herself.

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