Self-Esteem

Books & Accompanying Learning Resources

My Mom Is Like a Kite

A child touchingly narrates the ups and downs of living with a parent who experiences mental illness.

Resource Skills & Subjects: Critical Thinking in Literacy, Integrated Learning, Oral Language, Comprehension Strategies, Visual Elements, Vocabulary Acquisition, Social & Emotional Learning, Developing & Creating Texts, Key Ideas & Details, Just for Fun!

Topics: Mental Health, Self-Esteem, Stories of Resilience

Audience: ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1

The Big Bad Wolf in My House

A young girl describes what it’s like when her mom’s new friend comes to stay — a moving story about domestic violence that ends on a hopeful note.

Resource Skills & Subjects: Key Ideas & Details, Comprehension Strategies, Critical Thinking in Literacy

Topics: Mental Health, Self-Esteem

Audience: ages 4 to 8 / grades K to 3

Planting Sunshine

When does the war over there become the war over here? In this novel in verse, a boy named Theo can’t stop worrying about the war he sees on TV.

Resource Skills & Subjects: Critical Thinking in Literacy, Oral Language, Social & Emotional Learning, Make Predictions, Visual Elements, Comprehension Strategies, Text Forms & Genres, Key Ideas & Details, Integrated Learning, Developing & Creating Texts, Just for Fun!, Further Research

Topics: Diversity, Human Rights & Activism, Mental Health, Politics & Government, Self-Esteem, Stories of Resilience

Audience: ages 9 to 12 / grades 4 t

A Friend Is a Friend Is a Friend

When a child arrives at summer camp, they see a lot of other kids. Will any of them want to be their friend?

Resource Skills & Subjects: Oral Language, Make Predictions, Visual Elements, Making Connections, Social & Emotional Learning, Vocabulary Acquisition, Critical Thinking in Literacy, Comprehension Strategies, Key Ideas & Details, Integrated Learning, Developing & Creating Texts, Character Development, Just for Fun!, Further Research

Topics: Diversity, Mental Health, Self-Esteem, Stories of Resilience

Audience: ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1

Leo and Ralph

A stellar novel about space, starting over and a friendship that's out of this world.

Resource Skills & Subjects: Oral Language, Make Predictions, Social & Emotional Learning, Visual Elements, Vocabulary Acquisition, Writing, Comprehension Strategies, Making Connections, Critical Thinking in Literacy, Key Ideas & Details, Character Development, Just for Fun!, Further Research

Topics: Diversity, Mental Health, Self-Esteem, Stories of Resilience

Audience: ages 7 to 10 / grades 2 to 5