Bibliotherapy: Wellness in Picture Books

It's going to be an active month in I.Q.'s classroom -- it's Health Month! And when the school announces that those who pass the fitness test will get a gold ribbon, I.Q. knows right away that he wants to win one. In class, Mrs. Furber teaches the students all about eating right, drinking plenty of water, exercising, and getting enough rest. But I.Q. can't run as long or jump as far as the other students, and he's worried that he won't win a ribbon. Will I.Q.'s hard work pay off as he goes for the gold?

A celebration of the amazing human machine and a life on the move! Your amazing body can jump, sprint, twist, and twirl. Your body is built to move. The Busy Body Book explains how your bones and muscles, heart and lungs, nerves and brain all work together to keep you on the go. Studies show that American kids are becoming more sedentary and more overweight and that they carry these tendencies with them into adolescence and adulthood. Experts agree that we need to help kids make physical activity a life-long habit. Through education, information, and encouragement, this book aims to inspire a new generation of busy bodies!

Lucky for Jack, the giant he meets at the top of the beanstalk chasing him with a huge fork does not plan to eat him. Waldorf the giant is more interested in nutrition than in devouring Jack. Using the USDA's MyPlate nutrition model, Waldorf makes Jack a scrumptious meal. As he cooks, he teaches Jack about the food groups -- Grains, Protein, Fruits, Vegetables, and Dairy -- and how much of each should be on the plate of a well-balanced meal. Jack also learns that he should get plenty of exercise, such as climbing beanstalks.

It's time to celebrate with the five basic food groups. The mayor of Food Town introduces each food group as they march in the town parade, from the vegetables, fruits, and legumes, to the grains and fats. Kids learn about the importance of all the food groups and how our bodies benefit from each.

Breakfast, lunch, dinner -- Every day, we eat and eat, but I'm still hungry! When five kids visit a farm, they are full of questions about their favorite foods: Why are so many vegetables green? What's the difference between brown bread and white bread? Why do beans make you gassy? The answers may surprise you -- and help you choose foods that will keep you strong and healthy.

Who made the bread for your sandwich? What about the cheese inside? Who picked your fruit? And where did the chocolate in your cookies come from? Just how did all that delicious food get in your lunchbox? Take a tasty trip to farms, dairies, and factories, and find out!

James is a very picky eater. His dad has to get creative -- very creative -- in order to get James to eat foods he thinks he doesn't like. He presents James with a series of outlandish scenarios packed with fanciful and gross kid-friendly details -- like pre-chewed gum as an alternative to broccoli and lumpy oatmeal that grows so big it eats the dog -- in an effort to get James to eat. But it is eventually James himself who discovers that some foods are not so bad after all, if you're willing to give them a try.

Charlie has this little sister, Lola. Sometimes Charlie has to give Lola her dinner. This is difficult because Lola is a very fussy eater. She won't eat peas or carrots or potatoes or mushrooms or spaghetti...and she will never, not ever, eat a tomato. Or will she?

Peter only wants milk, Lucy won't settle for anything except pink lemonade, and Jack is stuck on applesauce. Each new addition to the Peters household brings a new demand for a special dish. What's a mother to do? Even though Mrs. Peters picks, peels, strains, scrapes, poaches, fries, and kneads, the requests for special foods keep coming. But it isn't until Mrs. Peters' birthday arrives that a present from her children solves the problem and surprises everyone.

Everyone is mad at Pete! Even Mom! But Pete won't eat that green slop that Mom made for lunch. He won't even taste it! His siblings want Pete to eat so they can go out to play. But Pete stands firm, and his siblings desert him. Mom makes Pete stay, but she is feeling sad about it. She is about to make him a sandwich when Pete decides to try the slop. He likes it! In addition to enjoying the yummy slop, Pete has learned the benefits of keeping an open mind and trying new things.

Mei Mei's grandpa is practicing tai chi in the garden, and Mei Mei is eager to join in. As Gong Gong tries to teach her the slow, graceful movements, Mei Mei enthusiastically does them with her own flair. Then Mei Mei takes a turn, trying to teach Gong Gong the yoga she learned in school. Will Gong Gong be able to master the stretchy, bendy poses? Includes introductions to tai chi and yoga, as well as instructions for the exercises described in the text.

Run and jump and dance and play, all together, every day! Everybunny is invited! Come clap your paws and twist and twirl in this joyous celebration of playful creativity. Children will be on their feet and dancing along with bunnies of many sizes and colors, and one unexpected new friend!

With sweet and simple rhymes, these poems celebrate a range of sports. From baseball and basketball to karate and swimming, there's something for everyone!

Animals move! Follow them as they swing, dance, float, leap, and slide from page to page, then learn why these animals move the way they do. Move! is a playful introduction to motion in the animal kingdom that invites young readers to guess some of the unusual ways that animals get around. Action is the name of the game, so Move!

When Coach asks for a parent volunteer to help with the team, Dad is excited. He runs to the bench, pulls on a jersey and...completely forgets his manners. Dad complains about having to play defense (BORING) and thinks playing soccer is all about WINNING. He kicks practice balls everywhere and throws a HAIRY FIT when things don't go his way. Dad is NOT a team player! In this hilarious role reversal, a young boy's patience is tested as he desperately tries to teach his dad how to behave on the field.

Mo Jackson is a small boy with big passion for sports. He may not be the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest player, but he won't let that stop him from playing! Mo is the youngest kid on the Robins, his football team. The kids on their rival team tease him for being a "butterfingers" who's too tiny to catch the ball. But Mo's coach has a plan to turn Mo's little size into a big win for the Robins!

Before he tries out for the new Fighting Squirrels baseball team, Rotten Ralph is sure he is going to be a superstar. Never mind that he doesn't have any baseball skills and doesn't want to practice. While his owner, Sarah, is doing everything she can to make the team, she tries to help Ralph do his best, too. But with his imagination running wild, Ralph's worst is what comes out.

One morning, Elliot wakes up and smells something awful. Is it the trash? No... The dog? No... Dad? His sister? The baby? Grandma's famous gerfartzenschanffel? No, no, no, and no! Elliot searches high and low for the something that smells, but he just can't find it, and it's driving him and his nostrils crazy. Almost as bad, now his mother wants him to take a bath, which means taking off his super cool skeleton costume that he's been wearing since Halloween! The funny thing is, after Elliot finishes his bath and Mom puts his costume in the wash, something doesn't smell anymore...

Peep thinks Egg needs a bath after playing in the mud. But Egg is not taking a bath. Not in the river, not in the duck pond, and definitely not in the dog's water bowl -- too slobbery! Does Peep have any tricks up her feathers to make Egg change her mind?

Things can get a bit messy when you try to wash a woolly mammoth. Follow this step-by-step guide to successfully clean up your hairy friend. But be forewarned! A mammoth's tummy is terribly tickly...

One day Richard picks his nose and his finger gets stuck. Well, not just stuck. It gets sucked up inside his nose. Before he knows it, all of him slides up his nose, and he becomes a giant booger. Richard propels his booger-ball self out of his house. He has a solution in mind, but will it work? As he rolls down the sidewalk, things get worse -- way worse. Soon the whole town is chasing after him. Will Richard reach his destination or will he be picked to pieces by the mob?

What if a dinosaur catches the flu? Does he whimper and whine in between each Atchoo? What does a dinosaur do?

When Vera goes to the dentist for a checkup, she wears her favorite cowgirl skirt since it always makes her feel brave. But not even her special skirt prepares her for the whir of a tooth-cleaning machine, and Vera's off and running before Dr. Knoll knows what's happened! A trip to the dentist can often be scary for young children. Vera takes the fear out of this new experience and proves that a little reassurance goes a long way.