Welcome to my obsession with children’s books–especially the ones that deal with everyday challenges in a fun and compelling way. I’ll share old classics, new gems, and everything in between to help support you and your kids (or just your kids if they like to read solo). Sign up and you’ll get my top-pick resources, delivered to your inbox each month on the full and new moon.
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (Delacorte Press, 1999)
Set during one of the bleakest times in history, Bud, not Buddy, is about a 10-year-old African American boy living in Flint, Michigan. It’s the middle of the Great Depression, a time that was especially hard on African Americans. Bud’s all alone, searching for a father he’s never known or… Read More
A Baby Sister for Frances by Russell Hoban (HarperCollins, 1993)
Is your child about to become a big sister or brother? Being displaced by a new-born baby in the family can be heartbreaking for the first-born child. Read More
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (Scholastic Paperbacks, 2001)
Kevin is a brainy boy who gets teased for being small and sickly. To become Freak the Mighty, he joins forces with Max, a giant boy everyone calls stupid. They combine their strengths in an unlikely friendship and take on the bullies in their lives—together. Read More
Franklin in the Dark by Paulette Bourgeois (Scholastic Paperbacks, 1987)
Is your child afraid of the dark? Are they afraid of being alone? There’s a Franklin the Turtle book for every possible problem and stage, and my kids and I love every single one. Read More
See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng (Dial Books, 2017)
Families are complicated and so is love and friendship. You’ll fall in love with Alex, the 11-year old main character, because of his quirky way of seeing the world. Read More
Feelings by Aliki (Greenwillow Books, 1986)
This book validates the ways a child can experience many different feelings in a day (oh boy, can’t we all!). Read More
Wonder by Raquel J Palacio (Knopf, 2012)
Wonder skillfully teaches the power of being kind to everyone, no matter what. If you have time, this is a read-together kind of book because the discussion is so rich. Read More
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn (Tanglewood, 1993)
Momma raccoon prepares Chester to be away from her using imagery and the power of love. The Kissing Hand is a powerful tool for children and adults to support transitions of any kind. Read More