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  • General Recommendations
  • Staff-Created List

Social Emotional Treasure Chest

Picture books are a rich source of social emotional themes to help children build a foundational toolbox of strengths and skills. This fun list builds on self-regulation, resiliency, growth mindset, gratitude, empathy, problem-solving and stress-management.

Jefferson County Public Library

21 items

  • A simple book about the power of gratitude and taking time to thank the world around you for all the gifts you've been given.
    Book, 2024Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2024. — E FICTION JARVIS
  • An illustrated picture book that explores different ways of being grateful and present in the moment, such as finding a flower in a sidewalk crack and a puppy nose tickling one's toes, to manage the worries and stress children may feel.
    Book, 2024San Francisco, California : Chronicle Books LLC, [2024] — E FICTION WHITE
  • I Am Human

    a Book of Empathy

    Verde, Susan,
    Sparse text and illustrated children celebrate the emotions and actions that make us human and the best versions of ourselves.
    Book, 2018New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, [2018] — E FICTION VERDE
  • Rhyming text and colorful illustrations on board pages introduce learning readers to the concepts of community and equality in school. Every child is shown as unique with their own personalities and abilities to give to their communities.
    Board Book, 2023New York : Rise x Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, [2023] — BOARD BOOK
  • A young girl describes how she supports her animal friends in all sorts of different ways when they're feeling sad, and she explains how everyone handles their emotions differently.
    Book, 2022Somerville, Massachusetts : Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2022. — E FICTION NEWSON
  • Sonny makes a choice that causes his friends to miss something special. How can he apologize in a way that shows he truly cares?
    Book, 2022New York : Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2022. — E FICTION HART
  • This book examines children's feelings of impatience and offers tips to pass the time while they wait.
    Board Book, 2019Minneapolis, MN : Free Spirit Publishing Inc., [2019] — BOARD BOOK
  • Describes one busy family's challenges as the day draws to a close and the ways patience can bring about a good ending filled with gratitude.
    Book, 2022New York : Alfred A. Knopf, [2022] — E FICTION DETLEFSEN
  • A boy named Tyler has trouble with words. When he speaks, the words get stuck, and he soon becomes frustrated and frazzled. He wishes he could take part in show-and-tell at school, but he just can't get the words out.
    Book, 2024New York : Farrar Straus Giroux 2024. — E FICTION GORDON
  • Indian kids Damini, Sana and Anila rise early and head to a local skateboard park. Anila is afraid to participate after recently recovering from a broken arm, so Damini and Sana support and encourage her until she is ready to return.
    Book, 2023New York : Kokila, 2023. — E FICTION VENKAT TOP PICKS
  • Offers empowering statements that describe ways a diverse group of children is growing up in positive ways.
    Book, 2022New York : Doubleday Books for Young Readers, [2022] — E FICTION ROE
  • Celebrates the beauty of mistakes in art by showing young readers exactly how a mistake can be transformed into something wonderful.
    Book, 2017New York, NY : Dial Books for Young Readers, [2017] — E FICTION LUYKEN
  • Although she is not very big, the Little Blue Engine agrees to try to pull a stranded train full of toys over the mountain to the children on the other side.
    Book, 2020New York : Platt & Munk, Publishers, an imprint of Grosset & Dunlap, 2020. — E FICTION PIPER
  • A young girl and a fox embark on a journey through challenging times towards a hopeful and happy future. With the help of friends, they learn that they always have support from others to get them through hard times and scary moments.
    Book, 2020Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2020. — E FICTION PRASADAM-HALLS
  • With illustrations and special lettering, this book encourages young readers to be brave, creative, adventurous, smart and confident — but assures them that if they can't, there's always tomorrow to try again.
    Book, 2018New York, New York : Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House, [2018] — E FICTION HISCHE
  • A little girl with her canine assistant set out to build the "Most Magnificent Thing," but after many attempts, the girl gets discouraged that she cannot build the great thing she has in her head. Then, her dog suggests they take a walk.
    Book, 2014Toronto : Kids Can Press, 2014. — E FICTION SPIRES
  • A paperboy and his dog enjoy the quiet of the early morning as they go about their rounds.
    Book, 2016New York : Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., [2016] — E FICTION PILKEY
  • Simple poetic text and colorful illustrations of young girls in action teach young readers about self-acceptance.
    Book, 2018New York, NY : Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, [2018] — E FICTION BYERS
  • Simple rhyming text and colorful illustrations follow a group of young kids as they learn how to deal with disappointment, their own mistakes and things that just seem unfair with the power of the magical "Yet."
    Book, 2020New York, New York : Disney-Hyperion, 2020 — E FICTION DITERLIZZI