Mental Health Awareness Month: Fiction and Nonfiction Reads for Kids

Updated April 28, 2026
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Lewis and Clark Library Lewis and Clark Public Library
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Mental Health Awareness Month: Fiction and Nonfiction Reads for Kids

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Breakout
Wyman, Christina
Paper Book
"The next great middle grade author." --Colby Sharp, literacy advocate From the USA Today-bestselling author of Jawbreaker and Slouch, Breakout is a fresh and funny middle-grade novel about a girl with chronic acne figuring out how to feel good...
The care & keeping of you 2 : the body book for older girls
Natterson, Cara 1970-
Paper Book
This thoughtful advice book will guide you through the next steps of growing up. With illustrations and expert contributors, this book covers new questions about periods, your growing body, peer pressure, personal care, and more! Written by Dr. Cara Natterson for girls 10 and up, The Care & Keeping...
Don't worry, little crab
Haughton, Chris
Paper Book
From the award-winning creator of Shh! We Have a Plan comes a vibrantly colorful story about mustering the courage to try something new. Little Crab and Very Big Crab live in a tiny rock pool near the sea. Today they're going for a dip in the big ocean. "This is going to...
I feel! : a book of emotions
Medina, Juana
Paper Book
Pura Belpré Award-winning author-illustrator Juana Medina helps young readers to identify how they feel with bold, colorful illustrations and simple text in this paper-over-board picture book, the third book in the I WILL! series. Do you feel happy? Sad? Calm? Shy? Brave? Proud? ...
Feeling Your Feelings: The Head-To-Toe Science of Emotions
Lloyd Kyi, Tanya
Paper Book
Why does nervousness make us feel like we have butterflies in our belly and embarrassment cause a deep blush to spread across our face? While we know our brains are directly connected to our emotions, scientists are now discovering more about how other parts of our bodies are involved in feeling our...
Giraffes can't dance
Andreae, Giles
Paper Book
Gerald the giraffe longs to dance but his knees seem to buckle whenever he tries to twirl. Will he learn to sway to his own sweet tune? Find out in this gentle ode to dancing to the beat of your own drum. Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who...
The girl who never made mistakes
Pett, Mark.
Paper Book
Every student, teacher, and perfectionist needs to read this book about learning and growing from your mistakes! The perfect introduction to growth mindset, The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes is- A growth mindset book for kids A teacher must-have for classrooms...
Growing pangs
Ormsbee, Kathryn
Paper Book
AN NPR BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR . A PARENTS MAGAZINE BEST BOOK Inspired by a true story! Eleven-year old homeschooled Katie has always felt different . . . and now she can't stop worrying. Introducing an irresistibly relatable graphic novel about friendship, anxiety...
Guts
Telgemeier, Raina
Paper Book
Here and now
Denos, Julia
Paper Book
From the team behind Ezra Jack Keats Honor winner Windows comes Here and Now. At turns wise and playful, this accessible, beautifully illustrated read soothes like a modern Goodnight Moon.  Here and now . . . You may be reading a book. But...
How to talk to your succulent
Persico, Zoe
Paper Book
Eleven-year-old Adara and her dad are moving from California to the cold and flat lands of Michigan... and it sucks. After Mom's recent passing, it seems way too soon. Talking to Dad has always been harder than with Mom, but now it's like walking on eggshells. And why did Dad bring so many of Mom's...
Hummingbird's Big Trip
Karas, G Brian
Paper Book
This triumphant story about a nervous hummingbird who faces his fears of migrating will remind readers that even the biggest challenges can be overcome through perseverance, courage, and self-confidence. Hummingbirds love summertime, flying and having fun! But when the days get...
Judy Moody : was in a mood
McDonald, Megan
Paper Book
Any kid who's ever been in a bad mood will relate to the feisty, funny, ever-changing Judy Moody. To start, Judy Moody doesn't have high hopes for third grade. Her new desk won't have an armadillo sticker with her name on it. Her new classroom will not have a porcupine named...
A kids book about anxiety
Szabo, Ross
Paper Book
An honest exploration of the symptoms of anxiety and what learning to manage it can look like.  This is a book about anxiety. Having anxiety doesn't just mean you feel nervous sometimes or need to calm down. It means having an uncontrollable feeling that gets in the way of...
Louder than hunger
Schu, John
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book "Every so often a book comes along that is so brave and necessary, it extends a lifeline when it's needed most. This is one of those books." --Katherine Applegate, author of the Newbery Medal-winning,...
Meditation is an open sky : mindfulness for kids
Stewart, Whitney
Paper Book
Describes nine simple meditation exercises to help kids find focus, manage stress, and face challenges. Feeling mindful is feeling good! You know when you're having a bad day, you have that wobbly feeling inside and nothing seems to go right? Find a quiet...
Mockingbird (Mok'ing-bűrd)
Erskine, Kathryn
Paper Book
THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER and ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NOVELS OF OUR TIME FOR YOUNG READERS Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon,...
The not-so-friendly friend : how to set boundaries for healthy friendships
Furnival, Christina
Paper Book
The Not-So-Friendly Friend is a recipient of the prestigious Gold Award from Mom's Choice Awards® How can I help my child deal with a bully? What do I teach them about handling an on-again-off-again, not-so-friendly friend? My advice to "just be kind" isn't helping,...
Out of a Jar
Marcero, Deborah
Paper Book
This highly anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed and bestselling picture book In a Jar stars one little bunny dealing with some very big feelings. Llewellyn does not like to feel afraid or sad, angry, lonely, or embarrassed. And so he comes up with a brilliant...
Rosetown
Rylant, Cynthia
Paper Book
From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant comes the charming story of nine-year-old Flora Smallwood and the eventful year she spends in the quiet community of Rosetown, Indiana. For nine-year-old Flora Smallwood, Rosetown, Indiana, is full of surprises, many of the best of which...
Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster
Kasha, Manka
Paper Book
An adorable, heartfelt picture book debut from Manka Kasha, Small Knight and the Anxiety Monster follows the magical quest of a knight finding the courage to confront an ever growing monster. The worry kept growing day by day, until... one morning Small Knight woke...
The summer of June
Sumner, Jamie
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author of Tune It Out and Roll with It comes a "needed, hopeful" (Booklist) middle grade book about a young girl who sets out to overcome her anxiety over the course of one life-changing summer. Twelve-year-old June Delancey is kicking...
Wallflowers
Joy, Mackenzie
Paper Book
People call you a wallflower. Sometimes they call you shy. Sometimes they call you quiet, or maybe even scared. People think these are bad things, because sometimes they are LOUD. But you are happy just the way you are. And maybe you don't need to learn to be loud,...
We Need to Talk about Death: An Important Book about Grief, Celebrations, and Love
Chavez, Sarah
Paper Book
Discover how cultures around the world honor the dead in this beautifully illustrated guide to help grieving children understand death. Death is an important part of life, and yet it is one of the hardest things to talk about--for adults as well as children. Historian and...
Weirdo
Weaver, Tony, Jr
Paper Book
"A touching story of belonging." -- Publisher's Weekly, starred review"Honest, hopeful.." --Kirkus, starred review A Kirkus Best Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the Year A Publishers Weekly<...
What Makes You Happy?
Tawwab, Nedra Glover
Paper Book
By the influential relationship therapist and bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace, this story will help young kids learn to express their own needs rather than people-pleasing. Avery loves to make people happy-so much so that she often ignores her own wants...
Zenguin
Smith, Danna
Paper Book
Learn about mindfulness and calm with the help of ZENGUIN! From New York Times bestselling illustrator Sydney Hanson and Danna Smith comes a sweet and calming picture book that helps instill life skills in young readers with basic, age...
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