In the book “Always Sisters” by Saira Mir, narrator Raya is SO excited to be a big sister! She can’t wait for her baby sister to be born so that they can be best friends forever. One very sad day, Raya learns that her sister is not going to be born because she has died. But what about being a big sister?? Raya goes through some big feelings, learns coping, and finds that she will always have the identity of “big sister!”
When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, it can be scary and confusing. Adults often think children will be upset if the diagnosis is discussed, but it’s actually the opposite – talking about it makes it feels less scary! Sheetal Sheth’s book “Making Happy” is a gorgeously illustrated book that shows how, even through the changes that cancer brings, joy can still be found in the love of family.
After a loss, feelings of grief can cast a cloud over our day. Kate Hauser’s book “The Cloud” puts this metaphor right on the page! And yet – what if that cloud is actually the shadow of big, beautiful love we have for our person – and we can learn to find healing in having it accompany us through life? This is a perfect book for a child of any age to relate to after a loss.
From the writer of one of our favorite books “the Invisible String” (and “Invisible Leash,” and “Invisible Backpack!”) comes this new and beautiful resource, “The Invisible Web.” Written by Patrice Karst, this book illuminates the connectedness of all living things. Inspiring compassion and empathy, we would recommend this as a book for a child of any age!
Eva Eland’s book “When Sadness is at Your Door” personifies the feeling of sadness. Instead of blocking out hard feelings, she encourages you to open the door to sadness, invite it inside, and learn how to include it in healthy ways. Maybe you color with your sadness or snuggle up and watch a movie. Whatever it is, you can cope with it!
A favorite of Development Director Michelle, Saxton Freymann’s book How Are You Peeling? is a fun and hilarious way to teach your child about emotions! Each food in the book has a different emotion, and it’s up to your child to decide how they think the foods are feeling (or, peeling)!
Where are our Today Show fans at?? Maybe you’ve heard of our newest library resource, “Misty the Cloud: A Very Stormy Day” written by meteorologist Dylan Dreyer! This adorable book uses weather to help children describe and understand their emotions!
The best way to tell if a book is right for you is to open it up, flip through the pages, and get a sense for the feeling it provides. When your child or teen pops open A Kids Book About Grief by Brennan Wood, they will immediately be blown away by just how stunning the book is. Reading almost like a graphic novel without pictures, this resource is sure to engage a child of any age!
Olivia’s House has long taught in our programs not only the importance of crying to express your emotions, but also the science behind our tears and how they can help to soothe our pain. In Fran Pintadera’s Why do we Cry?, she underscores this education by beautifully crafting a resource that explains to young children the many reasons for our tears. Whether our tears represent sadness leaving our body, an overwhelm of excitement, or anything in between, the author reminds us in a gentle way that tears are a universal language, spoken across time and place.
If you, your child, or anyone in your world tends to have anxiety, The Worry Jar by Michelle White is the perfect resource! When thoughts are spinning around in our heads it can be difficult to tell where our worries end and we begin. That’s where The Worry Jar comes in! Dr. White tells the story of her student Alex receiving his first “Worry Jar,” a place where he can write down his worries and keep them contained somewhere safe that isn’t his own head! This resource walks the reader through exercises in managing anxiety that will be beneficial to a person of any age.