May is Mental Health Awareness Month

 Hooray, May is Mental Health Awareness Month! The comics above are by the fantastic Gemma Correll, whom I do not know and have never met but still feel like I have a deep connection to. As someone who has dealt with anxiety and depression their entire life, Correll's work makes me feel like I am not alone.    Her comics perfectly combine poignancy and humor to depict the reality of living with a mental illness. If you want to feel seen and have a laugh I highly recommend checking out her work.

So, let's talk about some other amazing books to read and/or share this month (and any month really for people struggling with mental illness, it isn't like it ever goes away). I am going to start with picture books, and I know you are probably thinking "why would you need picture books about mental health?"
Well, kids (even ones not in school yet) can have anxiety, stress, sadness, or they may have an adult in their life dealing with these issues which, let's be honest, means they are dealing with it too. There may be incredibly serious issues such as abuse or trauma a child is dealing with, but there could also be more common fears like going to the doctor or dentist, the dark, or going to an unfamiliar place. People are wired differently, and in my opinion that is a great thing, but it also means that all people react in different ways. What one kid doesn't think twice about, might incite nightmares in another. Currently, my first grader is absolutely terrified of fire, tornado, and lock down drills. As this is his first year in public school, I understand that it is something unfamiliar and changes the routine, and they also are drills meant to deal with scary problems. Books provide the perfect segue to a discussion about fears, worries, and how to deal with those feelings.

The first book I want to share with you is The Don't Worry Book by Todd Parr. If you are unfamiliar with Todd Parr he is the author and illustrator of over 60 children's books and I guarantee that once you read one to your child you are going to want to get more. His bold and vivid illustrations and simple text are guaranteed to delight and engage toddlers and preschoolers. I always think of Todd Parr picture books as the Muppet books.  You probably think that this is due to the way he depicts his characters with simple features, crazy colored hair, skin, and clothes. This is definitely a big part of it since I feel like all of Parr's illustrations could exist on Sesame Street. However, I also think of Parr's books as the Muppet books because they are all happy and endeavor to make the world a kinder more loving place to live. In my mind that is the epitome of what Jim Henson stood for. The Don't Worry Book explains what worry is (thinking too much about something that may be scary), what are some things you may worry about (the weather, doctor's appointments, etc.) and what you can do to feel better (hug a stuffed animal, sing a song, or wear underwear on your head). I love that Parr gives concrete examples of what worry is and what kids to do alleviate those feeling all in language that they can understand. If you have a little one that is dealing with that awful W word this is a perfect book to read together so that maybe they can give words to what they are feeling and to work out some strategies to making that worry go away.

The next picture book I want to highlight is probably more for preschoolers and up. Ruby Finds a Worry is part of the Big Bright Feelings series written and illustrated by Tom Percival and published by Bloomsbury out of Great Britain. If you go to the Bloomsbury website they not only have a list of all the books in the Big Bright Feelings series, but also downloadable activities for each book. I confess that I normally do not enjoy picture books with a very specific "message" or "lesson". Don't get me wrong, they can definitely work to prompt discussion with children, but usually the story telling is bit stilted and dull for general audiences and read-aloud sessions.  The Big Bright Feelings series definitely deals with very specific topics but the gentle and enjoyable text combined with enchanting illustrations make these books winners for me. There are a number of topics that these books address (fitting in, jealousy, starting school, etc.) but for this post I want to mention Ruby Finds a Worry which, of course, deals with worry and anxiety. As you can see, Ruby is absolutely adorable and I love the way the worry is actually portrayed as a physical being. The colors of the illustrations particularly make the worry stand out and grow in prominence until Ruby learns to deal with the worry and reduce its prevalence in her life. In the story, young Ruby discovers that a worry has attached itself to her. I love that the worry has taken a physical form and also that it doesn't seem to have any specific cause or association with an event in her life. As far as the reader is concerned, the worry just shows and grows each day until Ruby can't focus on anything but the worry. As you can probably surmise, Ruby's attempts to ignore the worry just make it grow bigger. It isn't until she talks about her worry with a friend that it starts to shrink. I think that it is important to note that the worry does not completely disappear, it is still there, but it no longer interferes with Ruby's daily life. Some people (and I happen to be one of them) are just worriers. I remember my family referring to me as a Nervous Nellie when I was a child. It could be about specific things. I particularly remember a time period where I was petrified of acid rain, but often it was just anxiety that seemed to be about everything and nothing at the same time. 

A book that just came out in 2023 is

When Things Aren't Going Right, Go Left! written by Marc Colagiovanni and illustrated by Peter Reynolds. This is the debut picture book for Colagiovanni, but the style of the illustrations will probably look familiar. Reynolds is the author and illustrator of such classics as Ish and The Dot, as well a being the illustrator of the I Am picture books by Susan Verde (I Am Love, I Am Yoga, I Am Peace, etc.).

This may be a picture book, but I recommend it for readers of all ages.  Colagiovanni has written a charming story about hope and perseverance that is only made better by Reynolds's delightful artwork.  The story is simple enough to entertain young children, but the wit and whimsy will be appreciated by adults. We all have been troubled by doubt, worry, and fear at some point of our lives. Colagiovanni  reminds us  that during those times we can turn in a different direction and leave those burdens behind us

If you want to reach out to an older elementary age student struggling with mental health you cannot go wrong with The Worry (less) Book: Feel Strong, Find Calm and Tame Your Anxiety by Rachel Caine. Graphic novels, of course, are hugely popular with young readers and this one gives solid advice alongside entertaining illustrations and a large dose of humor.

Rachel Caine has also written and illustrated Consent (for Kids!): Boundaries, Respect, and Being in Charge of You, which is a must-read book for all young people. Both this book and The Worry (Less) Book are well-researched and deliver important, age-appropriate information in a format that will engage young people.

Speaking of consent, Rachel Caine is one of the creators of the viral tea consent video which has been promoted by police departments and played by on campuses and to young people around the world. As with her books, Caine employs humor to expertly and concisely convey vitally important information to young people. Seriously, if you have teens or young adults have them watch this video. It is funny and everyone will laugh but it has an imperative and easy to understand message for viewers.

 

Let's move on to some chapter books that deal with mental health. The first book I want to talk about is OCDaniel by Wesley King. As you may have guessed, the main character in this book is a middle school boy suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder. Daniel just wants to be a normal kids and hopes that no one ever finds out about his "zaps", what he refers to his as obsessive need to do certain things such as turning lights on and off a certain number of times. 

King does a remarkable job of writing about serious mental illnesses while making the characters relatable to all readers. Every middle schooler wants to fit in and may have parts of themselves that they wish to hide from their peers. As a coming of age drama, OCDaniel is a great novel, but what makes it exceptional is that King has also threaded a mystery into the story. A fantastic read that will shed light on mental illness for some readers and make others feel seen.

Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand is another juvenile fiction novel that revolves around a young main character coping with mental illness, this time depression and anxiety. Eleven year old Finley is spending the summer at her grandparents' estate while her parents finalize their divorce. In order to cope with her intense emotions, Finley retreats into a fantasy world that she creates. Legrand magically combines fantasy and drama into a beautiful story about, not only juvenile mental health, but also family dynamics.  This is definitely a unique novel that will help young readers see that they are not alone and that reaching out and making connections can help alleviate feelings of overwhelming sadness, fear, or self-doubt.

There are probably an overabundance of young adult novels that are about depression and anxiety. Trust me, I have served on the Michigan Young Adult Award committee (the Thumbs Up) and there is a lot of angst, depression, and trauma in popular books for teens. One that I have found to be particularly memorable is Rainbow in the Dark by Sean McGinty. I am warning you that Rainbow in the Dark is a bit weird (and that is probably why I liked it so much). The main character is a teen named Rainbow whose parents' recent divorce has resulted in moving to a town and home that he hates. Failing in school and feeling isolated and disconnected from his family, Rainbow suddenly finds himself in a video game like world with other teens. Rainbow is now on a quest to discover where he is and how to escape to reality. I warned you that this was an odd book, but McGinty brilliantly deals with serious issues of depression and suicide in a way that will appeal to teen readers. I hate to classify books as being for girls or boys, but many young adult novels that deal with depression and mental health tend to be realistic dramas with female protagonists. Rainbow in the Dark stands out for its incredibly unique storytelling. There are kids out there dealing with depression that will never pick up a drama or nonfiction book about mental health. However, if you offer those teens a novel about a teen who finds himself trapped in a video game...Well, you just may get them to pick it up.

I have already mentioned one graphic novel, and if you are familiar at all with tween and teen readers you know that they gravitate towards this format. As a librarian I get so frustrated with parents who tell their kids that they cannot get a "comic" they have to check out a "real" book. Personally, and professionally, I vehemently disagree with discouraging any child from checking out a book that they want to read. First of all, if you forbid something they are just going to want it more, but if you tell them that certain books do not "count" and they need to read something different they are just going to hate reading. Graphic novels can educate, inspire, and entertain just as much as traditional chapter books. For children that are more visual learners they may even have a greater impact by sticking with them longer. I want to mention two graphic novel memoirs that deal specifically with anxiety, depression, and identity that teens struggling with these issues may find particularly encouraging. The first of these is Everything is Okay by Debbie Tung. Based on the author and illustrator's own struggles with anxiety and depression, this book is beautifully written and illustrated. This quick and easy read will hopefully encourage young people battling with similar afflictions while also making them realize that they are not alone.

The second graphic novel that I want to mention is The Fire Never Goes Out:A Memoir in Pictures by ND Stevenson. Stevenson is a graphic novelist and artist who achieved huge successes right out of the gate.  His first graphic novel, Nimona, went from web comic to best selling and Eisner-winning graphic novel. Stevenson then went on to the reboot of She-Ra on Netflix which was a huge success. In The Fire Never Goes Out Stevenson depicts in a series of comics and essays how they have always struggled with self-confidence, anxiety, and identity. I do want to note here that ND Stevenson (professionally)  now goes by the name, Nate, and chooses the pronouns he/him. Anyone who has struggled with who they are, who they want to be will be able to relate to this stunning memoir.

I know that I never even got to adult books about mental health, but this post has already gotten quite long. I guess for now we will just keep it to teens and younger. I hope that you find some books in this post that will help and encourage whoever you are reading or sharing with them.

Why the Drama?

On Monday, March 27, 2023 there was a shooting at an elementary school in Tennessee. Seven people died: three children, three school staff members, and the shooter. According to reports, the tragedy in Nashville took less than 14 minutes and was all over before 10:30am. It didn't take much longer for news channels and social media platforms to blow up with details.

Why am I reiterating information that you are already familiar with? Well, it was later in that same day that a parent came into the library to lodge a complaint. Specifically, this mother wanted to speak to our library director about  Drama, a graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier, that her nine year old daughter had recently checked out.

For those of you unfamiliar with the world of kids' graphic novels, Drama is an incredibly popular graphic novel recommended for readers 8-12 years old. The story revolves around a group of middle school students involved in putting on a school play. It is a sweet coming of age story about friendship, working together, pursuing your passions, and, yes, first crushes. I am quite sure that many of you have already guessed that there are gay characters in Drama. Full disclosure, there is also a boy-boy kiss but not to give too much away this occurs on stage as part of the play. So to be clear, there is zero salacious content in Drama. It is all very sweet and, in my opinion, actually delivers an extremely important message to young people about the importance of maintaining friendships and how those can be even better than romantic relationships.  

However, on an afternoon when I, like so many others, was mired in horror, grief, fear, and rage a mother in my community was more concerned about the fact that her nine year old daughter learned that gay people exist. The mother's exact words were that she thought "the library was a safe place" and was unprepared to discuss "serious adult issues" with her daughter. First off, to hear someone say that they think the library is not a safe place for children is preposterous. It would be funny if vilifying libraries and books was not so pernicious to children and society as a whole. Last I checked, reading never resulted in the death or even the harm of a child. Reading books just leads to imagination, empathy, and thinking and why would we ever want to encourage those qualities in our children?

The library is not just a safe place it is a sanctuary for ALL children. No matter their background, home life, interests, popularity, faith, gender, etc. I have often admitted to being a nerd and a Trekkie so it is probably no surprise that I follow Wil Wheaton on social media and read his blog. For those non-Trekkies, Wheaton played Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Wheaton recently wrote a beautiful post titled "The Library is a Safe Place" detailing his own childhood experiences at the public library and how they continue to be essential places for today's youth, especially those that identify as LGBTQ+. please, read this post. Wheaton is a superior writer and I don't think I have read a better tribute to libraries and the impact that they can have on vulnerable young people.

Growing up books were my escape and the library was my "safe" place. Now that  I am a Youth Librarian it is my mission to make sure that every child and teen who walks into the library feels welcome and seen. I can lead them to books that allow them to escape, see themselves, or learn more about the rest of the world. However, they do not even have to be readers to be welcome in the library (even though I will not quit trying to find them the perfect book). The library is a safe place that they can simply be themselves and not have to buy anything or fulfill any special requirements.

Now onto the the second half of the complaint, that Drama dealt with "serious adult issues". I already gave you a synopsis of Drama. It does not contain violence, swearing, sex, nudity, mortgages, life insurance, or retirement plans (seriously, aren't those last three the real adult topics?).  There are relationships in Drama, but those exist in every book.  Was this mom concerned because Drama dealt with childhood crushes? I have read about those in picture books or even younger chapter books. Junie B. Jones Loves Handsome Warren deals with a kindergartner having a crush on a new boy in her class. I could go on and list hundreds of chapter books and picture books that deal with crushes or depict romantic relationships between characters like parents or older siblings. And let me stop here to say that people need to stop conflating relationships with sex, which can exist separately. After all, how many books for kids show parents as a couple without going into detail about how their children came to be? Are those inappropriate? No, it is only deemed inappropriate when the relationships occur between characters of the same sex. I hate to burst your bubble, but gay people exist and, let's be honest, they have always existed. They deserve to live their lives in the light without fear of discrimination, judgement, or violence. 

These parents who are so horrified that their kids will read about LGBTQ+ people in books, how do they want their kids to treat LGBTQ+ people that they will meet in their classrooms, neighborhoods, and communities as they grow up? Do they want their kids to look away in disgust, vote to have LGBTQ+ people have their rights stripped away, spit on them, call them names? These are human beings that adults  are teaching children to fear and abhor and it enrages and terrifies me at the same time.

Unless you live under a rock, you are aware of the divisiveness that plaques our country current. It's hard to miss and, unfortunately, libraries and books have become a frequent target of far right political groups bent on using bigotry to stir up their base. There were a

record number of demands to ban books in 2022 and it is already looking like there will be even more in 2023. You may have guessed that the majority of the recent challenges and bans pertain specifically to books that deal with the LGBTQ+ community or race relations. Whatever, the politicians say, banning books is not about protecting children. If they were really interested in child welfare they would care about the high suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth, gun violence, healthcare, poverty, climate change, etc. This is about consolidating power and as the Zinn Education Society puts so eloquently: In truth, what concerns the right is young people learning to ask critical questions about our society, how to organize for social change, and about the power of interracial solidarity. As I have already stated, reading leads to empathy. When you read a book you inhabit the mind and soul of the characters. You don't just view their actions, like a television show, you are inside their minds and hear their thoughts and feel your emotions. It is hard to despise someone when you have experienced their pain and joy, their triumphs and failures.

Books and libraries have always been an important part of my life. When I was struggling during my youth I needed the escape of fiction and the safety of the library. As a stay-at-home mom, the library was a free place for me to connect with other parents and educate and entertain my children. Now it seems like my life has come full circle and I am a youth librarian. It just so happens that my goal as a parent is the same as a youth librarian. More than anything, I want kids to be kind. If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, citizen longing for a better world please encourage people to read books and support their local libraries. Run to serve on the boards of libraries, vote yes on millages, attend library programs, check out books, tell everyone you know how important libraries are, and, most importantly, READ READ READ!

Season's Readings

 

So, I have a bit of a reputation for being a Grinch, and I am not going to deny that there may be some truth in this assessment. However, I do feel the need to defend my self. My heart is not two sizes too small, as one of my coworkers joked just last week. I do enjoy the holiday season: the snow, the decorations, the gifts, the food, even the music (at least some of it in moderation) etc. What makes me want to retreat to a hobbit hole is the excess and over the top extravagance that seems to grow bigger and last longer every year. As Alfred, the wise beyond his years janitor from Macy's, says: "Yeah, there's a lot of bad 'isms' floatin' around this world, but one of the worst is commercialism." I don't know if commercialism is actually the worst "ism", but it does suck the joy out of the holiday season.

I know that I started this post like a greasy black banana peel, so I'm going to move on to something that does fill me with holiday delight: Christmas books! After all, I am a mom and a children's librarian and nothing makes me happier than reading books to kids.

The first book that I am going to write about is actually better known as a movie, and it is in fact one of my all time favorite holiday films. You may be aware that I have an infatuation with anything and everything Jim Henson.

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is a less well-know work by Jim Henson, but is enchanting with humor, memorable music, and just the right amount of schmaltz. Even if you are familiar with the Henson version of Emmet Otter you probably do not know that the movie was adapted from an adorable picture book written by Russell Hoban and illustrated by Lillian Hoban that was published in 1971. I actually read this book and watch the movie with my kids every December and I love them both. I will say that Henson's adaptation has a bit of an edge over the book because you get to hear the fantastic music composed by Paul Williams. Music is still an important element of the book, but the jug-band tunes, and Marilyn Sokol singing Our World and Wheren the River Meets the Sea make the movie unforgettable.

The story is a sweet twist on The Gift of a Magi with the widowed Mrs. Otter and her son, Emmet, sacrificing prized possessions in order to give the other the perfect Christmas present. The Muppet version stays very true to the story written by Russel Hoban and and it is impossible to not fall in love with Lillian Hoban's charming denizens of Frogtown Hollow. There is even a second book set in Frogtown Hollow about one Emmet's jugband friends, Harvey Muskrat.
    If the style of Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas and Harvey's Hideout look familiar, you have probably seen some of the other books created by the husband and wife team. The Frances series being the most well known. Although, the first Frances book, Bedtime for Frances, was illustrated by Garth Williams (illustrator of the Little House series) the remaining five books were illustrated by Lillian Hoban. After their divorce, Lillian Hoban went on to write and illustrate the Arthur easy reader series (Arthur the chimpanzee, not the aarvark), the Silly Tilly Mole series, and several other books for children. Russel Hoban switched to writing science fiction and fantasy for adults.

When it comes to reading picture books for storytime or to my own kids I have always preferred stories with humor. Two books that are always a big hit with the younger kiddos are Santa's Stuck by Rhonda Gowler Greene and Who Will Guide My Sleigh Tonight? Both books are silly with fun and colorful illustrations. You can probably guess the plot of each story from it's title and cover. Suffice it to say, little ones are sure to giggle as a family dog, the cat and all of her kittens, the reindeer, and even a mouse have to pull Santa out of the chimney when he eats too many cookies. Also, who doesn't want to imagine Santa trying to deliver toys around the world with a sleigh pulled by tigers, kangaroos, or even snakes.

For older kids, I absolutely adore the Pig the Pug books by Aaron Blabey.  I know that I have mentioned Blabey before, but he is also the author of the Bad Guys series which was recently made into a movie.

It is the most wonderful time of the year and of course to Pig the Pug that means presents and MORE PRESENTS. If you have read any of the other Pig the Pug books, you will not be surprised when Pig's greed lands him in a dangerous and rather painful predicament. As usual, Pig should heed the advice of Trevor, who wisely goes to sleep on Christmas Eve, happy to open whatever Santa brings. Pig's over the top and ridiculous behavior (he actually bites Santa on the bum) will have kids giggling and, perhaps, checking their own attitudes at Christmas time.

Another wonderful book about appreciating family and love during the holiday season  (that is a bit more serious than Pig the Elf) is The Broken Ornament by Tony DiTerlizzi. If you are a fantasy lover, you may recognize DiTerlizzi as the artist of The Spiderwick Chronicles (please, do not watch the movie, it is just bad) and the author and artist of The Search for Wondla series. DiTerlizzi is also incredibly well-known among nerds like me for his Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: the Gathering artwork. He also illustrated an absolutely gorgeous version of the 1930s poem by Mary Howitt, The Spider and the Fly. I digress, The Broken Ornament is about a young boy who is very excited to decorate for Christmas and his enthusiasm breaks an old ornament belonging to his mother. Not really understanding why his mother is upset, the boy just wants everything to be bigger, brighter, more sparkly. Suddenly, a fairy appears that is willing to grant his wish for the best Christmas ever, which has bigger trees, more snow, brighter lights, etc. When the fairy shows Jack why the broken ornament was so important to his mother, though, he realizes that the best Christmas is not about the having the most or shiniest of anything. As parents, I think we all strive to give our kids memories that they will cherish long past childhood and that is really what this story is about. Learning that the best memories are not about stuff, but about spending time with those we love. If you fall in love with this book, be sure to check out Diterlizzi's website where he has ornaments that you can print and cut out. There are also activities, wallpapers, and oodles of other goodies about his books and art. 

Before , I finish I want to mention a couple of fantastic Christmas chapter books that are perfect for reading aloud together. You may have heard of A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig since it was made into a Netflix movie a year or two ago. I actually have not watched the film adaptation so I cannot tell you whether that is any good, but the book is adorable. I read this aloud to my then five-year-old and he was completely enthralled in young Nikolas's journey to the North Pole to rescue his father. Luckily, Haig has written a few more wonderful stories about Santa Claus and Christmas to keep us entertained for a few years to come.  Haig's writing is charming and witty, like a wonderful cross between Lemony Snicket and Roald Dahl. Chris Mould's intricate illustrations make the books even more enchanting.

The last book I am going to recommend is a Christmas mystery/ghost story that will appeal to kids and adults. Part of what makes Greenglass House by Kate Milford so wonderful is a setting that could be straight from an Agatha Christie novel. The ramshackle inn high up above the smuggler's town of Nagspeake that requires a cable car to reach. Snowbound during the Christmas break with a number of quirky and mysterious guests, it is up to Milo to discover everyone's secrets.  This is the perfect book to snuggle under a blanket and read next to a cozy fire. 

If you celebrate Christmas and have little ones (and not so little ones) to read with this December, I hope that I have given you some fun books to read together. 

Happy Holidays!