Are you familiar with social emotional learning? If you have a young child or grandchild, you might be aware of what this is. For us “old timers” (ha ha), it’s a new concept.
Social emotional learning (SEL) is an educational method that helps to foster social and emotional skills within a school’s curriculum.
I didn’t learn about SEL until about two years ago. The school I work in places great emphasis on SEL. As a parent and as someone who works with children, I think this is a fabulous idea. I wish they offered this back when my kids were little.
The publisher Candlewick Press has some new titles available that are not only wonderful story books, but they also touch upon social and emotional learning.
Sometimes All I Need Is Me
Author: Juliana Perdomo
Hardcover– Ages 2 to 5
Meet a young girl who loves her cozy home. It smells like cinnamon tea and feels like warm pajamas. But even when she’s away from home, and everything is different, she finds a way to become her own home, where she feels calm. At night, when it’s too dark and her feet are cold, her room can be a little scary. But she creates her own light when she closes her eyes and thinks of the sun. With friendliness and charm, Juliana Perdomo, in her debut as author-illustrator, shows young readers how to find comfort and confidence within. Her heartwarming picture book reassures children that sometimes, everything we need—courage, joy, peace, and love—is already inside us.
This book is all about the person you are on the inside, and how you don’t always need other people to give you a hug, or make you less scared, or to pick you up when you fall down. All that you need is inside of you.
I think sometimes adults forget that too.
Tisha and the Blossoms
Author: Wendy Meddour
Hardcover– Ages 2 to 5
Tisha has spent the entire day rushing. She has to hustle for the bus in the morning, though she wants to stop and listen to the sounds around her. She has to quickly put her crayons away at school, though she’s not finished with her drawing. She even has to speed through recess so she doesn’t miss lunch. So when Mommy picks her up, Tisha asks if they can please “have a little slowdown.” What if they walked instead of taking the bus? What if they counted cars and seagulls, umbrellas and hats? What if they simply sat on a bench in the sunshine and gave names to the pigeons in the park? From the creators of Grandpa’s Top Threes comes a beautifully illustrated, tenderly told story about taking the time to experience the world around us, listen to one another, and enjoy the little things in life.
Poor Tisha is always in a rush. She rather not be, but people like her teacher and mom are always asking her to hurry up.
This is a wonderful story and a great reminder that we all (including us adults) need to stop and appreciate everything around us, from the sights we see to the sounds we hear.
I am going to try and implement some kind of “mindfulness” with the kids at work. I’m still working on ideas. This book would be great for what I hope to accomplish at work this year.
The Bad Day
Author: Frann Preston-Gannon
Hardcover – Ages 2 to 7
Squirrel is left hanging when a search for a tasty nut goes wrong. Meanwhile, Bird has his beak buried in a tree trunk, Snake is tied in a knot, Tortoise is upside-down, and Fox? Well, Fox has a suspicious stomachache. These animals are all having a VERY BAD DAY!
But soon it becomes clear that little Mouse is having the worst day of all, and his friends can only help him—and one another—if they work together.
The little squirrel is having a bad day, especially because he ends up being lunch for the fox. The turtle is on his back and can’t get up. It’s just a bad day for all the little forest critters.
This is one of my favorite books from this bunch. The illustrations are SO CUTE!
There are some rhyming words in this book, which I know children love.
The Boy With Flowers in His Hair
Author: Jarvis
Everyone likes David, the boy with flowers in his hair. He’s sweet and gentle, just like his colorful petals. David and his best friend have a great time together, finding the good puddles, making up songs, and running away from the bees. But one day David comes to school wearing a hat, and he is quiet. When he takes off the hat, his bright petals flutter down like butterflies. Now, where his flowers were looks twiggy and prickly, causing the other children to stay away. But David’s best friend has an idea—a way to help David get his color back, wielding paintbrushes and plenty of love. Sensitively told and simply illustrated, Jarvis’s story invites even the youngest children to talk about difficult subjects in an age-appropriate way—and feel inspired to support others when they face trying times.
This is a beautifully illustrated book. It’s very colorful too. I love the sweet faces on the children in the book.
I love that this book is an easy reader. The text is large and the words are easy enough.
This is a wonderful book about acceptance, friendship and children who might be “different,” but still the same (if that makes sense?).
Nervous Nigel
Author: Bethany Christou
Hardcover– Ages 3 to 7
Nigel loves swimming. The water is his favorite place to be, and he comes from a long line of swimming champions. His mother is the fastest swimmer in crocodile history, and his sister was the first crocodile to get a perfect diving score. But Nigel doesn’t like competitions. His heart hammers when the whistle blows, and his tail trembles when he hears the shouting from the sidelines. But he doesn’t want to disappoint his family, so he never tells them how he really feels. And when they enter him in his first real competition, Nigel doesn’t know what to do. Will he ever find the courage to tell his family the truth?
This is an adorable book. I love the illustrations. Nigel is adorable, especially when he’s worried and nervous.
There are illustrations on every page. Some pages have four different ones and reads almost like a comic book on those page. Other pages feature full page illustrations.
This is a very cute story.
John’s Turn
Author: Mac Barnett
Hardcover-Ages 4 to 8
It’s John’s big day at school today—a performance for Sharing Gifts time. His bag is carefully packed and prepared, his classmates are ready, and the curtain is waiting to open. John is nervous, looking out at all the other children staring back at him. But he takes a big breath and begins. Mac Barnett’s compassionate text and Kate Berube’s understated and expressive art tell the story of a kid who finds the courage to show others his talent for dancing.
John is very nervous about dancing in front of his classmates. It was made worse when they made fun of him because he’s a boy wearing leotards. Their snickering stops as soon as they see how talented John.
This is another great book about acceptance, and being true to yourself despite what others have to say.
Everywhere With You
Author: Carlie Sorosiak
Hardcover- Ages 4 to 8
Two houses stand side by side: one is home to a dog, the other to a young girl. Though a fence divides them, girl and dog build a sweet and sturdy friendship rooted in make-believe . . . and are lonely no more. Paired with moving illustrations and based on a true story, this endearing tale from the author of I, Cosmo testifies to the transformative power of creativity and inter-species friendship.
This book has a lot of fantasy-like illustrations. They are really beautiful and go along perfectly with this story.
As an animal lover, I love that this story has a happy ending. It’s about a dog who dreams of being inside a house and having a family to love him. This story made my heart smile.
Take Off Your Brave
Author: Nadim
Hardcover– Ages 4 to 8
Four-year-old Nadim puts his words on paper and gives us a glimpse of how he sees the world: one filled with glitter, magical boxes, and cuddles with Mom. A place where school smells like daffodils and honey (and sometimes dirty socks), where Wednesdays are rainbow-colored, where fish in the sea make a shhhh sound, and where everyone has love, even baddies. The poems in this anthology make for joyful reading and are paired with vibrant, child-friendly artwork by Yasmeen Ismail that invites us to full-heartedly enter Nadim’s world. At once funny and sweet, gentle and zany, this anthology may just entice readers young and old to release the poet within.
This book is AMAZING! It’s a collection of poems that were actually written by a young boy, starting from when he was in preschool. I’m an adult, and I don’t think I could compose such beautiful and touching poems like Nadim does in this book.
Nadim’s poems deal with love, his teacher, wishes, living underground and so many more delightful poems.
Each poem and page is beautifully illustrated and really bring his words to life.
Normally I donate books to our program’s library once I am done with them. Not this book. This I’m keeping in my family’s library, just in case I have grandchildren one day.
All of these books are by Candlewick Press. You can check out more wonderful books at CandlewickPress.com.
Look for these books where ever books are sold.
Kimberly
*I received free copies in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.