Reading  List for Kids

Caregiver Connections Lending Library of Children’s Books was created by Laurie Kabb, at Childcare Network of Evanston (3/06).

 

THEME BOOK DESCRIPTION AUTHOR
Attachment, Security. Love Love You Forever Boy and mother always attached no matter how old they are. Robert Munsch


Mama, Do You Love Me? Mom reassures child that she’ll love her no matter what she does or how she feels Barbara M. Joose


I Love You, Stinky Face Mom reassures child that she’ll love her no matter what he does or how he feels Lisa McCourt


A Nap in a Lap Girl is most secure napping in mom’s lap like all the animals Sarah Wilson


How About A Hug? The power of a hug and love when feeling many different feelings Nancy Carlson


Grandmother and I The warmth of the relationship between grandmother and grandchild Helen E. Buckley


Loving Touches The essential kinds of loving touches a child feels he needs Lory Freeman
Attachment/Separation Owl Babies Owl babies wait anxiously for their mother to return. Martin Waddell


When I Miss You Missing mom is hard, but character finds ways of coping until her return Cornelia Maude Spellman


Knuffle Bunny Trixie’s stuffed animal gets lost temporarily and she doesn’t have the language to express herself. Mo Willems


My Somebody SPECIAL Children wait at end of day to be picked up. Hard to be the last! Sarah Weeks


Little Quack Hide and Seek Little Quack is out of sight and in sight repeatedly. Mother finds him. Mastery. Lauren Thompson
Attachment/Separation, Security/Predictability/ Bedtime Who Will Tuck Me in Tonight? Other mothers try to comfort lamb while the lamb wants the routines and predictable security of his own mother in going to bed. Carol Roth & Valerie Gorbachev


Marc Just Couldn’t Sleep Marc’s mom tries all sorts of things to allay his fears at bedtime. Gabriela Keselman


Snug in Mama’s Arms Soothing words and pictures about being comforted and soothed by mother in order to go to sleep Angela Shelf Medear


The Napping House + cd One by one the characters get in bed and one by one they wake up. Audrey Wood


Goodnight Moon Going through repetitive and soothing steps to calm down before sleeping Margaret Wise Brown
Attachment/Separation, Security/Predictability/ Bedtime Good Night! Going through rituals to calm down in order to go to sleep Claire Masurel


Don’t Forget to Come Back! Little girl’s strong emotions about her parents going out without her, and her desperate attempts to get them to stay. She does survive the separation! Robie H. Harris


Bing - Bedtime Rituals to calm down for bedtime Ted Dewan
Attachment/Separation/ Autonomy Runaway Bunny Bunny wants to go off on his own, mom is always there for him Margaret Wise Brown


Come Along, Daisy Daisy leaves mother to explore, has fun and then gets afraid without mother. Regains security with mother. Jane Simmons


Little Quack Little Quack goes off with mother’s confidence Lauren Thomas


The Kissing Hand Chester’s mother sends him off to school reassuringly with her kisses in his hand. Audrey Penn


Will You Come Back For Me? Suki is going to school/childcare for first time and needs reassurance that Mom will pick her up Ann Tompert


I am TOO Absolutely small for school Lola is worried about going to school and brother encourages and reassures her Lauren Child


I Am NOT Going to SCHOOL Today Boy is afraid of going to school. Stuffed animal and parents help him. Robie Harris
Autonomy/Confidence Time to PEE! Encouragement to use the potty Mo Willems


Does A Pig Flush? Different ways animals and humans poop. Confidence building. Fred Ehrlich


My Potty Book for Boys Encourages toilet training Mary Atkinson


My Potty Book for Girls Encourages toilet training Mary Atkinson


Koko Bear’s New Potty Koko Bear goes through toilet-training Vicki Lansky


Bing – Get Dressed Bing goes through the steps to get dressed, then pees in his pants and has to get dressed again Ted Dewan


Bing – Something for Daddy Bing tries to make something, gets glue all over, and finds a way to save his project Ted Dewan


Bing – Paint Day Bing goes through rituals to get ready for an activity and then has to solve the problem that occurs Ted Dewan


Way Down Deep in Deep Blue Sea The pleasure in exploration, and then returning to mother with pride Jan Peck
Autonomy/Confidence The Carrot Seed Little boy believes his carrot seed will grow into a carrot and patiently tends it and waits for it to grow Ruth Krauss


The Line Up Book Mom thinks Sam isn’t coming when called, but he is “creatively” coming Marisabina Russo


I Will Never NOT EVER Eat a Tomato Big brother finds creative ways to help sister try new things. Thinking outside of the box. Lauren Child


Bing – Go Picnic Bing goes through rituals to get ready for an activity and then has to solve the problem that occurs Ted Dewan
Wanting to be bigger, self-esteem Big Ben Ben wants to be big like his siblings who make him a “report card” Sarah Ellis


Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Pigeon wants to drive the bus BADLY but doesn’t get to. Is very upset but then maintains dreams about getting bigger and doing more Mo Willems


I Can Do It Too! With support and encouragement, little girl can do things bigger people can do! Karen Baicker
New Sibling/Learning about babies/Change Now We Have a Baby Teaches about babies and what they need/also addresses feelings about new siblings Lois Rock


Just Like a Baby Family prepares for new baby Rebecca Bond
Separation/Incarceration Visiting Day Girl and grandma look forward to their visit with girl’s dad. Jacqueline Woodson
Separation, Loss, Identity, Single Parent Families Do I Have a Daddy? Boy feels bad when friend says he doesn’t have a father. Jeanne Warren Lindsay
Adoption Did My First Mother Love Me? Child talks to adoptive mother about birth mother Kathryn Ann Miller
Separation/Loss/Moving Alexander, Who’s Not (do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move Feelings associated with moving and ways to cope with the feelings Judith Viorst


Daddy, will you miss me? Boy’s father goes away for an extended period of time and they create rituals to remember and think about each other Wendy McCormick
Homelessness Changing Places – A Kid’s View of Shelter Living Children’s words about going into a shelter, living there, and leaving there Margie Chalofsky Glen Finland Judy Wallace
Divorce It’s Not Your Fault, Koko Bear Feelings and issues in dealing with divorce Vicki Lansky


Dinosaurs Divorce Details all aspects of being a child of divorced parents Laurie Krasny Brown/Marc Brown


I Don’t Want To Talk About It Parents tell daughter of their divorce and though she doesn’t want to talk about it, they talk with her and help her Jeanie Franz Ransom
Divorce Good-Bye, Daddy! The difficulty saying good-bye after visits with Dad. Brigitte Weninger


Mama and Daddy Bear’s Divorce Dinah is sad about parent’s divorce. Adjusts to two homes, needs routine, continuity to feel safe, secure, loved Cornelia Maude Spelman


Two Homes Alex goes between 2 homes and feels loved in both homes Claire Masurel
Death The Bug Cemetery Kids practice working through loss by repeatedly burying dead bugs. Then dealing with actual loss of beloved pet. Frances Hill


I’ll Always Love You Boy’s attachment to dog who eventually dies Hans Wilhelm


When a Pet Dies The experience of having a pet die Fred Rogers


Goodbye Mousie The experience of a pet dying and working through the loss Robie H. Harris


So Much To Think About Children’s Activity Book with ways to manage feelings regarding death of a loved one Family Communications


Saying Goodbye to Lulu Little girl anticipates death of pet and grieves the loss with parent’s help. Corinne Demas


Lifetimes The life cycle of different living things is told with tenderness Bryan Melloni Ingpen


When Dinosaurs Die Teaches about different aspects of death and dying and loss Laurie Krasny Brown/Marc Brown


Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs Boy is very attached to great grandmother who dies of old age Tomie de Paola
Illness How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? Being sick-doing what is important to get well Jane Volen Marc Teague
Illness Koko Bear’s BIG EARACHE Koko goes to the Dr. and has to have tubes put in his ears at the hospital Vicki Lansky


Going to the Hospital Details all aspects and feelings of going to the hospital Fred Rogers


Don’t You Feel Well, Sam? Sam is sick and is afraid of taking medicine. Mom is patient and comforting. Amy Hest


Next Please Characters waiting to go into doctor and watching others come out. Ernst Jandl Norman Junge
Identifying All Feelings The Way I Feel Labeling feelings with examples and great illustrations Janan Cain


On Monday When It Rained Boy goes through different experiences expressing his feelings Cheryl Kachenmeister


FEELINGS Labeling feelings through stories. Small pictures for older children Aliki
Expressing negative feelings Words Are Not for Hurting Teaching how to use language positively and manage feelings better Elizabeth Verdick


Teeth Are Not for Biting Teaching alternative ways to express self other than biting Elizabeth Verdick
Expressing negative feelings Hands Are Not for Hitting Teaching alternative ways to express self other than hitting Martine Agassi
Fear When I Feel Scared Things that make people feel scared, how to manage the fear, and things to do to feel better Cornelia Maude Spelman


I’m Scared Ways to cope with feeling scared Elizabeth Crary


Franklin in the Dark Acceptance of fears; trying to overcome them Paulette Bourgeois Brenda Clark


When I Feel Afraid Things that make a child afraid and ways to cope with fears and worries Cheri J. Meiners
Frustration The Chocolate-Covered-Cookie Tantrum Sophie WANTS a cookie and has a tantrum. Mom stands by and is there for her when tantrum ends. Deborah Blementhal


Kitten’s First Full Moon Kitten can’t reach the bowl of milk he sees (the moon) and is sad and frustrated, only to find a bowl waiting for him at home Kevin Henkes


I’m Frustrated Ways to cope with being frustrated Elizabeth Crary
Frustration, Anger, IF I Were a LION Little girl gets a time-out for acting wild and imagines what “wild” really looks like Sarah Week


Mean Soup Horace has a bad day and mom helps him express his feelings by making mean soup Betsy Everitt
Anger Sometimes I’m BOMBALOO Katie is furious at brother, feels out of control & scared; then calms down Rachel Vail


When I Feel Angry Things that make people feel angry, how to manage the anger, and things to do to feel better Cornelia Maude Spelman
Anger When I Wished I Was Alone Boy is so mad at family and wants to be alone. Has dream in which he eventually wants to reconnect with family Dave Cutler


I’m Mad Ways to cope with feeling mad Elizabeth Crary


I’m Furious Ways to cope with feeling really mad! Elizabeth Crary
Sadness When I Feel Sad Things that make people feel sad, how to manage the sadness, and things to do to feel better Cornelia Maude Spelman
Identifying and expressing positive feelings The FEEL GOOD Book Lots of different things that make different people feel good. Identify good feelings and identify ways to shift to feeling better! Todd Parr
Really excited! I’m Excited Ways to cope with being overexcited and over-stimulated Elizabeth Crary
Pride, Self-esteem I’m Proud Ways to express pride in oneself Elizabeth Crary


This is My Hair No matter what her hair looks like, she takes pride in her self Todd Parr
Pride, Self-esteem I Like Myself Child likes herself no matter what she looks like to others Karen Beaumont


When I Feel Good about Myself Being valued and valuing oneself Cornelia Maude Spelman


The Dot Girl thinks she can’t draw and teacher has confidence in her and sees her production as valuable. Leads girl to express creativity and believe in self. Peter Reynolds
Self-Esteem/ Body/Abuse Prevention Your Body Belongs to You Being in charge of the touch that you receive and give with others. Cornelia Maude Spelman
Self-esteem, Appreciating others, Getting Along I Like Being Me Poems about feeling special, appreciating others, getting along Judy Lalli


We Can Get Along Self-respect and respect for others. Different feelings and getting along Lauren Murphy Payne


Understand and Care Teaching empathy Cherie J. Meiners


Bing – Make Music Bing is excited to make music but it is hurting Flop’s ears! Ted Dewan


Be Polite and Kind Teaching manners and kindness to others Lauren Murphy Payne


Is It Right to Fight? Different aspects of fighting and how to resolve problems Pat Thomas


Why? The effects of violence, war, aggression Nikolai Popov
Bullying Hey, Little Ant Boy wants to squish an ant who objects and who stands up for himself and for mutual respect. Phillip and Hannah Hoose


Berenstain Bears and the Bully Feelings associated with being bullied and ways to deal with it Stan and Jan Berenstain


Shubert’s Big Voice Teacher helps Shubert speak up for himself when he is bullied Becky Bailey Leigh Ann Burdick
Sharing, Turn taking That Toad is Mine! Sharing is fun until the boys find only one toad. Resolving the problem! Barbara Shook Hazen


Share and Take Turns How to learn to share and take turns and how to manage when someone doesn’t want to share Cherie J. Meiners


The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog Duck wants Pigeon’s hotdog and Pigeon wants it all to himself. Duck has to wait while Pigeon prepares to share Mo Willems
Friendship Toot & Puddle Toot & Puddle appreciate each other’s differences and maintain their friendship during a separation Holly Hobbie


Let’s Be Enemies Dealing with bossiness in friendships Janice May Uddry
Friendship Being Friends Friends appreciate each other’s differences and similarities Karen Beaumont


That’s What Friends Do Friends helping each other out and being there for each other Kathryn Cave


Join In and Play Teaches how to play and how to enter play Cheryl J. Meiners


Shubert Sees the Best How to see the best in playmates and help each other Becky Bailey
Lying/Truth/Trust Berenstain Bears and The Truth After lying, the bears get supported and praised for telling the truth. Stan and Jan Berenstain


A Big Fat Enormous Lie How it feels to have lied, and ultimately tell the truth Marjorie Weinman Sharmat


Sniffles The social effects of exaggerating Stephen Cosgrove
Diversity, respect I’m Like You, You’re Like Me Similarities and differences and respecting one another Cindy Gainer


We All Sing with the Same Voice + cd Different people all feel good about themselves, their differences and their similarities J. Phillip Miller Shepard M. Green


I Will Be Your Friend Songs and Activities for Young Peacemakers Teaching Tolerance


A RAINBOW All Around Me Uses colors to celebrate diversity Sandra L. Pickney


Arnie and the New Kid Learning about children with special needs and becoming friends with them Nancy Carlson


Families All different kinds of families living in different places Ann Morris


Who’s in a Family? All the different kinds of families there are Robert Skutch


Night Shift Daddy Girl and Dad have ritual around his work schedule. Differences in families Eileen Spinelli Melissa Iwai
Support/Value of Teachers/Caregivers My Teacher for President All the positive qualities of a teacher lead child to nominate her for president Kay Winters
Teaching Opposites BIG Little Shows opposites. Can be used to demonstrate modulation, regulation Leslie Patricelli
Teaching Opposites Quiet LOUD Shows opposites. Can be used to demonstrate modulation, regulation Leslie Patricelli
Teaching listening Listen and Learn Teaches listening skills Cheri J. Meiners
Addendum 3/16/06





Attachment, Security, Love Daddy Kisses (Board Book) Animal fathers loving their babies; Father kissing his child Anne Gutman


Mommy Hugs (Board Book) Animal mothers loving their babies; mother hugging her child Anne Gutman


Only You Little Bear cherishes time with mother Rosemary Wells


Did I tell you I Love You today? Mother expresses love for child in various ways Deloris Jordan Roslyn Jordan


Homemade Love Girlpie finds security and safety in her parents’ love Bell Hooks


The Very Lonely Firefly Firefly persists in seeking out another firefly for security/belonging Eric Carle
Attachment, Separation, Autonomy Owl Moon (PreK) Little girl and father share special activity that they do for the first time together which strengthens their attachment and gives her confidence Jane Yolen
Autonomy, Confidence I Love School! Child tells what she likes about school Philemon Sturges
Bedtime Baby Danced the Polka Baby is not ready to go to sleep; he keeps coming out of bed and dancing with animals. Parents help him “get tired.” Entertaining Karen Beaumont


Russell the Sheep Russell tries a lot of things to help him fall asleep and finally finds a solution. Entertaining Rob Scotton
Autonomy, Confidence Little Pea Little Pea can’t have dessert(spinach) until he eats some dinner (candy) Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Self-Esteem, Appreciating others, getting along Meet Wild Boars Poorly behaved and silly Wild Boars are impossible to have around. Entertaining/useful re: behavior. Meg Rosoff
Diversity, Respect All Families Are Special Children tell what makes their families unique. Norma Simon
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