Books That Heal Kids: negativity

Showing posts with label negativity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label negativity. Show all posts

Book Review: Grumpy Monkey

Author: Suzanne Lang
Illustrator: Max Lang

From the Book Jacket: Jim Panzee is in a terrible mood for no good reason. His friends just can't understand it - how can he be in a bad mood when it's SUCH a beautiful day?

They encourage him to stop hunching, to smile, and to do things that make them happy. But Jim can't take all the advice...and has a BIT of a meltdown. Could it be that he just needs a day to feel grumpy?

Why It's on My Bookshelf: This has been a really helpful book to introduce coping skills when kids are having difficulty regulating emotions. I like how the story ends with the monkey meeting a gorilla who is also having a hard day. Their conversation is a good reminder that everyone feels these feelings and eventually they will pass. I used this page of the book to talk about being still and silent and wait for the calm to come. Love Grumpy Monkey!

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Book Review: Penguin Problems

Author: Jory John
Illustrator: Lane Smith

From the Book Jacket: Have you ever considered running away to Antarctica? Of course you have! Because it's a land free of worries and responsibilities! All of your problems will surely be blown away by the icy winds of that lawless paradise! . . . Won't they?
 
Think again, my friend. This penguin has come to tell you that his life down there is no more a picnic than yours is here. For starters, it is FREEZING. Also, penguins have a ton of natural predators. Plus, can you imagine trying to find your mom in a big ol' crowd of identical penguins? No, thank you.
 
Yes, it seems there is no escaping the drudgery of your daily grind, whatever it might be. Or perhaps we've just learned that grumps are everywhere.


Why It's on My Bookshelf: My students loved this book. It was a great helper in a lesson on how negativity is such an unhelpful behavior to our lives. Luckily a walrus pops into the story to share how it's more important to be grateful and to look for the positive. This book is also done with humor which really engaged the kiddos. So important to teach students they can reframe their thoughts and words. If you also need a resource to help teach the size of the problem, I recommend this one for sure. 

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Book Review: The Bad Seed

Author: Jory John
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: There is a bad seed. A baaaaaaaad seed. How bad? Do you really want to know? He lies about pointless stuff. He cuts in line. Every time. He never washes his hands...or his feet. And he does lots of other bad things too. But what happens when a bad seed doesn't want to be bad anymore? Can a bad seed change his baaaaaaad ways?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This book helped provide so many insights to our students about what is really underneath anger.....hurt and sadness. When I teach my students strategies to calm down or deal with anger, it's important that I am also helping  them figure out what is really triggering their behavior in the first place. It could be bullying, a problem at home, feeling left out....many many things. We have to take the time to get to the root. I highly recommend this book!!!!



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Book Review: What to Do when You Grumble Too Much A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Negativity (Interactive Workbook)


Author: Dawn Huebner PhD
Illustrator: Bonnie Matthews
Interest Level: Ages 6-12

About This Resource: Did you know that life is like an obstacle course? It's exciting and fun, but full of tricky spots to get through. If you're a kid who feels so frustrated by those tricky spots that it's hard to enjoy the good things in life, this books is for you. 

What to Do When You Grumble Too Much guides children and their parents through cognitive-behavioral techniques used to treat negative thinking. Lively metaphors and illustrations help kids see life's hurdles in a new way, while drawing and writing activities help them master skills to get over those hurdles. And step-by-step instructions point the way toward becoming happier, more positive kids. This interactive self-help book is the complete resource for educating, motivating, and empowering children to work toward change. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Even though this is a workbook geared towards individual use, I have started implementing it into small group counseling and classroom lessons. It's been a fantastic supplement to my growth mindset lessons. The kids love all of the metaphors that teach what negative thinking is and how to beat those thoughts. This is a really empowering resource and the kids are really drawn to it because it sheds light on emotions they may not have been able to understand or cope with.  





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