Bibliotherapy: Wellness in Picture Books

For friends and swings, for books and laps, for family and home, for this earth we ride on, for what the seasons bring, and for all that makes us wonder -- a Thank you. The Thank You Book explores the many ways we can be thankful for the pleasures great and small that await us every day.

Tomorrow I'll be all the things I tried to be today -- Adventurous, Strong, Smart, Curious, Creative, Confident, & Brave. And if I wasn't one of them, I know that it's OK. Adventure through a world filled with positive and beautifully hand-lettered words of wisdom, inspiration, and motivation. As this book reminds readers, tomorrow is another day, full of endless opportunities -- all you have to do is decide to make the day yours.

Everyone knows cookies taste good, but these cookies also have something good to say. A new kind of dictionary, defining mysteries such as "fair" and "unfair" and what it really means to "cooperate".

There is a bad seed. A baaaaaaaad seed. How bad? Do you really want to know? He lies about pointless stuff. He cuts in line. Every time. He never washes his hands...or his feet. And he does lots of other bad things too. But what happens when a bad seed doesn't want to be bad anymore? Can a bad seed change his baaaaaaaad ways?

When a young girl named Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better and remembers that Mom always says, "Be kind." But what does it mean to be kind?

As Mela sets out to explore the riverbank near her village, her little brother hurries along to join her. But because he has nothing to give her, she sends him home. On her own, Mela quickly ends up in trouble when her little boat is swept downstream and into the dark jungle. She encounters a crocodile, a leopard, and some monkeys -- offering each a prize in return for helping her find her way home -- but the animals snatch up their rewards without helping Mela at all. Just when she's about to give up, an elephant shows Mela that kindness is its own reward.

If you plant a carrot seed...a carrot will grow. If you plant a cabbage seed...cabbage will grow. But what happens if you plant a seed of kindness...or selfishness?

Chloe doesn't really know why she turns away from the new girl, Maya, when Maya tries to befriend her. And every time Maya asks if she can play with Chloe and the other girls, the answer is always no. So Maya ends up playing alone. And then one day she's gone. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the opportunity that's been lost. How much better could it have been if she'd just shown Maya a little kindness and opened her heart to friendship?

"When our teacher says, pick a partner, my body freezes like a ship in ice." How can Irene and Charles work together on their poetry project? They don't know each other...and they're not sure they want to.

Sophie is hurt when the other children laugh at her and tell her she's wrong. At issue is Sophie's colorful, expressive painting of her favorite tree. Sophie loves it, but her picture is different from the paintings done by the other students. "The sky isn't orange! Trees aren't blue! Your picture is wrong!" they tell her. In the end, the students learn there are many different ways to interpret the world -- and each other.

Rashin is excited about her first visit to the beach in her family's new home. On the way there, she remembers what beach trips were like in Iran: the beautiful Caspian Sea, the Persian music, and most of all, the saffron ice cream she shared with her best friend, Azadeh. But there are wonderful things in this new place as well -- a subway train, exciting music...and maybe even a new friend!

Two girls share the delights of best-friendship despite and because of the ways that they are different. So when one wants to play ball and the other prefers a game of dress-up, a true friend finds she can pitch while wearing a tiara. And though one favors days and the other nights -- both like having pillow fights!

When it comes to explaining physical, cultural, and religious differences to children, it can difficult to know where to begin. This book was designed to empower parents/caregivers to start conversations with young ones about what makes us all unique, celebrating each other's differences, and how we are all much more alike than different.

Rubina is invited to her first ever birthday party! She can't wait for the games, cake, fun...and party favors. But her mom doesn't know what a birthday party is -- it's new to her -- and she insists that Rubina bring her little sister along. That isn't the way it's supposed to work, but Rubina has no choice. And it turns out that having pesky Sana at the party isn't nearly as bad as what she does afterward. Later, when Sana is asked to a party and baby sister wants to come, Rubina must decide whether to help.

At the library, Lola just has to get Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies, the best book in the whole world. But wait a minute -- it's not there. How can this be? Beetles, Bugs, and Butterflies is Lola's book! It's the only book she wants to take out of the library. What will she do when she discovers that somebody else has borrowed her book? In this Charlie & Lola adventure, Charlie helps his little sister discover that there is more than one extra-special book to be found in the library.

"I have dreams about those shoes. Black high tops. Two white stripes." All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the shoes everyone at school seems to be wearing. But his grandma tells him they don't have any room for "want," just "need," and what Jeremy needs are new boots for winter. Those Shoes is a story of a young boy who realizes that the things he has -- warm boots, a loving grandmother, and a good friend -- are worth more than the things he wants.

Pie is for sharing. It starts off round, and you can slice it into as many pieces as you want. What else can be shared? A ball, of course. A book? A tree? What about time? You're invited to a glorious Fourth of July picnic, where you'll learn all about sharing, the good things along with the bad.

Here's the story in a nutshell: I don't have a friend. It's way too dangerous. I could get bitten. But when I spot a perfectly safe candidate for a friend, I'm prepared. All goes well until my plan takes a surprising turn, and suddenly I'm pursued tooth and tail by a four-legged individual! Will I survive this ordeal? Will I find my kindred spirit? Will I discover the true meaning of friendship? Read my nutty adventure to find out...

Rosie is a good dog, but sometimes she feels lonely. One day, her owner, George, decides to take Rosie to the dog park, but the park is full of dogs that Rosie doesn't know -- and that makes her feel lonelier than ever. When big, loud Maurice and small, yippy Fifi bound over and want to play, Rosie's not sure how to respond. Is there a trick to making friends? And if so, can the dogs figure it out together?

In Classroom Six, second left down the hall, Henry is looking for a friend. A friend who shares. A friend who listens. Maybe even a friend who likes things to stay the same and all in order, like Henry does. But in a day full of too close and too loud, when nothing seems to go right, will Henry ever find a friend -- or will a friend find him? With insight and warmth, this heartfelt story from the perspective of a boy on the autism spectrum celebrates the everyday magic of finding a first friend.

To make a friend you need eyes and a noise and a mouth. Don't forget the arms! And the hat! Now you have a friend. Now you are a friend. Winter, spring, summer, fall. Friends stay friends forever.

A wistful blue squirrel and an athletic red rabbit are each looking for a friend and missing each other by inches, although helpful bugs are trying to steer them in the right direction.

Farah feels alone, even when surrounded by her classmates. She listens and nods but doesn't speak. It's hard being the new kid in school, especially when you're from another country and don't know the language. Then, on a field trip to an apple orchard, Farah discovers there are lots of things that sound the same as they did at home, from dogs crunching their food to the ripple of friendly laughter. As she helps the class make apple cider, Farah connects with other students and begins to feel that she belongs.

Tyler's neighbor Jake brags about everything. Tyler can't show Jake a basketball move, a school assignment, or a new toy without Jake saying he can do better -- and it leaves Tyler feeling like he shouldn't even try. With help from his uncle Kevin, Tyler begins to understand that Jake's bragging has nothing do with Tyler's own abilities. Better Than You gives kids insight into what lies beneath the urge to brag and shows them how adopting a "better than you" attitude can break friendships rather than build them.

"Tell the truth and shame the devil," Libby's mama has told her. So what is Libby doing wrong? Ever since she started telling only the truth, the whole world seems to be mad at her. First it's her best friend, Ruthie Mae, who gets upset when Libby tells all their friends that Ruthie Mae has a hole in her sock. Then Willie gives her an ugly look when she tells the teacher he hasn't done his homework. It seems that telling the truth isn't always so simple.

When Molly and Mae meet at the train station, two journeys begin: a trip through the countryside and an expedition through the highs and lows of friendship. At first the way is scenic and smooth -- and then something goes off track. Can Molly and Mae build a bridge of kindness back to each other?

Olive learns the hard way that keeping secrets is tough and telling them can make for a whole lot of trouble! When Molly shares a secret with Olive, the urge to tell is just too great! Olive tells Joe who tells Matt who tells Lola. But Lola is best friends with Molly. Uh-oh, the secret is out, and Olive is in for it!

Annie, Lillemor, and Lilianne are best friends for many reasons, including a shared love of singing. So when their teacher announces a school talent show, Annie suggests they enter as an all-girl singing group. What fun! But when the three girls brainstorm what song they might sing and what costumes they'll wear, Annie doesn't like any of Lilianne and Lillemor's suggestions. It's Annie's way or the highway -- the whole thing was her idea, after all! Will creative differences keep the three friends apart? Or will Annie change her tune?

Every day after school, Manny saves the world from formidable foes. Zombie bears, evil cloud monsters, and alien robots with laser-beam eyes are no match for Super Manny. But when Manny encounters a real-life nemesis in the school cafeteria, will he be able to summon his superhero strength to save the day?

It started small. Tommy blushed. Funny! When everyone laughed at him, it wasn't so funny anymore. But how do you stop bullying?

"You used to be a mouse," said Mickey to his ex-friend Jack. "And now you've turned into a great big rat." Maybe Jack wasn't a rat, but he certainly was a bully, and he made life very uncomfortable for Mickey. Mickey's parents had some helpful ideas, but Mickey found that it was easier to talk about loving your enemies than actually to do it, and brave words were often just words. But then something happened that surprised Mickey as much as Jack. And the unexpected result was that the ex-bully was once more a friend, and Mickey had good reason to be proud of his problem-solving technique.

Why I Don't Want to Go to School Today: Bully B. What Bully B. Does: Blocks my way, shoves me, calls me Weirdo. What Everyone Else Does: Nothing... Narrated in the striking original voice of an outsider, What Happens Next is an intimate look at the worlds of the bullied and the bully -- and the ways in which the universe connects them. What Is Possible: Maybe anything...

Blue is a quiet color. Red is a hot head. Red likes to pick on Blue. Yellow, Green, Purple, and Orange don't like what they see, but what can they do? When no one takes a stand, things get out of hand. Until One comes along and shows all the colors how to stand up and count!

Forgive and be forgiven. It sounds so appealing -- why doesn't it happen every day? Finding herself forgiven on a rain-scrubbed morning after a difficult day, Melena seizes her fresh start and shares the song in her heart with her family and friends. It's a day of new beginnings. It's Melena's jubilee.

A long time ago and far away -- although it could be here, and it could be now -- a boy threw a stone and injured a girl. For as long as anyone could remember, their families had been enemies, and their towns as well, so it was no surprise that something bad had happened. Hate had happened. Revenge had happened. And that inspired more hate and more calls for revenge. But this time, the young girl decided to try something different...

How does this piano-loving featherweight of a girl respond when her brothers keep on making her do their chores? She takes up boxing, of course! Maybe if she gets good enough, they'll even stop calling her Feather. Readers will see Feather's determination and sense of justice as positive, transformative traits that help us on the road to becoming who we really are, and they will root for her as she learns to stand up to her brothers, proving that sometimes the best way to go after what you want is to leap into something new.

Jack is very quiet. But the rest of his family is very noisy. One day when he tells them he's going up, up, up the mountain, nobody hears him. And when night falls, nobody knows where he is. How will Jack find a voice loud enough for his family to find him?

Mary Wrightly, so politely, says: Please, Thank you, You're welcome, I'm sorry in a polite, quiet voice. But when she goes shopping for her brother's first birthday present in a very crowded toy store, she may have to speak loudly -- or miss out on the perfect toy. Mary Wrightly, so politely, may need to say...Excuse me! But what if she can't speak up?

Being a verb is hard...especially for Louis, who can't seem to control himself when he gets the urge to move at the wrong time and situation. Louis' mom comes to the rescue by teaching him techniques to help keep his inner itching, twitching, and jumping to be a verb in check.

Would you like to have a protoceratops come over for dinner? Or take a quetzalcoatlus out to a fancy restaurant? It might be very noisy -- and messy!

When Louis, the world's self-proclaimed space expert, is invited to Personal Space Camp by the school principal, he soon learns that personal space really isn't about lunar landings, Saturn's rings and space ice cream.