Bibliotherapy: Wellness in Picture Books

When a young girl wonders what the future has in store for her, she takes a thoughtful look back at her family's history by way of shared stories and memories. And with each vibrant branch of her family tree, she recalls the struggles, celebrations, and everyday occurrences that define her extraordinary family, and ultimately, her.

This is the story of some remarkable chances and the child who doesn't know quite what to do with them. But the more chances come around, the more the child's fascination grows. And then, one day, a little courage makes all the difference in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi's grandson tells the story of how his grandfather taught him to turn darkness into light.

When she goes looking for 'something beautiful' in her city neighborhood, a young girl finds beauty in many different forms.

When is the best time to do things? Who is the most important one? What is the right thing to do? When young Nikolai seeks counsel form Leo, the wise old turtle who lives in the mountains, he is sure Leo will know the answers to his three questions. But it is Nikolai's own response to a stranger's cry for help that leads him directly to the answers he is looking for.

Sometimes we just need to take a pause -- to stop, breathe, and take a moment for ourselves. To be mindful. A World of Pausabilities is an inviting introduction to mindfulness. Following a neighborhood on a summer day, readers will learn how to apply mindfulness to simple, everyday moments, and how days are filled with endless possibilities to take a pause.

Meditation does a body good. The regular practice of mindfulness improves health and happiness, and can even help very young children -- to settle their busy minds and understand their emotions. In this step-by-step introduction, kids learn how to focus on their breath, on the sensations in their body, and on the sounds around them. Calm is always just one breath away.

Two Ojibway sisters set off across the frozen north country to see the SkySpirits' midnight dance. It isn't easy for the younger sister to be silent, but gradually she begins to treasure the stillness and the wonderful experiences it brings. After an exhilarating walk and patient waiting, the girls are rewarded by the arrival of the SkySpirits -- the northern lights -- dancing and shimmering in the night sky.

On an otherwise ordinary day, Elliot discovers something extraordinary: the power of mindfulness. When he asks his neighbor Carmen for a snack, he's at first disappointed when she hands him an apple -- he wanted candy! But when encouraged to carefully and attentively look, feel, smell, taste, and even listen to the apple, Elliot discovers that this apple is not ordinary at all.

"Michael," said Karl. "There's a really big bear in the backyard." This is how three children meet Stillwater, a giant panda who moves into the neighborhood and tells amazing tales. To Addy, he tells a story about the value of material goods. To Michael, he pushes the boundaries of good and bad. And to Karl, he demonstrates what it means to hold on to frustration. With graceful art and simple stories that are filled with love and enlightenment, Jon Muth -- and Stillwater the bear -- present three ancient Zen tales that are sure to strike a chord in everyone they touch.

Li'l Rabbit searches for a gift for his grandmother when she is sick during Kwanzaa and surprises her with the best gift of all. The story of Li'l Rabbit captures the true meaning of Kwanzaa -- coming together to help others.

In a night of rioting, a young boy and his mother learn the value of getting along with others no matter their background or nationality.

Under a radiant moon and surrounded by all the noises of the city at night, a little boy prays for those in need, for wars to end, for the sick to be healed, and for all the members of his family.

Miguel's family needs a new roof, firewood, and clothing to survive the winter. Miguel hopes his father, a pastry peddler, will sell enough tasty treats to buy the things they need. But all the villagers they meet have also endured great hardship, and Miguel's father gives his pastries to those who need them most. Miguel feels heartbroken. Then something happens that teaches him that kindness is far more valuable than money.

Disguised in servant's clothes, an Afghani shah slips out of his palace to learn more about his people. When he meets a poor shoemaker who has faith that everything turns out just as it should, the good shah grows curious. He decides to test the poor man's faith, only to find that the shoemaker's cheerful optimism cannot be shaken. But the biggest challenge of the shoemaker's life is yet to come!

Benny loves to help out at his grandpa's bakery. And the customers love Grandpa's crusty bagels with the soft insides. One day, Grandpa explains to Benny that God, not him, should be thanked for the wonderful bagels. Benny thinks it's a good idea. But how do you thank God? Benny decides to leave God a bagful of bagels in the synagogue. Every week they disappear. Is God eating the bagels? Has a miracle occurred? When Benny finds out what has really happened to the bagels, he discovers much more about faith, generosity, and the world of hidden possibilities.

A young boy describes the events and activities that make Sunday a special day.

Siblings Chintoo and Mintoo collect flowers and press the petals into a fine powder as they prepare for Holi, the Indian springtime Festival of Colors.

The animals on the farm are putting on a Purim play. Moo will be Mordecai. Neigh will be the king of Persia. Cluck wants to be Queen Esther, but Quack knows all the lines and gets the part. But then Quack disappears! Can Cluck find the courage of Queen Esther to rescue Quack and save the show?

On New York City's Lower East Side, menorahs sit in the windows of tenement buildings, the candles not yet lit. It's the first night of Hanukkah, and when Gertie and her sister Sarah walk in from the snow, the kitchen is already bustling. They're going to have latkes tonight! And so the five sisters -- all-of-a-kind, as their parents like to say -- prepare for dinner. Gertie is upset that Mama says she is too young to help cook, but when Papa asks if she is old enough to help with something very special, she's given the best job of all.

A young Muslim girl and her family guide the reader through the traditions and colors of Islam.

Retells, in simple words, a psalm of God's knowledge of and love for each of us.

Lailah solves her problem with help from the school librarian and her teacher and in doing so learns that she can make new friends who respect her beliefs.

When her parents get divorced, a little girl worries about many things, including how she will celebrate the Jewish holidays in two different households. Passover, with its two seders, gives her a chance to celebrate with each parent. Over the years, we watch her adjust to her new world, as she and her parents create new lives and new family traditions.

Readers learn about the Islamic observance of Ramadan in this charming story of a young Muslim girl determined to do the right thing during her first Ramadan fast.

Follow the lives of seven REAL kids from Italy, Japan, Iran, India, Peru, Uganda, and Russia for a single day. From the time each child wakes up until the time they fall asleep, the details of their days may differ. How do they play? In Japan, Kei plays Freeze Tag. In Italy, Romeo has rock-throwing contests. In Russia, Oleg plays hockey almost every day after school. How they play may vary, but the parallel rhythm of their days -- and this one world we all share -- unites them. This genuine exchange provides a window into lives and traditions that may differ from our own as well as a mirror reflecting the common experiences that unite us.

Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same but different!

Cartwheel moves to a new country with her auntie -- and everything is strange: the animals, the plants -- even the wind...An old blanket gives Cartwheel comfort when she's sad -- and a new blanket just might change her world.

More than all the stars in a desert sky, Lalla wants to wear a malafa so she can be beautiful like her mother...mysterious like her older sister, Selma...a fine lady like her cousin, Aisha. How can Lalla show she's not too little for a malafa?

How did Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela end up with such a long name? As Daddy tells the story of her many names, Alma can almost feel herself growing into them!

A young girl plays dress-up with her mother's head scarves, feeling her mother's love with each one she tries on.

Saturdays and Sundays are very special days for the child in this story. On Saturdays, she visits Grandpa and Grandma. On Sundays -- los domingos -- she visits Abuelito y Abuelita. While the two sets of grandparents are different in many ways, they also have a great deal in common -- in particular, their love for their granddaughter. While we follow our narrator to the circus and the pier, share stories from her grandparents' pasts, and celebrate her birthday, the depth and joy of both cultures are conveyed in Spanish and English.

A boy and his grandfather cross a language and cultural barrier using their shared love of art, storytelling, and fantasy. "Sometimes you don't need words to find common ground."

Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what about when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious that American kids will like her. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she tells the class that she will choose a name by the following week. Her new classmates are fascinated by this no-name girl and decide to help out by filling a glass jar with names for her to pick from. But while Unhei practices being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, one of her classmates comes to her neighborhood and discovers her real name and its special meaning. On the day of her name choosing, the name jar has mysteriously disappeared. Encouraged by her new friends, Unhei chooses her own Korean name and helps everyone pronounce it -- Yoon-Hye.

Jacob loves playing dress-up, when he can be anything he wants to be -- a pirate, a bird, a fireman! But he also wants to just be himself and wear his favorite thing...a dress! Now Jacob has a new dress that he made himself and what he wants most of all is to wear it to school. Will Mom and Dad let him?

Her name is Eleanor Wyatt, and some days she's a princess, some days she's a pirate. Eleanor's parents have taught her she can be anything she wants to be, from a ninja to a cowgirl to a fairy with wings. She can even star in her own book! Join Eleanor and her friends as they romp through tea parties and sword fights to discover the best treasure of all -- being yourself!

Explains to kids what it means to be transgender and -- more importantly -- reminds kids our similarities are much more important than our differences.

Dyson loves pink, sparkly things. Sometimes he wears dresses. Sometimes he wears jeans. He likes to wear his princess tiara, even when climbing trees. He's a Princess Boy.