Books That Heal Kids: friendship

Showing posts with label friendship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friendship. Show all posts

Book Review: Rita and Ralph's Rotten Day

Author: Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrator: Pete Oswald

From the Book Jacket: 
In two little houses,
on two little hills, lived two best friends
 
So begins the story of Rita and Ralph. Every day they meet to play beneath the apple tree. It's always fun and games - until one roundly rotten day when a new game means someone ends up crying. Who knew it could be so hard to say "I'm sorry"? Just when it seems nothing will ever be right again, a surprising thing happens. The old friends try something new, that isn't new at all. Something they've done a hundred times. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I teach a lot of conflict resolution and problem solving to students so I was so excited to come across this book. This one will be helpful to teach the art of the apology. It's a great story to teach the size of the problem and sincere apologies. Love this one!

A Link to This Book: 
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Book Review: Turtle and Tortoise are NOT Friends

Author: Mike Reiss
Illustrator: Ashley Spires

From the Book Jacket: As little hatchlings, Turtle and Tortoise decided that they could never, ever be friends. Why? Because they are so different. But maybe they've got it all wrong. A hilarious and clever story about an unlikely friendship between two stubborn creatures, Turtle and Tortoise Are Not Friends proves that you can't always judge someone by their shell. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I'm always on the hunt for books on friendship and learning we are more alike than different. This was a good story on how we can make judgments about people and we often are very wrong in our ideas and opinions of them. When we are more accepting and curious about those around us we add important friendships and values to our lives. 

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Book Review: Henry and Bea

Author/Illustrator: Jessixa Bagley

From the Book Jacket: Henry and Bea have always been inseparable...until one day Henry suddenly stops talking to Bea. He won't chat with her in class, and he won't sit with her at lunch. Bea can tell something's going on, and she's determined to find out what it is. 

Then, during a class field trip to a farm, Henry finds something...something that makes it impossible for him to keep his feelings inside anymore. And even though it's hard for them both, Bea is there for Henry, as his best friend, no matter what. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This was my favorite book this past year. It is such a beautiful story on being a supportive friend. Henry's cat dies and he is suffering in silence. Bea shows how important it is to continue to be a caring force even when we don't know what is wrong. Eventually it comes to light what has happened to his cat and Bea validates his feelings "it's hard to lose a friend." She respects his need to grieve in private by not sharing with the class his feelings. There are many books on losing pets but this is the first one showing us how to be a caring friend in the process. Loved it!

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Book Review: The Buddy Bench

Author: Patty Brozo
Illustrator: Mike Deas

From the Book Jacket: When it's time for recess, Miss Mellon's students pour through the school doors and swarm over the playground. They fly make-believe planes, tame dragons, and ride elephants. But wait- why are there a few kids standing alone and watching? Why aren't they joining in?Why do they look so forlorn? They all have their reasons, but all they really need is a little encouragement. They need a kind word. They need a buddy bench.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This year our school got a buddy bench. We were really excited to get one to help kids have a place to make new friends. The only problem we were having was trying to figure out how to introduce it to the students and make sure it was being used appropriately. The Buddy Bench was an EXCELLENT resource to teach everyone about it's purpose and also introduce rules of the bench. In the back of the book there are seven rules you can use to teach the expectations of the buddy bench. It was much appreciated!

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Book Review: Deep Breaths

Author/Illustrator: Carol Thompson

From the Book Jacket: Dolly the Pig and Jack the Rabbit are best friends, but even best friends don't always get along. When Dolly and Jack have a big disagreement, they learn to count from ten to one, hum like a bee, and take long, deep breaths to calm down...and be zen friends again!

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Originally I thought this was going to be a book about mindfulness but it actually is a story about two friends who get mad at each other. They say some very hurtful things to each other but really don't mean it and really don't want to be upset with each other. They declare they are no longer friends. From there they use calming techniques to get rid of their anger. Eventually they find each other and the friends are reunited by telling each other how much they missed one another. It's a sweet story and I'm always looking for stories showing friends making up. 

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Book Review: Growing Season

Author/Illustrator: Maryann Cocca-Leffler

From the Book Jacket: Best friends El and Jo are the smallest students in their class. Even their names are short. But in springtime, something BIG happens. Jo starts sprouting like a weed! El feels smaller every day. At the end of the school year, their teacher tells everyone to take a flowering plant home and care for it over the summer. At first, El is disappointed that she ends up with an aster, which is looking less than promising. Then as the growing season progresses, something wonderful happens...

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I really loved this sweet story. El is very worried that because her friend had a growth spurt they would not have anything in common now. El is shortern now which starts to make her feel a little different. The ending shows the changes didn't harm their relationship, the friendship remains the same and continues to grow and blossom (and so does she!). 

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Book Review: A Tiger Called Tomas

Author: Charlotte Zolotow
Illustrator: Mart Alvaerz Miguens

From the Book Jacket: Tomas is too shy to go out and meet the kids in his neighborhood, even with his mom's encouragement. Instead he just sits on his stoop, watching the world go by. On the night of Halloween, opportunity arrives in the form of a tiger costume, complete with a mask that hides his identity. He can go trick-or-treating without anyone knowing i's him. But Tomas soon discovers his costume doesn't hide him quite as well as he thinks... 

A tender story that gently explores children's hesitancy to pursue friends, and the joy in making them. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is a really sweet story on being new and overcoming shyness. It also really validates the feeling of having a fear that people might not like you when you are trying to make friends. Throughout the book Tomas says: "they might not like me." He soon discovers everyone knows his name and is also surprised to see how friendly everyone is as he goes trick or treating. I think shyness can sometimes steal a child's inner smile. This story is a very encouraging reminder that it's okay to put yourself out there. 

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Book Review: Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse

Author: Marcy Campbell
Illustrator: Corinna Luyken

From the Book Jacket:  Adrian Simcox tells anyone who will listen that he has a horse - the best and most beautiful horse anywhere. But Chloe does NOT believe him. Adrian Simcox lives in a tiny house. Where would he keep a horse? He has holes in his shoes. How would he pay for a horse?



The more Adrian talks about his horse, the angrier Chloe gets. But when she calls him out at school and even complains about him to her mom, Chloe doesn't get the vindication she craves. She gets something far more important. 

This book shows readers that kindness is always rewarding, understanding is sweeter than judgment, and friendship is the best gift one can give. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: In order to have a heart that is caring and loving we have to understand that everyone comes from different circumstances. In this book, Adrian is a child living with less in his life. We live in a world where we sometimes value economic status more than being someone's friend. Lets help our children early in life develop empathy towards all walks of life. This is a must read. I am also going to include it with all my holiday reads as we head into the season of giving. 


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Big Friends


Author: Linda Sarah
Illustrator: Benji Davies

From the Book Jacket: Birt and Etho are best friends. Together they play outside in big cardboard boxes. Sometimes they're kings, soldiers, astronauts. Sometimes they're pirates sailing wild seas and skies. But always, always, they're Big friends. Then one day a new boy arrives, and he wants to join them. Can two become three?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Navigating a friendship of three can be really difficult for kids. At some point a child might feel left out if they see the other two are having more fun with each other. All of a sudden they might feel very lonely and left out in the friendship. But don't know how to express it or fit back in because jealousy has taken over. This book helps kids celebrate a circle of three friends. This is a big issue kids deal with and I can't wait to use this as a skill building resource for being inclusive. 

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Book Reviews: The Fox Wish and The Snail and the Whale

Found both of these heartwarming books in the Spring and they are such great choices for read alouds about kindness, generosity, and friendship. I used them as reinforcement s when I had teachers asking for extra lessons around being caring and kind. Many times when I read books I am very focused on skill building. These ones helped students develop character and opened up a space for discussion on acts of kindness. Loved them!

Author: Kimiko Aman
Illustrator: Komako Sakai

From the Book Jacket: Have you ever had a wish come true? Have you ever felt the hand of a kid smaller than you? Have you ever found something you didn't know you believed in? Have you ever talked to a fox? In this subtle, sensitive glimpse of magic, sister, brother, and reader alike find that the trusted familiar often lives right next to the truly extraordinary - if only you have the eyes to see it. 

Author: Julia Donaldson
Illustrator: Axel Scheffler

From the Book Jacket: When a tiny snail meets a humpback whale the two travel together to far-off lands. It's a dream come true for the snail, who has never left home before. But when the whale swims too close to shore, will the snail be able to save her new friend? This is a touching tale of adventure and friendship that reminds us that even the smallest creatures can help others in a big way. 

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Book Review: Draw the Line




Author/Illustrator: Kathryn Otoshi

From the Book Jacket: When two boys draw their own lines and realize they can connect them - magic happens! But then a misstep causes their lines to get crossed. Push! Pull! Tug! Yank! Soon their line unravels into a tug-of-war. With a growing rift between them, will the boys ever find a way to come together again? This is a wordless picture book about friendship, boundaries, and healing after conflict. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I often feel like I go through cycles as a school counselor as the CONSTANT problem solver with kid conflict. It is not my favorite thing! My hope this year is to be more proactive in giving kids the tools and skills they need to solve their own issues that don't require adult help. I needed a book that is not too long and will give me enough time in my lesson to work on conflict resolution steps. Also, because this story is wordless it allows us to create our own plan to make amends in friendships. I love the illustration of the large crack in the ground between the boys. I think it's a great metaphor and a discussion starter on how to fix our friendship cracks. Another positive was I needed more books with boys in it. I like to see a representation of everyone on my bookshelf. Excited to add this one to my library and hoping it helps lessen my time spent doing all the problem solving. 

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Book Review: Be Kind

Author: Pat Zietlow Miller
Illustrator: Jen Hill

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

As the child ponders everything from asking a new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving and thoughtful story explores what kinds is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference - or at least help a friend. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is such a lovely story on the incredible power of kindness. The story centers around another child witnessing unkindness. From that moment, she starts to think of how important daily kindness is when it comes to all of our interactions with one another. Through empathy she does something to bring joy to the child who was originally hurt. 

I love this book so much. One of our school rules/standards is "BE KIND" so this fits right in with what we are trying to teach children. It was refreshing to see this book and I will be using it TONS in the beginning of the school year. 

A Link to This Book: 

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Book Review: How to Grow a Friend

Author/Illustrator: Sara Gillingham

From the Book Jacket: Tend your friendships...and watch them grow! Making a friend takes patience, care, and space to bloom - just like growing a flower. With this lovely guide your little gardeners will soon have their very own green thumbs in this most important of life skills. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I am always getting requests from teachers to read more books and teach more lessons on friendship at all levels. This is a skill area all of our students need help and growth. I do a lot of lessons around kindness and bucketfilling but want to focus more on helping kids not just make friends but maintain those relationships. This is a cute book to start my lessons next year on friendship. 

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Book Review: Strictly No Elephants


Author: Lisa Mantchev
Illustrator: Taeeun Yoo

From the Book Jacket: When the local Pet Club won’t admit a boy’s tiny pet elephant, he finds a solution—one that involves all kinds of unusual animals in this sweet and adorable picture book. Today is Pet Club day. There will be cats and dogs and fish, but strictly no elephants are allowed. The Pet Club doesn’t understand that pets come in all shapes and sizes, just like friends. Now it is time for a boy and his tiny pet elephant to show them what it means to be a true friend. This sweet story captures the magic of friendship and the joy of having a pet.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This was such a helpful book to teach our K-1 kids how exclusion is a hurtful behavior. We focused on the words INCLUDE and INVITE. I feel like we need to flood our younger grades with these community builders. Early childhood is when we want to help instill those strong values of friendship and caring about others. Love this one.  

A Link to This Book:
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Book Review: Me, Me, Me

Author: Annika Dunklee
Illustrator: Lori Joy Smith
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: 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?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I've been using this one for grades K-2 on how to be a FLEXIBLE friend. It's helpful to have a resource like this when I"m trying to help kids become aware of how their behavior is impacting their friendships. If you choose to always be the one in charge and demand things to always be your way when playing with others - you might find yourself alone. I need more books on friendship skills so I was so happy to come across this one. 

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Useful:
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Book Review: This is My Dollhouse

Author/Illustrator: Giselle Potter
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: I made my dollhouse out of a cardboard box. It has an elevator that goes up and down, a rooftop swimming pool, and a very special family that lives in it. My friend Sophie has a dollhouse too. It's perfect. The dolls all look the same, and everything matches. What will Sophie say when she sees mine?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: My daughter and I recently discovered this book and I thought it was going to be a story about a girl who creates a dollhouse using a cardboard box. But it is much more than that. When the two girls have a play date a tense moment happens between them where one of them tries to control everything. She shuts the other friend down and won't listen to any of her ideas. This was such a great teachable moment. We had a good discussion about remembering to be a flexible friend and not shut down others ideas just because you might not want to play that way. The story ends with the girls having another play date and they are open to each others ideas and cooperate together. 




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Book Reviews: Rulers of the Playground

Author/Illustrator: Joseph Kuefler
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: One morning, Jonah decided to become ruler of the playground. Everyone pinkie promised to obey King Jonah's rules...Everyone except for Lennox, because she wanted to rule the playground too...

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This book tackles a lot of the issues we've been dealing with on our playground lately. There seems to be a few students who have been using bossy behaviors as a way to be in charge of other friends or dictate what games will be played. So I appreciated seeing this new book as it will go a long way in helping children remember to be flexible friends. Jonah and Lennox both try and "rule" the playground but the ending result is they are left with no friends. They realize that being bossy and demanding with others is actually very exhausting so they come up with an apology plan to make things right. I'm so delighted to have this new one on my bookshelf. It's going to definitely help make a positive behavior impact. 


A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful: 
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Book Review: My Friend Maggie


Author/Illustrator: Hannah E Harrison
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

About This Book: A sweet and heart-tugging story about bullying, friendship, and fitting in. Paula and Maggie have been friends forever. Paula thinks Maggie is the best—until mean girl Veronica says otherwise. Suddenly, Paula starts to notice that Maggie is big and clumsy, and her clothes are sort of snuggish. Rather than sticking up for Maggie, Paula ignores her old friend and plays with Veronica instead. Luckily, when Veronica turns on Paula, Maggie’s true colors shine through. 



Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is a powerful story about exclusion and how harmful it can feel. As a school counselor I have witnessed these types of power plays among students. It is very hurtful when a student tells another student not to play with a certain person. Veronica puts down Maggie by body shaming and saying that she is too big. It's a putdown I have heard other students use. I have not used a story like this before so it was a good discussion when we read it. This book fits perfectly into my curriculum around including others and accepting differences. I also like how the victim in the story ends up being the upstander. 

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:
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Book Review: Life Without Nico

Author: Andrea Maturana
Illustrator: Francisco Javier Olea

From the Book Jacket: Best friends Maia and Nico are inseparable. So when Nico's family must move away for a while, life without him leaves a big hole in Maia's world. 

But little by little, Maia's sadness eases, thanks to a kitten, a new friend and the magic of music. When it's finally time for Nico to return home, Maia worries. Can she find room in her life for him again?This is an endearing story of friendship and the infinite capacity of the heart. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I've had a few students have to deal with a friend moving away and really feeling devastated by the loss. This is a sweet story that validates these circumstances and feelings. It also shows you can fill the void in your heart by making a new friend and finding hobbies. I don't have too many books on this subject so glad I found it. This will also be a great resource to teach The Zones of Regulation. Great find!

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Book Review: Friendshape



Book Summary: The bestselling creators of Exclamation Mark! introduce a triangle, circle, square, and rectangle who celebrate the gift of friendship. Friends shape who we are. They make us laugh. They fill us with fun. They stand by us during life's up and downs. And even when we disagree with our friends, if they're tried-and-true, they don't stay bent out of shape for long. That's the beauty of a good buddy. This joyous book rejoices in the simple beauties of friendship, and reminds readers of all ages that it's good to have a group of pals.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I am always in need of more friendship books. When I ask teachers what they want me to teach in their classrooms I always hear - FRIENDSHIP! Friendshape is a great addition to my bookshelf. This is a super cute book and it's going to work nicely in my kindergarten and first grade lessons. 

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful: 
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