Emotional literacy and intelligence are a crucial part of any child’s development. Whether your little bookworm is just starting to name and regulate their emotions or entering the turbulent tween years, books can equip them with valuable knowledge and skills to help manage their feelings. This week’s Three to Read, Jr. picks — all written by BIPOC authors — are essential additions to your parental toolkit.
EARLY READERS
Scarecited on the First Day of School by Alliah L. Agostini, Illustrated by Lala Watkins
SUMMARY:
It’s Afua’s first day of school — and with this new experience comes a variety of emotions. She’s not just scared or excited — she’s scarecited! Join Afua as she dons her “flute” (“fly” and “cute”) first-day-of-school outfit and encounters all sorts of unfamiliar situations a new student might face. Will she make a friend? Will the teacher pronounce her name right? One thing’s for sure: Afua has a lot of feelings, and she knows exactly how to express them.
WHY:
Feelings can be complicated, especially when we experience more than one at the same time! Afua’s first day of school shows young readers that it’s okay to feel multiple emotions, even if they seem contradictory. Afua comes up with all sorts of clever words to describe how she feels, from “scarecited” to “shurious” (shy and curious). It’s a great way to help your child develop their vocabulary and find ways to name and articulate their emotions.
ELEMENTARY READERS
Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings by Swapna Haddow, Illustrated by Yiting Lee
SUMMARY:
Sometimes, even dinosaurs need a little help with their feelings. Enter Dr. Diplo, the Jurassic kingdom’s premier therapist. Dr. Diplo knows a lot about handling tough emotions — and he’s here to help ten of his friends identify, process, and manage their feelings in healthy ways. Whether you’re having a bad day, scared of the dark, or sad about a loved one moving away, Dr. Diplo’s friendly advice will guide you through it.
WHY:
Wonderfully illustrated in comic format by Yiting Lee, Little Dinosaurs, Big Feelings provides young readers with coping strategies for dealing with ten emotions. Each dinosaur’s story is accompanied by a handy guide to help young readers understand how their feelings might manifest. They’re paired with step-by-step mindfulness exercises designed to help your child acknowledge and soothe their emotions.
MIDDLE GRADE READERS
Growing into You!: An Inclusive, Shame-Busting, Get-Real Guide to Your Changing Body and Mind by Melissa Pintor Carnagey, Illustrated by Brianna Gilmartin
SUMMARY:
Puberty comes with a lot of big, confusing changes. This comprehensive resource breaks down the many physical and emotional changes tweens and young teens can expect to undergo. Readers will learn about the science of hormones and discover tips and tricks for taking care of themselves and their growing bodies — all covered with a gender-inclusive approach. They’ll also receive important advice for their interpersonal relationships, from understanding consent and boundaries to simply being a supportive friend.
WHY:
Puberty is scary, and as book bans ramp up across the United States, finding the resources to help your child navigate these changes is more crucial than ever. As a nonbinary sexual health educator, Melissa Pintor Carnagey has all the expertise and empathy to demystify adolescence in a friendly, inclusive manner. Growing into You! includes discussion and activity prompts to help ease readers — and parents! — into conversations around tricky topics, including sex and anatomy. Carnagey encourages readers to go through the book at their own pace, reminding them that puberty isn’t a race and everyone’s body develops at different rates, in different ways.
That’s it for this week’s Three to Read, Jr.! We’ll be back next week with more amazing recs for your little bookworm.
Looking to expand your child’s library? Click here to explore our Pride picks for young readers.
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