WOW Dozen: Social and Emotional Growth and Children’s Books
This COVID-19 post-pandemic era has been difficult for many of us. In the school district I (Junko Sakoi) am working for, stories have played a significant role in social emotional support for children and teens. Stories have eased their anxiety, stress, fear, and trauma, and helped them find a way to cope with the difficulties. This collection includes PreK–12 titles that portray young characters' social and emotional struggles. These books could help children build resilience through self-discovery and growth as they cultivate empathetic connections and caring perspectives in relationships.
In this coming-of-age graphic memoir, Dan Santat tells his own journey of self-discovery and growth through a series of firsts he experienced during a three-week study abroad trip to Europe.
This is an empowering story of Lawrence, who is expelled from middle school, but finds resilience and hope with the possibility of a new start.
A young girl wants long hair because it will help her reclaim her identity and strengthen her connection to her Indigenous culture and to Mother Earth.
This poem beautifully integrates Indigenous symbols and ethos with the core belief that all inhabitants are connected to nature and the universe.
Young readers will learn the importance of being mindful of emotional changes and how they influence behavior.
This story invites young children to consider the questions disabled people are often asked and to respect the disabled person’s decision to answer the questions.
By embracing new skills, young people can add to their experiences and perceptions, ultimately enhancing their attentiveness to their five senses and overcoming their fears.
In this verse novel, two young individuals from Cuba and the United States advocate for the environment and raise awareness about imprisoned artists in Cuba.
This diary-like verse novel portrays Will’s mental struggles with body dysmorphia, social anxiety, and eating disorders triggered by traumatic stress.
This book depicts examines Asian American passengers at an airport as they navigate toward their gates, highlighting instances of microaggressions.
This heartfelt story is about a young child who cares deeply about her friend who is going through a difficult time.
This sequel to Inside Out and Back Again shares the author’s complex emotion about moving to a new place that brings new challenges.
WOW Dozen features a list of 12 global books for children and adolescents around a theme, topic, issue or personal favorites. Each Dozen consists of ten newly-published titles with two older "must have" books. Please share or recommend additional books that fit the theme in the comments section or on social media using #WOWDozen. Use the printer icon in the upper left corner of this post to print or save this list as a PDF.
