Do you have a shelf full of books in your school counseling office? Children's books with social and emotional themes can be very helpful in explaining abstract or challenging concepts. Students connect with the characters and remember the story's message. Check out what books Sara, Kate, and Ashley can't live without.
Trudy Ludwig Books are a Must
I absolutely have to have Trudy Ludwig books on my shelves; I use them every year in class lessons and small groups.
It's also crucial for me to have some books for helping students with emotional identification and expression.
And if I could only pick 3 more?
- Anh's Anger
- Teamwork Isn't My Thing
- The Bad Seed would round out my list.
Julia Cook Books Top My List
I love all things Julia Cook. She writes it, I buy it. My top absolute must-haves from Julia Cook are
BONUS: Table Talk and Hygiene...You Stink! are very useful when having difficult conversations about self-care, manners, and hygiene.
Another book that I adore is What Should Danny Do?. It is an amazing "choose your own path" book that gets students thinking about decisions and their consequences.
A few other books that I use often and cannot run my counseling program without are Nerdy Birdy Tweets, Tomorrow I'll be Brave, Enemy Pie, and The Color Monster.
Books that Spark Conversation
My favorite books in my counseling library are books that spark great conversations when read aloud. I love books that have a strong message for kids.
My favorite conversation sparkers are:
Each of these books delivers a message that challenges students to think differently.
If you are building your counseling library, check out this blog post where I explain how I organize it and share my FREE library labels!
What books are on your shelf?
Comment with your favorites below!
