Dive into these great reads that exemplify compassion, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence. From topics like bullying and overcoming adversity to subjects like special needs and prioritizing mental health, you will find books from our premier publishing partners for all reading levels to support your students’ social and emotional learning (SEL).
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Aven Green was born without arms, but that hasn’t stopped her from living life to the max. All those unused arm cells went to her brain instead (at least, that’s her theory). As a result, she’s an eight-year-old of many talents. Follow her as she solves mysteries, competes in baking contests, and more, all while navigating third grade.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Kids have superpowers! This book guides kids to their inner strengths to help them be kind and beat bullying. They will learn how to recognize bullying, discover what they can do to stop it, and find out how to stand up for themselves and others. Tips, examples, and brief quizzes give kids real-world advice for being the best they can be!
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect – until her first day of school. “You’re named after a flower,” teases Victoria. “Let’s smell her,” laughs Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again? Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
A moving tale of friendship that touches on the subject of illness in a way that young children can understand. Everyone likes David, the boy with flowers in his hair. But one day David comes to school wearing a hat, and he is quiet. David’s best friend has an idea – a way to help David get his color back, using paintbrushes and plenty of love.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
A child tries to understand the life of a man he has seen sleeping under a bridge. The boy’s mother patiently answers his questions and explains how people’s life paths can be very different. The child observes the things he has in common with the man and wonders where his own path will lead.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
What should we do when things don’t go according to plan? We may feel mad, frustrated, or overwhelmed, but by talking it through, compromising, and seeing another point of view, we can start fresh and begin anew. This picture book will help children navigate the emotional challenges they face in their daily lives.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Other Vikings love to holler, howl, battle, and brawl, while Leif prefers spending time by himself atop the beautiful fjord. But when it’s time for the Viking Games, everyone must participate. Will Leif let down his clan or surprise them? Best-selling author Laura Gehl reminds readers to stay true to themselves and to look at things from a new perspective.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Part of the Taking Care of Myself series, Mental Health explains the importance of mental health and how children can maintain it through connecting with others, expressing their feelings, and more. The book includes easy-to-read text and vibrant photos, making it a great choice for beginning readers.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Goose sees how popular Phoenix is – he’s always surrounded by other birds. Phoenix sees Goose with his flock and wishes he had a family like that. They soon realize they don’t have to be lonely if they have a friend in each other! Early emergent readers will love the story and charming illustrations of these two relatable best friends.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Our World Is a Family is a picture book exploring the complicated topic of human migration in a gentle, loving, and affirming way. It lightly touches on the reason people might leave their homes, such as climate change or lack of safety, and inspires children to welcome their new neighbors into their communities with love.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
This poignant picture book explores the many faces of sadness and addresses the importance of mental health in a child-friendly way. A small boy creates a shelter for his sadness so that he can visit it whenever he needs to, and the two of them can cry, talk, or just sit. Author Anne Booth offers a beautiful depiction of caring for one’s own emotions.
Interest Level: Grades K-3
Poor Monday. Everyone knows he’s the worst. Every other day of the week has something wonderful about it. So, Monday tries his best to get people to like him, but Monday is just not cut out for Sunday’s naps or Thursday’s frantic energy. Finally, Monday decides to just not show up at all. That’s when he realizes that everyone has a job to do in a week.
Interest Level: Grades 3-6
Now available in large print format. Mia Tang is going for her dreams! After years of hard work, Mia finally gets to go on vacation with her family – to China! As she roams around Beijing, witnessing some of the big changes China’s going through, Mia thinks about the changes in her own life and is more determined than ever to get through the turbulence.
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
Stone-in-the-Glen, once a lovely town, has fallen on hard times thanks to fires, floods, and other calamities. The people put their faith in the mayor, a dazzling fellow who promises he alone can help. Only the clever children of the Orphan House and the kindly Ogress at the edge of town can see how dire the town’s problems are.
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
When Archie’s beloved grandpa is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Archie desperately wants to slow the progression of his grandpa’s memory loss. Using Grandpa’s old journal entries as inspiration, he creates shared role-playing fantasies with epic quests for them to tackle together, allowing Grandpa to stay in touch with his fading memories.
Interest Level: Grades 5-8
In this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, best-selling middle grade novel Out of My Mind, a young girl with cerebral palsy faces her fears at summer camp. Melody loves horses, but she has always been afraid of them. She hopes camp will be a welcoming place for her to follow her passion and conquer her fears in her own time.
Interest Level: YA/Reading Level 2.3 (hi-lo)
Develop students’ emotional intelligence with this hi-lo flip book. Emotional Intelligence is part of a five-book set on soft skills that was created for young adults reading at the most basic level. Elements of emotional intelligence in everyday life are explored alongside a fictional story to help readers contextualize the lesson.