Skip to main content

Five Faves: Picture Books About Resilience

Children are incredibly resilient for such small humans. We've seen them fall down and get back up countless times. But we've also seen then in the midst of profound struggles and want to help them grow their courage. Here are a few books about resilience that I love.

The Year We Learned to Fly
Written by Jacqueline Woodson
Illustrated by Rafael Lopez
New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2022. Picture Book.

A brother and sister learn how to use their imagination when their family is having a hard day. Their grandmother teaches them that their ancestors before them did the same thing when they faced years of oppression. The children learn to set themselves free by the way they think.

Gib-ber-ish
By Young Vo
Montclair: Levine Querido, 2022. Picture Book.

It's Dat's first day of school in a new country and everyone sounds like they're speaking gibberish. It makes him nervous and uncomfortable. But a girl in his class makes an effort to try and communicate with him in a different way. Dat learns that he's not alone in this new place.

Sometimes, All I Need is Me
By Juliana Perdomo
Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2022. Picture Book.

This young girl loves her home, except at night when it's cold and scary. But she learns how to create her own light so she can feel calm. This girl talks about all the things she does to feel okay and they all start with her own self.

The Magical Yet
Written by Angela DiTerlizzi
Illustrated by Lorena Alvarez
New York: Disney-Hyperion, 2020. Picture Book.

There are a lot of things this girl can't do...yet! The Magical Yet will remind you that although something may be hard, that doesn't mean it's impossible. This book teaches children how to be optimistic and persevere. 

Tilda Tries Again
By Tom Percival
New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2022. Picture Book.

One day, Tilda's world turns upside down and she doesn't know what to do. She gets so sad that she doesn't want to do anything--it's all too hard. But Tilda decides she can do hard things. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

If You Like...Ladybugs

Spring is almost upon us! We'll have more rain instead of snow, flowers will start blooming, and more bugs will be out. Ladybugs are some of the prettiest insects--and the least intimidating for those more wary of bugs. If you like ladybugs, check out these books! Ladybugs Do Not Go to Preschool Written by Ali Rutstein Illustrated by NinĢ‹a Nill Richmond, VA: Bright Light, 2024. Picture Book. Ravi loves ladybugs--he eats aphids instead of cornflakes for breakfast, brushes his mandibles instead of teeth, and has a ladybug costume complete with wings and antennae. He is certain that ladybugs don't have to go to preschool, and when Mom says that Ravi still has to go to school, he is nervous. However, thanks to Mom's patience and gentle encouragement, Ravi makes some new friends and realizes that preschool might be a good place for ladybugs after all. A Perfect Spot By Isabelle Simler Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. A ladybug is ready to ...

You Need to Read: Percy Jackson

I was a kid myself when  The Lightning Thief  by Rick Riordan was published, and it didn't take long for the Percy Jackson series to take the world by storm. Being the son of a Poseidon, Percy Jackson has some unique challenges as a half-blood. Here's some books that I think could've helped Percy when he was on his adventures trying to save the world: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians Written by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes Illustrated by Javier Espila Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2024. Informational. 191 pages. Percy, I know Chiron did a good job teaching you about mythology in Latin class, but this book is sure to be good to have on hand while you're traveling across the United States. Greeking Out  is written in a kid-friendly voice with vivid illustrations and a sometimes-snarky tone (much like Percy himself). It also presents real-life creatures and places along with the information about Greek mythology. The Homework Squad's ADHD Guide to School S...