Boost Your Resilience – Children’s Edition

Posted on April 12, 2021

by Brooke C

Merriam-Webster defines resilience as “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.”  This is not an ability we typically associate with young children; instead, we picture the terrible twos, what it’s like to have a teenager, and the inevitable bumps associated with figuring out how to share and get along in school.  It is up to us, the adults in their lives, to help children learn the skills associated with resilience.  Our collection is rich with items on this topic.

Books for PreK-2nd Grade

Many people think of picture books as books meant to just entertain young children, but I have a secret – picture books can entertain and teach a lesson.  Even better, many are also written for early elementary age children and above.  The books listed here are picture books, so they are illustrated with shorter stories and will entertain your children.  They will also show them that it’s okay to be afraid sometimes, to believe in themselves, and to keep going even if things do not go exactly the way they want them to.

Cover of Sometimes You Fly  

Sometimes You Fly

 

 

Cover of I Am the Storm  

I Am the Storm

 

eBook

Cover of A Perfectly Messed-Up Story  

A Perfectly Messed-Up Story

 

 

Cover of Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons  

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons

 

eBook

Cover of Jabari Jumps  

Jabari Jumps

 

eBook

Cover of Lubna and Pebble  

Lubna and Pebble

 

 

Books for 3rd Grade and Up

The books in this section are more appropriate for children in upper elementary school grades.  Some, like El Deafo, are fiction stories that allow readers to see other kids their age navigating through some of the same obstacles and situations they are.  Others, like Bounce Back, are informational texts that help kids understand what they are feeling and experiencing while offering tips and tricks on how to process and work through those feelings.

Cover of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind  

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

 

Book on CD

Cover of El Deafo  

El Deafo

 

eBook

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hoopla

Cover of Bounce Back: How to be a Resilient Kid  

Bounce Back: How to be a Resilient Kid

 

 

Cover of Cat Kid: Comic Club  

Cat Kid: Comic Club

 

eBook

Cover of Buckets, Dippers, and Lids: Secrets to Your Happiness  

Buckets, Dippers, and Lids: Secrets to Your Happiness

 

hoopla

Cover of The Paper Boat  

The Paper Boat

 

 

Parent and Guardian Resources

Books that help kids help themselves are good and necessary, but parents and caregivers need guidance too.  These books are meant to assist adults in understanding what kids are experiencing and how to help them through it.  They explain how the brain works, how to effectively talk to children, tweens, and teens, and offer support to the adults helping children learn to be resilient.

Cover of Ready or Not: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Uncertain and Rapidly Changing World  

Ready or Not: Preparing Our Kids to Thrive in an Uncertain and Rapidly Changing World

 

 

Cover of How Children Thrive: The Practical Science of Raising Independent, Resilient, and Happy Kids  

How Children Thrive: The Practical Science of Raising Independent, Resilient, and Happy Kids

 

hoopla

Cover of The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Children  

The Yes Brain: How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity, and Resilience in Your Children

 

eAudiobook

Cover of Creating Compassionate Kids: Essential Conversations to Have with Young Children  

Creating Compassionate Kids: Essential Conversations to Have with Young Children

 

hoopla

Cover of Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond  

Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond

 

 

Cover of Crazy Stressed: Saving Today’s Overwhelmed Teens with Love, Laughter, and the Science of Resilience  

Crazy Stressed: Saving Today’s Overwhelmed Teens with Love, Laughter, and the Science of Resilience

 

hoopla

Looking for More Book Options?

Find Books Using the Library Catalog

Use the advanced search in the Library catalog using a combination of subject terms like resilient, courage, child development, social skills, happiness, or any other subject you are looking for. Remember you can select specific formats to limit the search results.

Find Digital Books Using hoopla

Use the advanced search on hoopla to limit by format and subject or genre. With hoopla, everything is available instantly, no waiting. Library cardholders can borrow 10 items per month. Download the mobile app on your favorite device to enjoy books on the go.

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