*Highlighting up and coming illustrators and authors from independent publishing houses and self-publishers*

Please reach out to MaiStoryBook through Instagram, FB, or by commenting on my blog, and *share or tag* books, authors, or illustrators who would fit into this category of independent/self-publishing! You can see my Book Review Policy Here. I’m excited for the wonders we will find!

Now without further ado~

Featuring this week’s social-emotional reads of self-expression and self-esteem:

B is for Breathe: The ABCs of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings by Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd

Self-Published

Lately I’ve been sharing a lot about feelings~ including how I have been coping with *mai* own emotions during these times of uncertainty, and how important it is for littles to have an outlet to share and address their feelings as well. Especially now, when their feelings may be *fussy* and *frustrating* as they struggle to process the disruption to their routines and what they hear and notice around them, it’s vital that they have tools available to help them cope, rather than lashing out or hiding how they truly feel. For me, through trial and error, I’ve realized that exercise, taking a walk with mai pup, reading, or playing the piano helps to calm me down and recenter. For littles, they are still learning to first, recognize how they are feeling, and then experiment what helps them process and work through their emotions in a productive and helpful way.

ABC books are some of *mai* favorite, since they are accessible to a wide age range, from very little littles to even older readers, and the variety of topics they can cover are extensive~ and can be quite cleverly done. This ABC book does not disappoint. Through “B is for Breathe: The ABCS of Coping with Fussy and Frustrating Feelings”, author Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd provides young readers with an arsenal of tools to help them discuss their feelings, show positive self-care behaviors, and practice calm-down strategies. Each letter of the alphabet~accompanied by colorful, playful illustrations, and a charismatic, diverse cast of characters~ presents readers with a strategy to express and manage their emotions. From, “G is for Create a Glitter Jar” to “V is for create a Vision Board,” the book offers pragmatic activities that littles can easily try and accomplish. Through the text, littles will also gain a new set of vocabulary, internalizing the A-Z words they hear that they can later use to communicate their feelings and emotional needs.

As a teacher, it is mai job to provide students with choices~ to demonstrate and teach them different options, and then support them to test out and discover what works best for them. Differentiation holds true for both academic and social emotional content. “B is for Breathe,” helps me to model these different coping choices for them, and provides visual and verbal assistance as children explore what happens internally in their hearts and minds. *~Plus, this read is available in both English and Spanish~*

A bit more about the Author: Dr. Melissa Munro Boyd

Melissa Munro Boyd, PsyD, ABPP is a wife, mother of 3, a clinical psychologist, and officer in the United States Army. Dr. Boyd has spent much of her clinical career treating service members with behavioral health disorders, including PTSD.  Prior to the military, Dr. Boyd worked with children in the Philadelphia School District. She graduated from Hampton University in Virginia with a Bachelors in Psychology. She obtained her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from La Salle University. To learn more, like her Facebook page @melissamunroboydauthor, and follow her on Instagram: @b_is_for_breathe_childrensbook

Check here to find this book for your own home/classroom library!

*****

What I Tell Myself First by Michael A. Brown

Illustrated by Zoe Ranucci

Self-Published

I’ve heard it said that we could either be our own worst critic, or our own strongest advocate. Admittedly, I’ve strayed into the worst-critic-category~somehow it turns out to be easier to see your own faults rather than accomplishments~ but since becoming a teacher, my awareness and intentions of positive-self-talk has increased. All too often I’ll hear the kiddos muttering disparaging comments to themselves ~ I can’t do this, I suck at this, I’m so bad at this, this is too hard for me ~ and with that mindset, they really do end up having a hard time accomplishing whichever task is at hand. I do what I can in the moment to give them encouragement and positive feedback, but self-confidence and self-esteem blooms from within. Ultimately, they need to be the one to believe in themselves. This has led to many whole-class SEL lessons (and some individual ones when needed) identifying, practicing, and understanding the effects and value of positive self-talk. Of course, as you may know by now, I always believe that any lesson can be started and reinforced with a read aloud, and this feature, “What I tell Myself First,” is a valuable teaching tool to start these conversations of positive affirmations.

Littles learn from modeling, from seeing and hearing examples of what to say and do. “What I Tell Myself First” exposes readers to a plethora of daily affirmations that not only boost confidence and esteem, but also help readers confront and manage various forms of negative experiences or rejection from others. Instead of soley focusing on how everything one does is perfect and good, like many self-affirming books tend to do, the narrative addresses that life comes with disappointments. “I will work on what I am not good at doing. I will either get better, or do something else…Not everyone will give me what I earn. That is okay.” This acknowledgement of realistic frustrations conveys to readers that the goal is not perfection~ rather it’s the strength and ability to move on, grow from what you learned, and to continue to believe in your own worth~and this book gives children the words to do so.

Readers will furthermore connect with the text through it’s interactive features. On several of the pages, there are lines to fill in your name, choose adjectives that fit your own personality, and answer short questions. These features not only personalize the story, but also help spark conversation between littles and adults about the topics covered in the story. Additionally, the illustrations, by Zoe Ranucci, portray a diverse cast of characters of different races, ethnicities, and abilities, helping guarantee that your child will be able to picture themselves in the story and connect with its message. Overall, through this book, author Michael A. Brown gives readers the tools to rise above bullying and negative thoughts by providing examples of real-world affirmations kids can repeat to remind themselves that the most important person they need on their side is themselves.

Plus, check out a *free* coloring activity book inspired by the story.

A bit more about the Author: Michael A. Brown

Born in Chicago, IL, Michael Brown served in the United States Army, in various communities as a police officer, and currently serves as an anger management specialist, nonviolent crisis intervention instructor, and collegiate / career occupational educator in multiple criminal justice-related disciplines. His life’s mission is to raise his four children to be strong, capable, productive, responsible, and most importantly, happy human beings. Mr. Brown is an advocate of education and is a graduate of Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, having been conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Criminal Justice, Psychology and Philosophy) in 2006 and a Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 2012. To learn more, check out his website: www.whatitellmyselffirst.com, and follow him on Instagram: @whatitellmyselffirst, Facebook, and Twitter.

Check here to find this book for your own home library!

*****

The Magic of Who You Are by Sofia Eastmond

Illustrated by Elena Rae Pulido

Published by Balboa Press: A self-publishing company focused on self-help books with a positive message

I’m always on the lookout for resources and reads to instill growth mindset and confidence for *mai* students. As I touched upon earlier, children can be particulary hard on themselves. Minor mistakes can become major doomsday, and easily-fixed problems become insurmountable obstacles. Even a mini mishap can evoke an emotional response equivalent to that of shattered dreams. It’s my job as their teacher, to not fix their problems for them, but rather instill in them the confidence that they have what it takes to navigate the ups and downs life throws at them. All parts of life, from the amazing accomplishments, to the ordinary occurrences, to even the down-in-the-dumps days, are worth appreciating as we grow and learn from each experience.

This featured read, “The Magic of Who You Are,” is an affirming story that helps to convey this message to readers. Author Sofia Eastmond encourages readers to celebrate both the extraordinary and ordinary in all of us, and offers readers an abundance of reassurances that mistakes are an expected, natural part of life. Mistakes do not define us, rather they help us become who we want to be. My favorite line from the text, “We’re not what we do, you know? So if you say or do something you’re not proud of, that’s okay… We’re all here to learn to forgive, love ourselves, and each other more.” All too often littles worry about what may happen if they mess up. Thoughts zoom through their minds of loss of love and disappointment. However, through this read, they are encouraged to realize that disappointment isn’t to be feared, and that ultimately we are all here to learn from each other, to forgive and accept, and to love who we are.

With bright, ethereal illustrations, the pages exude a sense of peace and calm~ instilling a feeling of acceptance of ourselves and all that we do. The illustrations also portray a diverse cast of characters, furthermore creating an inclusive read. All in all, “The Magic of Who You Are,” is a beautiful read of wonder, inspiring us to believe in ourselves and the possibilities of positive impact we can make in the world when we find the courage to accept vulnerability and follow our dreams.

A bit more about the Author: Sofia Eastmond

Sofia Eastmond is a Portuguese bilingual writer, based in New Zealand. She is married to her husband, Karl, and is a mother to three daughters. She is passionate about empowering women to make their mark in the world which inspired me to create the project Goddesses In The World (www.goddessesintheworld.com). She is also a columnist at Visão, the most read magazine in Portugal, where she writes a monthly column about her perspective on New Zealand society. Sofia is a firm believer that our unique gifts need to see the light of day and that our lives can be infused with love, purpose and inspiration in small every-day actions. She wrote “The Magic of Who You Are” to help young ones learn to navigate their lives with an unshakeable confidence about who they are and their purpose in the world. To learn more, check out her website: www.themagicofwhoyouare.com, follow her on Instagram: @goddessesintheworld and like her Facebook Page.

Check here to find this book for your own home library!

*****

*~Support these independent/self-published authors and illustrators and check out what they’ve been writing and creating.  Please share any books, authors, or illustrators that fit into this category by tagging me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary,  posting on MaiStoryBook’s FaceBook page, or commenting on the blog below! Read more about my Book Review Policy here. I’m always looking for new treasures to read, support, and share with all of you!~*

*Plus, checkout an SEL interactive read aloud about the pressure to be perfect and the importance of sharing your feelings  here. *

*~Until Next Time, Happy Reading~*