ShareThe Power of the Perfect Children’s Book
One of the hardest parts of parenting is helping our young children navigate their emotional roller coasters. Yet big emotions are a necessary part of their development. It helps them communicate when they don’t have the words or the skills to stay regulated, solve problems, face fears, deal with disappointment or frankly navigate all their young brains are learning and processing. It is a lot. The more that we can help children process their feelings and get comfortable with the uncomfortable, the stronger their brain development, setting them up for higher executive functioning as they grow older. There will still be big feelings and big challenges, but they will be much better equipped with coping skills, critical thinking, flexibility and resilience. So how do we do this? Books! Children love learning through characters and books. Making text to self connections when they are feeling cozy and as part of their daily routine gives them the practice and preview to strengthen their feelings vocabulary so when the big emotions hit, they are able to access that awareness and recover more quickly.
So which books are the best?
Known as Nanny Miss Monique, our friend Monique DuPree has curated this special book list just for Sproutable. As a child caregiver for over 20 years, Monique DuPree has gathered a wealth of knowledge and experience related to early childhood education, learning through play, early age reading, and the importance of diverse characters of color in children’s fictional literature. A native Chicagoan and proud wife & mother, she hopes to help other caregivers build their own libraries of inclusive children’s books that allow them to effectively teach children the importance of self-worth, cultural pride, and the celebration of diversity throughout the world.
How to use these books
- Have a special shelf or area to keep all of the feelings, social emotional, mindfulness genre of books.
- “Habit stack” the routine by linking one of these books to a daily part of the routine, for example during breakfast, in the bathtub, or just after naptime.
- Keep these as “extra”; still allow your kiddos to choose their own books that they read before bedtime.
- While reading, make connections and ask them about times they felt that way. Notice and teach how the character resolves the feeling or any tools they use. What helps?
- For the mindfulness books, remind your child that they are helping to grow their brain and building tools to help them the next time their lid flips.
Anxiety
Brave Molly by Brooke Boynton-Hughes
Cranky Right Now by Julie Barry
Fen’s Drop of Gray by Brian Wray
My Monster and Me by Nadiya Hussain
Ruby Finds A Worry /tom Percival
The Worrying Worries Rachel Rooney
*See our blog on Separation Anxiety
Grief
How to Mend a Friend by Kark Newson
In My Heart by Mackenzie Porter
Lost in the Clouds by Tom Tinn-Disbury
My Big Dumb Invisable Dragon by Angie Lucus
No Longer Along by Joseph Coelho
The Rhino Suit by Colter Jackson
There was a Hole by Adam Lehrhaupt
*See our blog on talking to kids about grief and death
Mindfulness
Happy Right Now by Julie Barry
I am a Peaceful Goldfish by Shoshana Chaim
Little Big Feeling by Deb Mils
Maps of my Emotions by Bimba Landmann
Mindful Mr. Sloth By Katy Hudson
*See our blog about mindfulness
Overcoming Adversity
Maia and the very Tall Wall by Brian Wray
The Wind May Blow by Sasha Quinton
Tomorrow is a Brand-New Day Davina Bell
*See our blog about overcoming adversity
And more!
Tilda Tries Again by Tom Percival
Way Past Mad
What are your favorite books? Comment below!
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