Author: Susan Verde Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds From the Book Jacket:I give myself a moment. I take a breath. And then I tell myself: It's alright. I am Peace. Mindfulness means being fully in the present moment. Children can learn how to manage their emotions, make good choices, and balance their busy lives by learning to be mindful. Express emotions through speech. Find empathy through imagination. Wonder at the beauty of the natural world. I Am Peace encourages children to breathe, taste, smell, and be present in the here and now. Why It's On My Bookshelf: This year I used this book in a small group setting to teach students how to regulate using positive self talk when they are feeling anger or anxiety. We also created affirmations that help students reframe and transform the negativity they are feeling. I had a couple of teachers in my school who created corners in their room students could use for relaxation and calming. So this book came in handy to help encourage kids to use those spaces to practice techniques and skills to help them be happier in the classroom and not feel like they need to avoid or escape. A Link to This Book:
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. A Link to This Book:
Author/Illustrator: Tom Percival From the Book Jacket: Meet Norman. Norman is normal - perfectly normal. That's until he grows a pair of wings! Norman loves his new wings, but he's worried about what everyone will think. After all, they're definitely NOT normal. He decides to cover them with a coat, but hiding such a big part of his life makes him feel miserable. Can Norman find the courage to be himself? This is a bold and uplifting book about daring to be different and celebrating what makes you - YOU! Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is such a creative refreshing story about differences. I love the message that true happiness is being yourself and being proud of your unique qualities. You don't have to hide who you are to be accepted by others. And if you trying to keep things about yourself hidden - you end up feeling miserable. I love the play on the words "Perfectly Normal" in this story. We can teach our kids there is no such thing as PERFECT or NORMAL. What works is being yourself. It's the only way to happiness. Book Trailer: A Link to This Book:
