Where Do They Go? by Julia Alvarez (ages 3 to 7)
“This beautiful book asks all the right questions to help young children become aware of the eternal bonds that live on after death, while wisely leaving the answers to the readers themselves. A book to ponder, to discuss, and to cherish.” —R. J. Palacio, author of Wonder
The Memory Box: A Book About Grief by Joanna Rowland (ages 4 to 8)
From the perspective of a young child, Joanna Rowland artfully describes what it is like to remember and grieve a loved one who has died. The child in the story creates a memory box to keep mementos and written memories of the loved one, to help in the grieving process. Heartfelt and comforting, The Memory Box will […]
Consent: It’s as Simple as Tea (ages 11 and up)
This funny viral video uses various tea-based scenarios to illustrate the nuances of consent for tweens and teens. Somewhat reductive in its metaphor, it is nevertheless amusing and relatable to most adolescents. Great way to start a conversation about the more unsettling aspects of sexual consent.
“What Young Girls Think About Their Own Sexual Pleasure,” Ted Talk by Peggy Orenstein
Why do girls feel empowered to engage in sexual activity but not to enjoy it? For three years, author Peggy Orenstein interviewed girls ages 15 to 20 about their attitudes toward and experiences of sex. She discusses the pleasure that’s largely missing from their sexual encounters and calls on us to close the “orgasm gap” […]
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman (ages 3-7)
Classic, older book by the well-known Newman.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
All homes, classrooms, and school curriculums should be LGBTQ inclusive. Pride was written specifically for kids in grades 1-3 and needs to be a staple in all schools. This book provides some history of the LGBTQ movement, the story and importance behind the rainbow flag, and highlights the need to keep fighting for equality. The […]
This Would Make a Good Story Someday by Dana Alison Levy
Levy wrote this book using a peripheral character from the Family Fletcher Series. Sarah Johnston-Fischer is not thrilled to be spending the summer on a cross-country train ride with her two moms, her little sister, her older sister and her boyfriend, and a bunch of loud strangers. She wants to complete the pre-middle-school Reinvention Project […]
Peace Path (PDF)
Used at PS 321 and many schools, the Peace Path is a framework for addressing a myriad of interpersonal conflicts such as feeling left out of a group, having problems sharing or taking turns, physical altercations, or other words or actions that lead to hurt feelings.
Rumor Has It by Julia Cook (ages 5-9)
Whether we’ve been the subject of a rumor or the one spreading a rumor about someone else, most of us have been involved with rumors somehow. But how many people really stop to think about the damaging effects? Cook brings this serious subject to light in an entertaining and funny, but cautionary, tale about the […]
The Judgmental Flower by Julia Cook (ages 4-8)
A timely and important tale teaching the skill of valuing the differences of others.