There are so many different feelings associated with going back to school: excitement, nervousness, and uncertainty, just to name a few. At Beaming Books, we believe in creating resources to help all kids thrive, especially when they are faced with challenges and changes. This list includes books to help us all prepare for the days ahead, covering topics like mindfulness, inspiring historical figures, creativity, and everything in between.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
It's Little Mole's first day of school, and he's nervous. What if he is the last to know his alphabet? What if he's not good at anything? With a good bit of anxiety, Little Mole heads to class and begins to compare himself to his peers. How will he ever measure up? But soon a crisis on the playground reveals that he has everything he needs in his own two paws to save the day.
In this third installment of the Little Mole series, author Glenys Nellist and illustrator Sally Garland spin another endearing tale of the beloved Little Mole, his encouraging mama, and his forest friends. Children will relate to Little Mole's feelings of self-doubt, will cheer him on when he discovers his unique gifts and talents, and will be inspired to confront their own insecurities and celebrate what they have to offer, too.
Download the free Little Mole Goes to School activity pack for kids to continue learning with Little Mole!
Preschool (3–5 years); Early Grade (5–8 years)
Little Bear loves the woods, his home, and going on adventures with his best friend, Big Bear. . Then something scary happens to Big Bear. He's caught in a forest fire. Even after he escapes and is safe, Little Bear can tell that Big Bear is not the same. He runs, roars, or freezes in fear when ordinary things happen in the woods that remind him of that traumatic day. How can Little Bear's big, strong, brave friend be so scared now? And how can Little Bear be a good friend?
In Big Bear Was Not the Same, Joanna Rowland, author of the bestelling book The Memory Box, gently introduces young readers to the common feelings of fear, anxiety, and anger that can follow a traumatic event, and shows them how to have empathy and compassion for themselves and for loved ones experiencing the effects of trauma.
Big Bear Was Not the Same includes backmatter written by a family therapist with information on how to talk about trauma with children.
Preschool (3–5 years); Early Grade (5–8 years)
The Girl with Big, Big Questions
"Why can't people live on the moon?"
"Can I be president when I grow up?"
"What makes a person good?"
These are just some of the questions that bubble forth from one little girl with twinkling eyes and a curious mind. When the girl finds that her big questions make some people uncomfortable, she stops asking. But then she learns that her questions can solve problems and that asking questions is how we learn and grow. The Girl with Big, Big Questions celebrates the spirit of curiosity and the joy of learning. A lively picture book about a persistent girl and her quest for knowledge.
Early Grade (5–8 years)
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings
Especially during difficult times, many kids (and adults!) find themselves experiencing big feelings. In The Boy with Big, Big Feelings, meet a boy with feelings so big that they glow from his cheeks, spill out of his eyes, and jump up and down on his chest. When a loud truck drives by, he cries. When he hears a joke, he bursts with joy. When his loved ones are having a hard day, he feels their emotions as if they were his own. The boy tries to cope by stuffing down his feelings, but with a little help and artistic inspiration, the boy realizes his feelings are something to be celebrated.
Download a free parent guide for helpful tips on how you can support and nurture kids with big, big feelings.
Preschool (3–5 years); Early Grade (5–8 years)
Anxiety. It's an emotion that rears its head almost every day, from the normal worries and concerns that most of us experience, to outright fear when something scary happens, to the anxiety disorders that many kids live with daily. But what causes anxiety? And what can we do about it?
All About Anxiety tackles these questions from many different angles. Readers will learn what's going on in their brain and central nervous system when they feel anxious. They'll learn about the evolutionary reasons for fear and anxiety and that anxiety isn't always a bad thing—except for when it is! Most importantly, kids will discover new strategies to manage their anxiety so they can live and thrive with anxiety.
Middle Grade (9–13 years)
Have you ever had an unwelcome thought that you just couldn't lose, no matter how hard you tried to push it away? For every child who has been weighed down by sadness or anxiety, this charming story about a little girl who has a thought she simply cannot lose teaches kids how to acknowledge unwanted thoughts, show them compassion, then actively let them go. Through this delightful story with charming illustrations, children learn how to practice mindfulness, focusing on thoughts that bring beauty, joy, and calm into their lives.
Preschool (3–5 years); Early Grade (5–8 years)
Children who struggle with negative thoughts may wonder how to make them go away. In this guided, illustrated meditation for kids, author Louise Bladen offers a simple mindfulness practice, not to banish bad thoughts, but to feel calm in the midst of thoughts that come and go. Children will learn how to breathe and center themselves in their bodies, find different ways to think about their positive and negative thoughts, and ultimately learn that they have the ability to feel calm and at peace no matter what kinds of thoughts happen to be in their mind at any particular moment.
These kid-friendly mindfulness excercises, inspired by What's in Your Mind Today?, are designed to help children learn to breathe and center themselves, especially during times of increased anxiety.
Preschool (3–5 years); Early Grade (5–8 years)
History
Rosalind Looked Closer: An Unsung Hero of Molecular Science
As a Jewish girl in England, Rosalind Franklin grew up against the backdrop of World War II. Fascinated with the natural world, as well as the invisible world that she could only see through her microscope, Rosalind developed a passion for science during a time when few women were recognized for their contributions to the field.
Despite her father's discouragement, Rosalind studied chemistry at Cambridge University and went on to study the molecular structure of carbons and DNA molecules. As a scientist, she learned a new technique called X-ray diffraction to take photos of molecular structures. With this technique she captured an image of DNA that was unlike any other image that had been seen before. She saw an image of what the DNA double helix looked like up close—one of the most important findings of the twentieth century.
An unsung hero of molecular science, Rosalind persisted even when men took credit for her work, going on to research the molecular shape of viruses. Rosalind Looked Closer is sure to inspire educators and parents interested in encouraging curiosity and a passion for STEM in girls and boys.
Early Grade (5–8 years)
The Tree of Hope: The Miraculous Rescue of Puerto Rico's Beloved Banyan
On the tropical island of Puerto Rico, there was an ancient banyan tree. His enormous twisted trunk rose up beside the San Juan Gate. Long roots hung from his wide-spreading branches, and his emerald, leafy crown greeted all who passed by. This beloved tree stood on the shore of the island for over a hundred years—until the fateful time when the biggest hurricane in Puerto Rico's history slammed into the island, devastating communities and uprooting that very tree.
This lushly illustrated and evocatively written picture book tells the story of the majestic jagüey blanco, one of the most beloved trees in the city of Old San Juan. Puerto Rican author Anna Orenstein-Cardona weaves an epic tale based on the true story of this bearded watchdog of the island, how the tree was impacted by Hurricane Maria, and how a group of people rallied together to save it.
Download the free The Tree of Hope educator’s guide for kids to continue learning about hurricanes and Puerto Rico’s beloved banyan.
Early Grade (5–8 years)
Opening the Road: Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book
In the late 1930s when segregation was legal and Black Americans couldn't visit every establishment or travel everywhere they wanted to safely, a New Yorker named Victor Hugo Green decided to do something about it. Green wrote and published a guide that listed places where his fellow Black Americans could be safe in New York City. The guide sold like hot cakes! Soon customers started asking Green to make a guide to help them travel and vacation safely across the nation too. With the help of his mail carrier co-workers and the African American business community, Green's guide allowed millions of African Americans to travel safely and enjoy traveling across the nation.
In the first picture book about the creation and distribution of The Green Book, author Keila Dawson and illustrator Alleanna Harris tell the story of the man behind it and how this travel guide opened the road for a safer, more equitable America.
Download the free Opening the Road Educator's Guide for kids to continue learning about Victor Hugo Green and his Green Book!
Preschool (3–5 years); Early Grade (5–8 years)
Writing and Creativity
Throughout history, people have picked up their pens and wielded their words—transforming their lives, their communities, and beyond. Now it's your turn! Representing a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, Mightier Than the Sword connects over forty inspiring biographies with life-changing writing activities and tips, showing readers just how much their own words can make a difference. These richly illustrated stories of inspiring speechmakers, scientists, explorers, authors, poets, activists, and even other kids and young adults will engage and encourage young people to pay attention to their world, to honor their own ideas and dreams, and to embrace the transformative power of words to bring good to the world.
Download the free Mightier Than the Sword Activity Pack for kids to continue learning about people who have changed the world through writing!
Middle Grade (9–13 years)
Poet, Pilgrim, Rebel: The Story of Anne Bradstreet, America's First Published Poet
Late at night, with her children tucked into bed and her husband away on business, Anne Dudley Bradstreet composed poems by candlelight. Puritan women in the 1600s weren't allowed to be writers. But when the world learned about Anne's poetry, even she was astonished by what happened next. This charmingly illustrated picture book tells the inspiring story of how a Puritan woman overcame the obstacles facing women of her era to become one of the most famous poets in history. A gifted writer of deep faith, Anne Bradstreet blazed a trail for the rights of women to study, write, and achieve.
Download the free Poet, Pilgrim, Rebel Educator's Guide for kids to continue learning about Anne Bradstreet and her writing.
Early Grade (5–8 years)
Courageous Creativity: Advice and Encouragement for the Creative Life
It can be scary to create something. Before you can even work on your craft, you have to face down the fear of messing up or looking silly, the perfectionism that keeps you from even starting, and the negative voices inside your head that say you don't have anything valuable to offer.
Well, you do have something to offer! Being creative is a right, and in this book, National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr will help you get started. Her advice and encouragement are paired with exercises to help you face down your fears, let go of expectations, stop comparing yourself to others, and make your art with courage. Courageous Creativity will empower readers to express themselves with self-confidence, bravery, and joy.
Download free coloring pages to encourage kids to express their creativity and create art inspired by Courageous Creativity.
Middle Grade (9–13 years); Teen (13–18 years)
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