Social Emotional Learning Picture Books with Gabi Snyder

January 30, 2023 Stefanie Hohl

We are so excited to have Gabi Snyder join us today to share information about Social Emotional Learning Picture Books!

Gabi (rhymes with “baby”) Snyder’s short bio:

Gabi Snyder is a fan of the unexpected. Her love of dogs, counting, and unusual modes of transportation inspired her debut picture book, TWO DOGS ON A TRIKE, illustrated by Robin Rosenthal and published by Abrams Appleseed (May 2020). Her second picture book, LISTEN, illustrated by Stephanie Graegin, came out in July 2021 from Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books. And her latest picture book, COUNT ON US! CLIMATE ACTIVISTS FROM ONE TO A BILLION, illustrated by Sarah Walsh, hit bookshelves in September 2022!

Gabi studied psychology at the University of Washington and creative writing at The University of Texas. When she’s not writing, she loves taking nature walks, visiting Little Free Libraries, and baking sweet treats. She lives in Oregon with her family. Learn more at gabisnyder.com.

What is SEL?

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines social and emotional learning (SEL) as “an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”

I also really like how author Danielle Davis describes SEL picture books as those “that in some way touch on a child’s relationships—with themselves: their identities, feelings, behaviors—as well as their relationships with others. That’s the essence of social-emotional learning or social-emotional development, how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the wider community.” Check out her post featuring 20 recommended SEL books, including LISTEN! https://thispicturebooklife.com/20-social-emotional-picture-books/

My accidental entry into SEL books

My second picture book, LISTEN, has often been described as a SEL book. But when I drafted LISTEN back in 2018, I don’t think I’d heard of SEL. So I didn’t set out to write a SEL book. What I did set out to write was a book that I could’ve used as a child, a book I still need as an adult.

I wanted to explore the benefits of listening. I also wanted to capture the sense that the world can sometimes be so filled with noise – both literal and figurative – that it can be overwhelming, and it can be challenging to focus on what’s really important.

In addition, I wrote the book at a time when I was taking a great deal of inspiration and solace from getting outside for walks and paying attention to the sights, sounds, and sensations on those walks. I was also finding that the practice of mindfulness was helping me focus and feel less overwhelmed – a feeling I was especially prone to as a child and still occasionally struggle with as an adult. So I think the text for LISTEN grew from an exploration of the benefits of listening coupled with the practice of mindfulness. In other words, my SEL book was the book I needed as a child.

So in considering how to write an engaging SEL book, ask yourself what book your child self need that didn’t exist? Can you write that book now? It might help to consider childhood memories with strong emotions attached. What emotional memories from your childhood had to do with SEL theme? Consider how you saw your relationship with yourself, with others, or with the world around you. Did you, for instance, find certain expectations about who you should be or how you should behave didn’t match your true sense of self? Were you a girl who was discouraged from exploring her sporty side? Or maybe, like me, there was a way in which the world was sometimes hard to navigate because it felt like “too much” of something. Or maybe you felt like “too much” for your world?

And, of course, anytime you set out to write a particular type of book, it’s helpful to read a slew of books in that genre. A few of my favorite SEL books…

JENNY MEI IS SAD

Written and illustrated by: Tracy Subisak

Themes/Topics: sadness, friendship, listening, making space for feelings

First two spreads:

My friend Jenny Mei is sad.

But you might not be able to tell.

TWO SPECKLED EGGS

Written and illustrated by: Jennifer K. Mann

Themes/Topics: friendship, cliques, outsiders, being different/unique

First spread:

Ginger’s birthday party was in two weeks, and she wanted to invite all the girls in her class...

except Lyla Browning.

JULIAN IS A MERMAID

Written and illustrated by: Jessica Love

Themes/topics: individuality; embracing differences; self-love; unconditional love; mermaids; parades; gender fluidity/nonconformity

First spread:

This is a boy named Julián. And this is his abuela. And those are some mermaids.

Julián LOVES mermaids.

Happy reading and happy SEL writing!

Thanks so much for joining us, Gabi!

Connect with Gabi on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/gabi_snyder_writer/) or visit her website (https://gabisnyder.com/).

10 Favorite Social Emotional Learning Picture Books

January 26, 2023 Stefanie Hohl

Literacy isn’t merely tied to letters, numbers, or words. Social-emotional literacy is just as important for the littlest to the biggest learners! Social-emotional learning means learning how to navigate big emotions, including difficult feelings like disappointment and fear. It means learning how to be kind, even when others are different than we are. It’s about healthy communication and resilience in the face of difficulty and struggle. This type of literacy is powerful and so, so needed in our world. Here are some of our favorites!

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

Jabari has finished his swim lessons, and he’s ready to jump off the diving board! But as he looks up, up, up the ladder and watches kids jump down, down, down, he realizes jumping isn’t quite as easy as it looks. In fact, it might be really scary. Thankfully, according to his dad, it’s okay to be scared sometimes. With its whimsical illustrative style, this story is fun and relatable for kids and adults alike.

Big Feelings by Alexandra Penfold, illustrated by Suzanne Kaufmann

The illustrations of this sweet rhyming story follow a group of neighborhood kids as they navigate big feelings during playtime in the neighborhood park. Big feelings like mad, sad, inspired, and bold punctuate their experience as they learn to come together as friends. This book is simple and a beautiful reminder that big feelings are normal, and we can always work through even the hardest ones.

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Patrice Barton

Whether he’s in the classroom, on the playground, or in the lunchroom, Brian knows he’s invisible. No one picks him for sports. No one sees his drawings or invites him to parties. When Justin joins the class, nothing seems to change– until Brian makes a choice to be kind. The aftermath of his choice reminds him that maybe he’s not so invisible after all. This book is heart-wrenching and full of hope. It’s the perfect story to spark conversation about the importance of truly seeing other people– no matter who you are.

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

When Taylor’s creation is destroyed, everyone has something to say about it. The bear wants Taylor to get angry, the ostrich recommends hiding, and the snake advises revenge. But Taylor doesn’t want to do any of those things, not until after the rabbit sits by his side and quietly listens. With simple illustrations and a gentle tone, this book is a wonderful reminder of the power of empathy, patience, and a listening ear.

Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim

It’s Danbi’s first day at a new school in a new country. Will she fit in? What if she doesn’t? Thanks to another child’s kindness, Danbi’s first day turns out better than she’d ever expected. This beautiful story highlights the importance of being kind, even when others may be different than we are.

The Good Egg by Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald

No matter how good Good Egg is, he can’t get the other eggs in his carton to behave! In fact, Good Egg’s efforts are causing him to crack! It’s not until he takes some time to himself that Good Egg learns not only how to heal, but what it really means to be a good egg among his eggmates. This is a fun book with great illustrations– perfect for all those good eggs out there!

The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López

A brother and sister use their imaginations to fly above boredom, anger, and the struggles of fitting in. They learn from their grandmother, who learned from her ancestors, and they inspire others to do the same. With lyrical prose and gorgeous illustrations, this book is a must for every shelf!

Ruby Finds a Worry by Tom Percival

Ruby was perfectly happy, until the day she found a worry. The Worry follows Ruby everywhere. It gets bigger and bigger. It gets so big, in fact, that it takes up half the school bus! And that doesn’t make Ruby happy—it just makes her sad. Then she meets a boy with a huge worry, just like hers. A must-read, this story not only reminds kids that worries are normal, but it teaches how to handle those worries in healthy, resilient ways.

The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad with S. K. Ali, illustrated by Hatem Aly

It’s Asiya’s first day of wearing hijab, and her little sister Faizah thinks she looks like a princess! When other students make unkind comments, Faizah remembers her mother’s wise words and the true meaning of hijab as she follows Asiya’s example of strength and grace. This beautiful story is written in lyrical prose with stunning illustrations. It’s a powerful reminder of the universal need for kindness, family, and inner strength.

I Am Enough by Grace Byers, illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo

This simple rhyming story reminds each reader, adult and child alike, that we are all enough. Like mountains, we’re here to stand, like champs to fight, like birds to sing, and like the sun to shine. Each one of us has meaning and purpose in this world– and each child needs to read this book!

I hope you enjoyed these Top 10 Social Emotional Learning Picture Books!

For more great ideas, feel free to check out Top 10 Picture Books with Surprise Endings or Top 10 Picture Books with Repetitive Refrains!

And don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss more great ideas and future blog posts!

Social Emotional Learning Picture Books with Jamie Robyn Wood

January 3, 2023 Stefanie Hohl

We are so excited to have Jamie Robyn Wood join us today to share information about Social Emotional Learning Picture Books!

Jamie Robyn Wood is the author of Bearskin, a Young Adult fairy-tale retelling published by Sweetwater Books in 2015. A graduate of Vermont College’s MFA program in Writing for Children and Young Adults, Jamie is a believer in the power of story and creativity in our lives. Jamie keeps herself busy writing, editing, and teaching ballet. She also has lots of pets.

Though I studied picture books during my MFA and spent many years reading picture books to my own children, my first experience with social emotional picture books came from an unexpected quarter: teaching ballet. At the particular dance studio I trained with, books were often used to help our very youngest dancers connect with movement in an imaginative way. Each month we emphasized a different facet of dancing and tied it to story. This meant that when the time came to address emotions in dance, social emotional picture books became the obvious choice.

At the time, I wouldn’t have known the proper term for this type of book. Instead, I saw the books as a way to help children inhabit different emotions, learn about what those emotions looked like and felt like, and see how they could incorporate those emotions – or choose not to – in what they were doing. Two books I’ve used regularly when teaching about emotion in dance are: Glad Monster, Sad Monster A Book About Feelings by Ed Emberley and My Heart Is Like a Zoo by Michael Hall.

In Glad Monster, Sad Monster each emotion is described in several different scenes, allowing the child to see that emotions are normal under varied circumstances and that it’s not wrong to feel any one emotion in a certain way. Since this book also comes with masks to match the different emotions, children have the ability to take on an emotion and act it out. While it makes sense for dancers to “take turns” with emotions and to understand how the same dance steps can be performed differently to represent different emotions, the same theory applies to a child reader. Books like Glad Monster, Sad Monster provide a vehicle for children to try on and practice emotions without the risk that comes in an actual moment of frustration or anger or sorrow.

In My Heart Is Like a Zoo, Michael Hall uses heart shaped animals to describe many different emotions, ranging from the typical to the less known. By the end of the book the animals have been gathered together as stuffed animals in one child’s room, allowing the child to keep all their emotions and experience them when necessary. Every animal in the zoo provides comfort to the child, in its own way. Social emotional picture books often help a child see how their emotions can be both embraced and managed in a healthy way.

In my opinion, the best of social emotional picture books steer away from the didactic and lean toward the explorative and creative aspects of childhood. Imagination is a powerful tool for learning and a child caught up in play or dance will more readily accept the ideas being expressed in a social emotional book. Since my entry to these books came from the avenue of dance, it’s not surprising I would continue to use the same educational rubric when evaluating the strength of a social emotional picture book now. Does the story invite the child into curiosity? Does the story help the child build understanding through imagination and play?Almost every child shies away from a heavy-handed attempt at lesson, but all of us want to understand ourselves better, especially within the safe confines of a supportive and intriguing book.