Almost Always Best Friends
Author: Apryl Stott
Illustrator: Apryl Stott
Summary: Poppy and Clementine are best friends who do everything together. But what happens when a new friend comes along? Will Poppy and Clementine stay best friends or can they learn to tell each other their Big Feelings?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Navigating friendship is hard for all of us, especially when a new friend threatens that friendship. Poppy and Clementine teach us that talking out big feelings help to stop the jealousy that might happen when a third friend comes along. Helping your child through a pretend conversation to discuss big feelings can ease the tension and make it easier to work through a friendship problem.
Extension Activities: Poppy is a tiger and Clementine is an alpaca. Learn how to draw and alpaca with Apryl Stott, the author and illustrator of the book! Click here!
The Mouse Who Carried a House on His Back
Author: Jonathan Stutzman
Illustrator: Isabelle Arsenault
Summary: Kind and generous Mouse carries his house for miles and miles until he finds where he was meant to be. Along comes animals one by one seeking refuge from a storm. Will Mouse's tiny house be big enough for all of them?
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: This beautiful book celebrates generosity, inclusion and sharing what you have. Ask your child what they can do to be like Mouse.
Extension Activities: Pair this remarkable book with Jan Brett's "The Mitten", another great story about sharing a home to an ever growing group of friends. As you look at the illustrations, have your child point out the different materials used to create the pictures. Have your child create their own Mouse House for sharing with friends by using various materials, cutting the shapes and "building". Check out Leo Lionni's work as well for more ideas on layering artwork. Choose the link to read a short blog post about building houses out of boxes! Click here!
Knot Cannot
Author: Tiffany Stone
Illustrator: Mike Lowery
Summary: Poor Knot. He longs to be like his buddy Snake and do all kinds of fun things...like slither or hiss or climb a tree. Knot cannot. But Knot discovers that he can do a lot when his friend Snake is in danger.
Recommended Ages: 4-8 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: We all have things we can and can't do. This book helps encourage readers to find and celebrate what they do best!
Extension Activities: This funny book is packed with wordplay and the great illustrations help to visualize them for your child. There is a section of the book where Knot gives examples of different kind of knots. Choose the link for some knot tying activities. They may be helpful in teaching shoe tying!! Click here!
Out of a Jar
Author: Deborah Marcero
Illustrator: Deborah Marcero
Summary: Llewellyn is a sweet little bunny who does not like to feel his emotions. He comes up with a plan to put them in jars so each emotion is put away and hidden. What happens when all of Llewellyn's emotions come out at the same time?
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Emotional intelligence and gentle mental health themes run through this beautifully illustrated book, helping children understand the importance of embracing all of their feelings.
Extension Activities: This book should be paired with Deborah Marcero's book "In a Jar", detailing the joy of collecting treasures with a friend. Watch the attached video of the author reading the story and a quick art lesson that shares how to make a jar. Then let your child fill their jars with treasures that are important to them. Click here!
Awesome!
Author: Craig Shuttlewood
Illustrator: Craig Shuttlewood
Summary: Marvin the moose and Woody the beaver are best friends! One day, Marvin saves a friend from danger and he becomes an instant hero! The animals make a super hero costume for Marvin and even build a statue in his honor! What happens to friendship when it is tested by jealousy?
Recommended Ages: 3-7 years
Themes, Skills, & Concepts: Another sweet story exploring friendship, jealousy and forgiveness and how learning to talk through a problem can make the best of friendships even stronger.
Extension Activities: n the book, Woody and Marvin brainstorm a list of things that Marvin can be do to help others. Have your child design their own superhero costume and brainstorm how a superhero can help any friend or family member. Check out the link for some fun superhero activities! Use a thesaurus to look up other words for "awesome" and choose one to use instead. Does it change the story in any way? Click here!
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