Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls {Mental Wellness}

When I share books to help us with our emotions and mental wellness I usually end with this book. Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls because I've learned it can rain really hard and rainbows can appear. Hanging on to the moments of rainbows will help you get through the rain.

This book takes readers on a journey with a girl and fox. As this friendship pair begins walking the reader senses they are leaving something behind. The author gives great examples of things that were and what they can be offering readers - a feeling of forward movement. For example, "Night before daybreak. The old day is done." 

I love the encouragement I felt about the hardships we all face. "Dark days may shake us and worries creep in, with dragons to duel and battles to win." Girl and fox discover friends who are helpful and kind. I just wanted to say YES! friends are a rope to hold on to especially when it's so easy to keep things to ourselves when life gets hard. The story ends with the reminder that morning is bright. 

Illustrator David Litchfield used ink and paint and then rendered the images digitally and all I can say is WOW! The shading and intentional use of light brings softness to each page. This softness on the pages of darkness makes the darkness seem natural. We all have mountains to climb. 

As I opened the book Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Prasadam-Halls something caught my eye in the small print section with all the publishing and copyright information. "Inspired by Psalm 30:5 - "Weeping my tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." I hope to find an interview with Sriti Prasadam. I'd love to know more about this.

My Bibliotherapy moment - 

"Rain before rainbows, clouds before sun, night before daybreak - a new day's begun."

The Little Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu {Mental Wellness}

A friend gifted me the book, The Little Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama & Archbishop Desmond Tutu when my world felt a little bit uncertain and it brought me a lot of comfort. I teared up reading with several moments of bibliotherapy. 

I'm going to share the bibliotherapy moment that tugged most at my heart. 

"Even if you slam the door and your joy can't get in, it's just not he other side waiting in al loving hug."

I was reminded while I couldn't feel joy right now and missed it, it was waiting and would return which is the message of this entire book. His holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu share their story of growing up away from each other longing for a friend. They share if we look at just sadness that is all we see and encourage readers to look around for joy.

Their examples of joy are easy to find; the warm sun on us, being silly, a cozy bed, and rain puddles to name a few. They also share once they found joy they found sharing their joy created more joy.

I think it's a great mentor text for writing a list of joyful things. I think it's a great text to launch sharing joyful things from our classrooms into the world. I'm going to be pondering how to do that more intentionally this summer for next year.

Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell {Mental Wellness}

Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell is a tender story about getting low, feeling bogged down and finding others to help us realize there is a tomorrow. Elba is a purple hippo with a big block she drags around with as string. Norris is a green alligator who dances everywhere. 

Elba and Norris meet in the park and we watch Norris try to engage Elba with a picnic. Norris wants to know what is inside Elba's block. They have tea in the rain and Norris keeps trying to find out what is in the box with no luck. As they walk to the ocean, Elba shares she misses Little Bird and is sad. Elba tells Norris all about Little Bird. The block starts to shrink and get lighter. 

Elba and Norris model what friendship filled with kindness and empathy can do to bring comfort to a sadness. Sometimes we all need a little encouragement and checking to try the next tomorrow.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"How?" whispered Elba.

Lemonade Hurricane by Licia Morelli {Mental Wellness}

Lemonade Hurricane A Story of Mindfulness and Meditation by Licia Morelli is told from he point of view of a sibling with a very active younger brother. Emma likes moments in her day to rest and Henry is very active with running, wrestling, and noises. Henry has days filled with activities and really enjoys karate putting all his energy in to it. Emma calls all his energy - a lemonade hurricane.

She'd love for Henry to slow down and tries to show him how to be still. Henry is all over the tree and the yard while she is sharing how to pause and breathe. Then she shares an idea of riding an elephant and Henry can sit and breathe with Emma.

I love hearing about the emotions and journey a sibling has while trying to share strategies for an overactive family member. 

The author's note shares an analogy for mindfulness and meditation to a glass of lemonade. A great visual to use with readers. She also shares strategies for practicing mindfulness and meditation. 

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"When I sit I can feel the ground beneath me. I can hear the birds chirping. I can smell the grass."

When Sadness is at Your Door by Eva Eland {Mental Wellness}

When Sadness is at Your Door by Eva Eland is my favorite book about sadness. We need to talk about sadness more and picture sadness. Eva has taken a topic often illustrated with dark hues and uses a light aqua teal to represent sadness. Along with brown, choral, and a smooth white/ivory background readers are encouraged to accept sadness.

Eva reminds us sadness surprises us. Sadness lingers. We can try to hide it. Then she writes giving readers ideas for living with sadness. We need to name it, listen to it, understand where it comes from and what it needs. We don't have to understand it and we need to sit with it. 

Sadness can want us to sit and not do very much. This is okay and we need to do opposite action activities - things that we don't really want to do so we get engaged and moving. Eva shares ideas like drawing or listening to music to name a few. Reminding us that tomorrow is a new day.

A great follow up is a writer's notebook entry about things that make you sad.

On Eva's website she has teaching notes to guide our work with her book.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"If you don't understand each other, just sit together and be quiet for a while."

the Circles All Around Us by Brand Montague {Mental Wellness}

the Circles All Around Us by Brad Montague is all about connections. The story begins with child drawing a circle with child around themselves. While this circle is safe it can also be lonely. We follow the child expand their circle to include family, extended family, and then friends. Our circles change depending on where we are and sometimes our circles of connections and bring discomfort. As our circles grow so does our caring. The ending of this story is reminder about caring for ourselves while maintaining these circles of connections.

Navigating people can be hard when someone is working on their mental wellness and yet connections have been proven to be necessary to help our mental health. This book reminds us connections are needed and our circles can change, grow, and shift.

My bibliotherapy moment - shifted from the first time I read this book.

First read - "So let us create bigger circles all around us for the rest of our days."

Second read - "It doesn't mean the circle is easy. It can get harder the more we share."

You Are Your Strong by Danielle Duffer {Mental Wellness}

You Are Your Strong by Danielle Dufayet discusses a wide range of emotions.  Emotions that can be hard to manage; worry, scared, sad, and mad.  Each emotion has a different pair of characters.  The child feeling the emotion and then the adult who helps the child. The adult helps shift the current emotion away for the child and replaces it with a more positive one. 

As the story grows the each child returns and this time they are able to share ways they independently find something different to change their feelings to an opposite emotion.  For example a little girl is afraid of monsters and the dark. She tells funny stories to help her feel brave.  

There's a fabulous two page spread at the end with a note to parents and caregivers with advice and suggestions for helping children and the many emotions they can feel.  These tips also apply to our classrooms where children spend a great deal of their day during the school year.

My favorite bibliotherapy moment - 

"Inside you, your Strong is a light that shines like the sun." 

BRAVE EVERY DAY by Trudy Ludwig {Mental Wellness}

BRAVE EVERY DAY by Trudy Ludwig is a must have for every school, classroom, and house. Camila worries and when she worries she hides. She has many worries and readers can connect with her. Her worries start with phrases like what if, I can't, and I'm scared. 

A class trip to the aquarium is coming up and Camila's worries grow and her classmates are aware of them. Sadly, she's teased and her worries increase. The field trip day comes. The class arrives and Camila makes a plan to hide only to discover Kai behind the same plant she wanted to use to hide.

Kai loves reading about animals and isn't thrilled with visiting them in person. Camila and Kai connect over their worry and support each other to use the phrase, I'll try. 

I'll try are such important words as we navigate each day and might just be the encouragement someone needs while experiencing worries.

This book has a recommended reading for kids list about worries and anxiety. The author also offers a list of questions to guide discussions before, during, or after reading this text.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"Seeing Kai so nervous makes Camila realize her heart is bigger than her fears."

BE STRONG by Pat Zietlow Miller {Mental Wellness}

BE STRONG by Pat Zietlow Miller helps readers understand the layers of meaning with the word strong. The opening scene is all about physical education class and the physical strength needed for the climbing wall. Our main character doesn't have the muscle strength to do it.

She comes home deflated and her family expands the meaning of strong for her. "My family says being strong get you through life. When hard times happen and things don't go as planned."

She sets out wondering how can she be strong. What follows is just beautiful in text and the illustrations as she notices and learns from her community.

Strong is...

showing up

speaking up

not giving up

sticking to a promise

giving up a would like to

make things happen

turn nothing into something

moving forward

care

cry

help others and receive help

When we expand the layers of meaning for strong, I think we all use one of these each day. I've been trying to have a read aloud on Mondays related to emotions and then always collect ideas in our writer's notebooks. I can't wait to see how my student's interpret they are strong after hearing this book.

all the beating hearts by Julie Fogliano {Mental Wellness}

all the beating hearts by Julie Fogliano celebrates self acceptance and our individuality. The structure of the story is a journey through a day from sun up to sun down. Our days start with hopefully eating, getting dressed, having somewhere to go and the choices of work, play, and maybe both. I love that she included both because they are both needed. Then she reminds us we may have days with not much going on and I found this a gentle reminder that this is okay.

There's a two page spread with an infant and a parent where we watch the caregiving roles flip as they both age. A gentle reminder about what love looks like at various stages in life. 

The story reminds us about things coming and going, growing, changing, and busy. Yet at night when we rest "we are al just hearts being in the darkness." The story then nudges us to realize above the bustle of a busy day our hearts are still beating individually. The book ends reminding readers we are strong and steady. 

In our busy emotional thoughts this book helps us slow down and pay attention to our beating hearts and realize that is a connection between us all.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"...here and alive together but apart the same but exactly different."

Feelings by Libby Walden {Mental Wellness}

Inside my heart and in my head...Feelings by Libby Walden opens with words embracing all that feelings bring us; dwell, spark, bounce, beneath, bubble, stir and brew. Her six lines of text captures action and examples that make emotions beautiful and sometimes a lot. 

The book then names an emotion and she uses a two page spread with four lines defining and offering examples to understand the named emotion. I love the sequence she uses brave, sad, angry, happy.... 

Illustrator Richard Jones has used warm muted shades with a peek through technique. There is a cut away on the front cover and each page which highlights the main character alone for each emotion double page. On the last page readers are surprised to find other children with the main character. Another interesting illustrative move is the nature setting for throughout the page. I think it sets the a tone for accepting the various emotions naturally and spending time with them. 

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"Everyone is different, and their feelings aren't the same; and what you feel is who you are - it's something you must claim."

Niko Draws a Feeling by Bob Raczka {Mental Wellness}

Niko Draws a Feeling by Bob Raczka and illustrated by Simone Shin reminds us about the power of observation and drawing. Niko carries a sketchbook with him everywhere. As he shares his pictures with others and offers an explanation for what they are about. Often his viewers don't see what Niko shares. The illustrations show some disappointment in Nikko's face. 

Then shortly after these disappointing moments he notices a moving truck next door and meets Iris. He invites Iris over and she starts to notice his collection of drawings. She comments that one of his drawings is sad and Niko is surprised she knew.

Niko draws a picture for Iris and he's not sure what it is. Iris tells him what she sees and it is so sweet. Niko shows readers there's power in drawing and sharing our ideas. Blank paper and drawing tools can be an invitation for processing this world and our thoughts. We should all carry a notebook with us, I think.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

""Iris thought. It looks like how I feel. You know, sad because I had to move."  Suddenly, Niko felt a window opening in his brain."

TODAY by Julie Morstad {Mental Wellness}

TODAY by Julie Morstad reminds readers we make choices all day long and some of them give us beautiful moments to enjoy and take in. Her book takes the main character through a typical day making lots of choices. What will they wear in clothing and style their hair? What will they eat for breakfast and where will they go today? Even posing a question about how they will get there? 

Choices can be overwhelming at times. Each of these questions is illustrated with a collection of small objects.  I loved the detailed descriptions; stripy pajamas, donut braid, sunny-side up eggs, maybe a tiny island by yourself, and traveling on a camel. At first, I thought these were simple pages and as I reread the book I realized the message of needing different things and embracing our differences is beautifully represented. 

Once the reader has followed the decisions for the day we can embrace and be reminded of options we can do. View paintings at a gallery or museum, sit in nature by ourselves, picking flowers, activities with friends outside, ideas for a rainy day, and collections about things that could be in our toy collections or options of things to do inside. These would be fun pages to help guide opposite action.

Opposite action is doing exactly what  you don't think you want or can do. Let's say you want to stay in bed for the day...you need to put your feet on the floor, get up, and do something. We follow this main character through the evening and back to bed. 

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"Should I stay close to home or go far away?"

Sometimes I Grumblequinch by Rachel Vail {Mental Wellness}

How fun is the word grumblequinch! My readers were already intrigued with the book from the title and the expression on the front cover. Sometimes I Grumblequinch by Rachel Vail explores big emotions. Katie Honors is our main character who is nice, accepting, and accommodating. 

Her baby brother Chuck though can be frustrating and we learn that grumblequinch is when her "insides tighten and I think mean thoughts." He continues to be frustrating and she wishes him away and shares other actions she'd like to happen to him. However, she doesn't share or act on this thoughts - she grumblequinches them down.

Pushing her thoughts down leads to an explosion of emotions with regret. She waits for her mom to offer consequences that never come. Her mom's response is a gentle reminder for adults caring for others.

The Rachel Vail had left an author's note with wisdom about emotions. Hyewon Yum has an illustrator's note sharing illustrative moves she made using colored pencils to show Katie's emotions. Both share a bit about their own emotion journey as a child.

My bibliotherapy moment came from the author's note - 

"Sharing honestly helps you cope."

Whimsy's Heavy Things by Julie Kraulis {Mental Wellness}

Whimsy's Heavy Things by Julie Kraulis offers readers an opportunity to shift our mindset about worries. Readers meet Whimsy on a swing in her backyard and it's not the image you might envision of a child swinging.  

Whimsy and the swing are touching the ground, her head is down, and there are four black circles/balls anchoring the earth around here.  She tries many things to get rid of her black ball heavy things; hide them, hang them, fly them, float them, and pretend they aren't there.  She becomes sad and the heavy things won't go away.  Then Whimsy realizes she might be trying to deal with too many heavy things and finds ways to make these worries smaller. 

Not only does Whimsy break up her heavy things into smaller manageable chunks, she is able to do something good with smaller pieces.  For example, she plants some heavy smaller chunks and grows a beautiful peach tree.  

The last worry helps Whimsy do something faster and feel lighter.  Whimsy offers us all some sound life advice, "Because Whimsy had discovered that heavy things are just light things in disguise."

I love the illustrations and how each page embraces Whimsy and her struggles. Very thoughtful details and color hues enhance this story.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"She had an idea: she could break the heavy thing into smaller pieces. So she did."

The Don't Worry Book by Todd Parr {Mental Wellness}

As soon as I read, The Don't Worry Book by Todd Parr I wanted to somehow find funding to put this book in the hands of every classroom and home.  We all worry and Todd validates that on the first page and then defines worry on the next.  

He then shares examples of when we could worry with his trademark bright colorful illustrations. His worry examples cover all ages; from when you are trying to sleep, use the bathroom or have too many things to do.  I love the two pages where he address technology usage; "when watching TV or from looking at screens too much."  

The second half of the book shares ways to help overcome your worries; talking to someone special, dancing, and why not put a pair of underwear on your head.  Young readers just burst out with giggles.

Another suggestion is to make a list and remember the things that make you strong.  A perfect invitation to use our writer's notebooks. He closes his story with an image of different people.  The people who love you and will take care of you.  We all need to remember we have others to reach out to for help.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"Or thinking about all the things that make you strong."

The Boy with Big, Big, Feelings by Britney Winn Lee {Mental Wellness}

The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee opening page embraces feeling big emotions and how they can take over us and situations. Several examples follow helping readers understand triggers for the main character and his big emotions; a loud truck, shadows at night, and happy feelings were big too during his day. When people are able to feel emotions big they often feel the emotions of others and this boy does too. 

Sadly, the boy tries to hide and not show his emotions and this causes such worries for interacting with others. Fortunately, on the playground he notices a girl with big emotions too and reaches out to her. The two friends start to notice emotions are everywhere.

I wish I had this book a few years ago.  It really helps describe emotion dysregulation - difficulty accepting all the emotions we can feel.

My bibliotherapy moment - this book had a few

"The two became pals who shared their big hearts, not feeling they had to pretend when they needed to cry  or laugh big and loud, since feelings had helped make them friends!"

The Unbridgeable Curmudgeon by Matthew Burgess {Mental Wellness}

The Unbrudgeable Curmudgeon by Matthew Burgess and illustrated by Fiona Woodcock offers readers a lot to talk about just on the front cover. The title immediately offers a vocabulary discussion with Unbridgeable being the easier word to figure out and readers probably have some background knowledge to assist. Curmudgeon feels like a word my sweet grandmother would have used and not one in my every day conversations. Fiona Woodcock has offered readers so many clues through her illustrations. The creature who won't budge is probably feeling a lot of emotions. My classroom always explodes with observations and feeling words when this cover is shared.

Then the end paper offers us a definition for curmudgeon and a pronunciation key. "A bad-tempered, difficult, cranky person; a grouch." Sometimes I stop our reading and write there we make lists when we can be difficult, cranky, or a grouch. There are a lot of happy feeling words and we need to embrace the not so happy.

The little girl in this story has so many strategies for budging the curmudgeon and does resort to a nudge or push or a pull which doesn't turn out that great for her. What it does do though is reverse the emotion roles for these two characters.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"If all else fails, you can try turning on a favorite song...the one that makes you sing along."

Sometimes, All I Need is Me by Juliana Perdomo {Mental Wellness}

Sometimes, All I Need is Me by Juliana Perdomo is a book that encourages readers to embrace what brings them comfort. The little girl enjoys her home, doing things with friends, and then having some time on her own. In our fast paced hurried cultured this book is a gentle reminder taking time alone is offers opportunities to play, listen to music, and dance. 

As readers connect with the character and the reminder she gives us for spending time on our own, we watch her work through uncomfortable moments; a scary room at night, falling down, and feeling sad. In each situation, she models being her own support by finding people to help, accepting a hug, and hugging herself.

This is a great book to have students think about things they enjoy doing by themselves and a writer's notebook is the perfect place to hold a list like this.

My bibliotherapy moment - 

"When I feel sad, a hug from Grandma makes everything better. I t feels like a warm knitted sweater."

I'm Happy - Sad Today by Lory Britain

I'm Happy - Sad Today by Lory Britain embraces and guides readers with the many emotions they can feel in the same day and most likely very close in time.  Lori refers to these as Mixed - Together Feelings. What a wonderful phrase for us to offer  readers to use as emotions are discussed.

The book begins by identify emotions and how they feel different based on the situation.  Then Lori begins sharing mixed - together feelings.  For example; going to school on the first day of school can feel scary and brave together.  Another example is when a baby sibling is born and the big sister can feel proud and jealous.  I love this combination - frustrated and determined.  My favorite part of the book is when the sweet main character acknowledges she can feel more than one feeling at a time.  

The book ends with ways the main character can handle these emotions and they involve talking, listening, sitting, being active, using her imagination, movement, art, and word play.  That's right - why not mix emotion feelings together!  Try these on for fun - smad, happcited, loveappy, and glappy.

The illustrations by Matthew Rivera are set against a bright white background and the colors hues are just right for helping this story be told.  They are vibrant and yet subtle.  

The book has a lovely ending for caregivers and parents.  There's a guide for talking about feelings and strategies for supporting social emotional growth.  

My bibliotherapy moment -

"I know that all my feelings are okay at the same time."