Suggested Reading

 

Through simple prose and vivid illustrations, this heartwarming book encourages positive behavior as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation, and love. Bucket filling and dipping are effective metaphors for understanding the effects of our actions and words on the well being of others and ourselves.

Through the story of a little boy named Felix, this charming book explains to children how being kind not only helps others, it helps them, too. As he goes about his day, Felix interacts with different people — his sister Anna, his grandfather, other family and friends. Some people are happy, but others are grumpy or sad. Using the metaphor of a bucket and dipper, Felix’ grandfather explains why the happy people make Felix feel good, while the others leave him feeling bad — and how Felix himself is affecting others, whether he means to or not. This beautifully illustrated adaptation takes the original book’s powerful message — that the way we relate to others has a profound effect on every aspect of our lives — and tailors it to a child’s unique needs and level of understanding.

"Was It the Chocolate Pudding?" tells the story of divorce in a typical family from the point of view of an engaging young narrator. Readers learn about divorce, and receive age-appropriate explanations of what is happening regarding such issues as single-parent homes and joint custody. But most importantly, the narrator explains that divorce is not the child's fault - it is a grown-up problem. The story emphasizes the need for communication between parent and child and includes a "Note to Parents" by psychologist and author Jane Annunziata, PsyD.

The zany characters who sniffle, soar and shriek through this book will help kids understand the concept of such emotions as joy, disappointment, boredom and anger. "The Way I Feel" will also show kids how to express their feelings with words.

This colorfully illustrated storybook, based on the idea created by Susanne Poulette Truesdale (1990), provides fun ways to teach children an abstract but essential idea - that their eyes, hands, brains – their whole bodies! – communicate and affect the people around them. Parents, teachers and therapists use this book to teach this challenging concept through illustrated scenarios at home, in the car, with friends, with grandparents – and a number of other very recognizable situations. A book for all younger kids, it can be read with the child and the child can then read the book on his or her own, with siblings, friends, grandparents – it’s sure to spark some great discussions! Developed from years of using Whole Body Listening Larry to teach children in their practice, speech language pathologists Kristen Wilson and Elizabeth Sautter have honed the lessons to what really works - and illustrator Eric Hutchison uses his experience in the entertainment industry to make the lessons jump off the page. Includes handout at end of book for copying and ideas and images to use to reinforce lessons.

Blue is a quiet color. Red’s a hothead who likes to pick on Blue. Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple don’t like what they see, but what can they do? When no one speaks up, things get out of hand — until One comes along and shows all the colors how to stand up, stand together, and count. As budding young readers learn about numbers, counting, and primary and secondary colors, they also learn about accepting each other's differences and how it sometimes just takes one voice to make everyone count.

Louis is back! And this time, he's learning all about personal space. Louis, a self-taught space expert is delighted to learn that his teacher has sent him to the principal's office to attend personal space camp. Eager to learn more about lunar landings, space suits, and other cosmic concepts, Louis soon discovers that he has much to learn about personal space right here on earth. Written with style, wit, and rhythm, personal space camp addresses the complex issue of respect for another person's physical boundaries. Told from Louis perspective, this story is a must-have resource for parents, teachers, and counselors who want to communicate the idea of personal space in a manner that connects with kids.

A very unique pumpkin delivers a special message of tolerance and self-acceptance that's just right for Halloween...and every day of the year.
What's going on in the pumpkin patch? Well, a very unusual pumpkin has hatched. While all others are round, Spookley is square. He's not like his friends-they have curves, he has ends. And so everyone teases him, night and day.
But just before Halloween, the weather turns stormy. Winds toss the round pumpkins to and fro, and off they go, crashing and bashing and smashing--except Spookley. Can he, with his square little body, save the day?
A delicious story about how good being different can be. And the imaginative end--a patch filled with all sorts of oddly shaped and colorful pumpkins--will thoroughly delight kids!

All of Louis thoughts are very important to him. In fact, his thoughts are so important to him that when he has something to say, his words begin to wiggle, and then they do the jiggle, then his tongue pushes all of his important words up against his teeth and he erupts, or interrupts others. His mouth is a volcano! My Mouth Is A Volcano takes an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and teaches children a witty technique to capture their rambunctious thoughts and words for expression at an appropriate time. Told from Louis’ perspective, this story provides parents, teachers, and counselors with an entertaining way to teach children the value of respecting others by listening and waiting for their turn to speak.