Deborah Diesen

Dan Hanna

feelings and emotions

friendship

attitude

As the pout-pout fish swims along in the ocean, he discovers that being glum and spreading the “dreary wearies” isn’t much fun anymore–especially when his true destiny is revealed!

The Pout-Pout Fish

Lucy Cousins

When Maisy and friends have a special day for races and competitions, it’s not about winning or losing — the fun is in playing the games. Join Maisy and her pals for Field Day! First is the egg-and-spoon race (oops, Eddie’s egg is a little too wobbly). No problem, there are lots more games to play — a wheelbarrow race, a three-legged race, and even a get-dressed-up-silly race. When it’s time to play ringtoss, Eddie’s trunk comes in handy, and in the relay race, Maisy and Charley run as fast as they can. Last of all comes a great big game of tug-of-war, where both teams fall down laughing at the end!

Maisy's Field Day

Sarah S. Brannen

A seagull and a crab find friendship and compromise in this sweet and humorous story about the meaning of perfection.

The sky is blue, the sun is warm, the breeze is cool–it’s a perfect day for Seagull, perched on a rock in the sea. That is, until crabby Crab comes along and points out all of the day’s flaws! There’s a cloud in the sky, a smelly boat in the distance, and the rock that they’re sitting on is covered in barnacles.

In this sweet and funny story about finding happiness amidst flaws, Seagull and Crab learn that nothing is more perfect than spending time with friends.

A Perfect Day

Ryan T. Higgins

Bruce is a lot of things. He is a bear. He is a grump. He is a pretty decent cook. And he is a mother. One thing Bruce is not? Santa Claus. But that doesn’t stop the whole forest from lining up to give him their Christmas wishes when he becomes the victim of mistaken identity-again. Kids will howl with laughter as award-winning author-illustrator Ryan T. Higgins delivers another hilarious story about this bear who just can’t catch a break.

Santa Bruce

Elaine Kiely Kearns

Colin Jack

Noah Noasaurus woke up feeling very No. No to brushing his teeth. No to eating breakfast. And definitely No to playing with his little brother. Things only get worse when Noah goes for a walk and relentlessly cheerful Toby Rex, Brian Brontosaurus, and Ava Ceratops follow him. Together, the group starts a bona fide dino parade that even Noah can?t resist. This lighthearted, whimsical story will have readers laughing along at Noah and his friends?as well as at their own bad moods.

Noah Noasaurus

Tim Kubart

Lori Richmond

“Cheery and affirming.” —Kirkus From Grammy Award–winning musician and TV host Tim Kubart and illustrator Lori Richmond comes a lively picture book debut that reassures children that it’s okay to make mistakes! When a girl drops her snack or scrapes her knee, does she get upset? No! She says, “Oopsie-do!” Readers will delight as they follow along and call out the OOPSIE-DO! refrain throughout the story. This delightful picture book also includes the link to a free original song by Grammy winner Tim Kubart, available for download and sure to be a part of every repeat reading.

Oopsie-do!

THE NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER IS NOW A BOARD BOOK FOR THE SMALLEST OF SMALL FRY! Deep in the water, Mr. Fish swims aboutWith his fish face stuckIn a permanent pout. Can his pals cheer him up?Will his pout ever end?Is there something he can learnFrom an unexpected friend? Swim along with the pout-pout fish as he discovers that being glum and spreading dreary wearies isn’t really his destiny. Bright ocean colors and playful rhyme come together in Deborah Diesen’s fun fish story that’s sure to turn even the poutiest of frowns upside down.

Pout-Pout Fish

Jessica Kim

One lie snowballs into a full-blown double life in this irresistible story about an aspiring stand-up comedian. On the outside, Yumi Chung suffers from #shygirlproblems, a perm-gone-wrong, and kids calling her “Yu-MEAT” because she smells like her family’s Korean barbecue restaurant. On the inside, Yumi is ready for her Netflix stand-up special. Her notebook is filled with mortifying memories that she’s reworked into comedy gold. All she needs is a stage and courage. Instead of spending the summer studying her favorite YouTube comedians, Yumi is enrolled in test-prep tutoring to qualify for a private school scholarship, which will help in a time of hardship at the restaurant. One day after class, Yumi stumbles on an opportunity that will change her life: a comedy camp for kids taught by one of her favorite YouTube stars. The only problem is that the instructor and all the students think she’s a girl named Kay Nakamura–and Yumi doesn’t correct them. As this case of mistaken identity unravels, Yumi must decide to stand up and reveal the truth or risk losing her dreams and disappointing everyone she cares about.

Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

Claudia Ranucci

self-esteem and self-reliance

“[How to Make a Shark Smile] teaches that a gesture as simple as a smile can have a profound effect on others.”–Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Happier at HomeA story about choosing happiness and the ripple effect of a positive mindset. Includes seven happiness exercises at the back of the book to encourage kids to fit them in every single day!Ripple the dolphin just moved to a new aquarium and is excited to make some friends! But as she swims around, she notices the water is still and quiet. The eels have no zing. The neon fishes don’t glow. The seahorses aren’t horsing around. Everyone’s too afraid of a mean shark named Snark!Ripple is determined to show her new friends that they shouldn’t be afraid–it’s all about mindset. They can choose to be happy!But just as the aquarium begins to liven up, Snark the shark shows up ready to prove Ripple wrong. Can Ripple get Snark to smile too?Bestselling authors and happiness experts Shawn Achor and Amy Blankson invite you to dive in and learn how you can spread joy to those around you with Ripple and her friends.Perfect for: Parents who want to introduce their children to a positive mindset, help them build self-confidence, and set them up for personal and professional successEducators and librarians who need a funny, engaging picture book to include in their growth mindset curriculum and collections

How to Make a Shark Smile: How a Positive Mindset Spreads Happiness

Bonnie Clark

Summer Maçon

Have you ever had an unwelcome thought that you just couldn’t get rid of, no matter how hard you tried to push it away?

In Catching Thoughts, a girl is plagued by an unwanted thought. No matter what she does–ignore it, yell at it, cry about it–the thought won’t go away. Frustrated and discouraged, she finally looks that bad thought in the face and says, “”Hello.”” At last, she is able to notice other more beautiful, positive thoughts all around her. As she catches hold of new thoughts, the girl discovers she can fill her mind with whatever she chooses.

For every child who has been weighed down by sadness or anxiety, this story teaches kids how to acknowledge unwanted thoughts, show them compassion, then actively replace them with positive thoughts instead. Catching Thoughts is a quiet, thoughtful story that teaches readers how to practice mindfulness, focusing on thoughts that bring beauty, joy, and calm into their lives.