We close out our commemoration of World Mental Health Day 2022 with recommended reading for children.
The day is organized by the World Federal of Mental Health, which proclaims that the world is reeling from the affects of the Covid-19 pandemic, wars, displacement and climate change.
Even as there is so much progress to be made creating structures that ensure the mental health of everyone, people can engage in individual solutions for mental well-being.
Our East Wenatchee Librarian Hanna has curated this list of books, all found in our library collection. She also created lists of suggested readings for teens and adults.
A Blue Kind of Day by Rachel Tomlinson
Coen is having a sniffling, sighing, sobbing kind of day. His family thinks they know how to cheer him up. His dad wants to go outside and play, Mom tells her funniest joke, and his little sister shares her favorite teddy. Nothing helps. But one by one, they get quiet and begin to listen. After some time, space, and reassurance, Coen is able to show them what he needs.
Shady Baby Feels : A First Book of Emotions by Gabrielle Union
Learn about feelings and emotions with Shady Baby in this board book created by the bestselling team of Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, and Tara Nicole Whitaker! Shady Baby is baking cupcakes, and she has some feelings about the process. From excitement to boredom, Shady Baby expresses nine common emotions and inspires kids to talk about their multitude of feelings.
Tisha and The Blossoms by Wendy Meddour
Tisha and Mommy are always having to hurry up. What would happen if they slowed down? A gentle, gorgeously illustrated story of mindfulness — and sharing the small moments.
Crying is Like the Rain by Heather Hawk Feinberg
A gentle metaphor for understanding and processing anxiety and sadness. A brother and sister explore sadness, fear, frustration, anger and more as they walk to school and get caught in a storm.
When Sadness Is At Your Door by Eva Eland
A young child experiences sadness as if it were a visitor, acknowledging the emotion and suggesting activities to do with it. In her debut picture book, Eva Eland gives sadness a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all to help demystify the emotion and distinguish it from ourselves.
Nook by Sally Anne Garland
Nook is small and shy, and she likes to sit in the cozy, comfy space of a hollow tree watching others play. When someone comes along to take Nook’s space, she feels lost and afraid, until she discovers she has friends looking out for her in ways she never imagined. This gentle story explores shyness and sensory needs, and inspires kindness, inclusion, and friendship.
Charlie Makes a Splash! by Holly Robinson Peete
Charlie, a boy with autism, describes what his life is like with his twin sister Callie, who does not have autism, and explains how water — whether in a pool, a tub, or in the aquarium — is like a warm hug, which settles him down and calms his mind, allowing him to focus and cope.
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