Welcome to our cozy corner where we recommend books based on our Heartfulness curriculum and favorites of our staff!
OCTOBER
friendship and fear
the chilly penguin
How can a chilly little penguin get warm? Themes of perseverance, problem-solving and friendship give caregivers and children lots to talk about, while the penguin’s amusing antics and the story’s sweet ending make for a fun storytime for toddlers.
Ages: 0-4 years old
By: Constanze V. Kitzing
winter shadow
Maria is determined to rescue a lone wolf cub, no matter what her neighbors say. But will the traders take him away? Charming acrylic illustrations and Maria's relatable perspective this touching tale of unlikely friendship an instant favorite with young animal lovers.
Ages: 8+ years old
By: Richard Knight
my friend robot
Join a diverse group of budding minds and their friend Robot as they work together to build a tree house! Designed to ignite interest in STEM - the integration of science, technology, engineering and math - this fact-packed singalong introduces kids to:
Simple machines like wedges, wagons, screws, and hammers
Social-emotional concepts like empathy and teamwork, taking initiative, following steps, and the joy of creativity
The basics of robotics and programming with 6 pages of notes - including a programming game!
For even more fun, sing and dance along with the animated singalong video on the included CD! Norma Jean Wright's powerful vocals make this revamp of "London Bridge is Falling Down" a dynamic delight.
Ages: 3-7 years old
By: Sunny Scribens
just like brothers
A heartwarming fable for our time! A human mother tells her small son to watch out for wolves, and a wolf mother tells her cub to fear men — but their children don't listen. What will happen when the boy and the cub cross paths in the forest? This simple but profound story makes it easy to start conversations about prejudice, empathy and trust.
Ages: 3-7 years old
By: Elizabeth Baguley
the dark
Laszlo is afraid of the dark.
The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo. Mostly, though, the dark stays in the basement and doesn't come into Lazslo's room. But one night, it does.
This is the story of how Laszlo stops being afraid of the dark.
With emotional insight and poetic economy, two award-winning talents team up to conquer a universal childhood fear.
Ages: 3-7 years old
By: Lemony Snicket
September
big emotions
Ruby's baby brother
Ruby’s not so sure about the noisy, smelly baby her parents just brought home. But when she gets to know little Leon, she’ll discover that the only thing bigger than her imagination is her heart. This sweet story is just right for talking about sibling rivalry and selfless love.
By: Kathryn White
the girl with the brave heart
Young Shiraz lives a lonely life with her stepmother and stepsister, completely unaware of the old woman who lives alone next door...until Shiraz's runaway yarn ball brings them face-to-face. This beautiful story from Tehran-born Israeli pop star Rita Jahanforuz explores the power of listening to others and the value of empathy.
By: Rita Jahanforuz
Emily's tiger
When Emily's temper flares, she turns into a tiger! Will Granny be able to help her? With its refreshing focus on intergenerational relationships, this quirky picture book is a fun way to start conversations about frustration and how to manage anger.
By: Miriam Latimer
The Color Monster
We teach toddlers to identify colors, numbers, shapes, and letters—but what about their feelings? By illustrating such common emotions as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and calm, this sensitive book gently encourages young children to open up with parents, teachers, and daycare providers. And kids will LOVE the bright illustrations and amazing 3-D pop-ups on every page!
By: Anna Llenas
the boy who grew flowers
Quiet Rink always sits at the back of the classroom, away from the other children who have heard strange rumors about his family and prefer to keep their distance. But when a kind new girl joins his class, Rink's life begins to change. Inspired by the experiences of her brother, who is on the autism spectrum, Jen Wojtowicz's heartwarming tale encourages children to empathize with and reach out to others.
By: Jen Wojtowicz
There Are No Animals in this book
Children will recognize love, surprise, hurt, and other powerful feelings in these images, which accompany a fun-to-read aloud narrative with a silly twist at the end that is sure to delight younger readers.
Parents can enjoy the art as well as the opportunity to engage their children in a light-hearted discussion of feelings and how they affect us—the beginnings of emotional intelligence.
By: Chani Sanchez
Barb's Favorite's
Big Al
Poor Big Al! He just wants to make friends. And in the whole wide blue sea you can't find a nicer fish. But because Big Al is large and scary-looking, the little fish are afraid to get to know him.
What can he do? He tries everything he can think of -- from disguising himself with seaweed to burrowing under the ocean floor so he'll look smaller. But something always goes wrong, and lonely Big Al wonders if he'll ever have a single friend. Then one frightening day, when a fishing net captures the other fish, Big Al gets the chance to prove what a wonderful friend he can be!
By: Andrew Clements
Swimmy
Deep in the sea lives a happy school of fish. Their watery world is full of wonders, but there is also danger, and the little fish are afraid to come out of hiding . . . until Swimmy comes along. Swimmy shows his friends how—with ingenuity and team work—they can overcome any danger.
Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Honor, this beloved tale of a brave little fish has been a favorite to generations of readers. To celebrate Swimmy's fiftieth anniversary, we are issuing a handsome special edition hardcover that includes a bonus poster.
By: Leo Lionni
I'll Love You Forever
A young woman holds her newborn son
And looks at him lovingly.
Softly she sings to him:
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
So begins the story that has touched the hearts of millions worldwide.
By: Robert Munsch
