Use Books to Spark Heart-to-Heart Conversations
Picture books can teach lifelong lessons about identity, feelings, friendship, and other aspects of social and emotional learning. Each month, Big Heart World partners, including First Book and School Library Journal, are hand picking books that can help parents, caregivers, and educators introduce children to different social and emotional learning topics that help them grow big hearts. See the full lists — with links and discussion questions — here.
Identity and Belonging
Hair Love, by Matthew Cherry and Vashti Harrison
Julián is a Mermaid, by Jessica Love
Not Quite Narwhal, by Jessie Sima
Giraffes Can’t Dance, by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees
Bob the Artist, by Marion Deuchars
Little Blue and Little Yellow, by Leo Leonni
Feelings
Valentina and Monster, Written and illustrated by Ángeles Ruiz Reycraft
Toasty, by Sarah Hwang
I Talk Like a River, by Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith
See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog, by David LaRochelle and Mike Wohnoutka
Magnificent Homespun Brown, by Samara Cole Doyon and Kaylani Juanita
I Do Not Like Yolanda, by Zoey Abbott
Similarities and Differences
Alma and How She Got Her Name, by Juana Martinez-Neal
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, by Kevin Noble Maillard and Juana Martinez-Neal
Bilal Cooks Daal, by Aisha Saeed and Anoosha Syed
Mommy’s Khimar, by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Ebony Glenn
Drawn Together, by Minh Lê and Dan Santat
Home is In Between, by Mitali Perkins and Lavanya Naidu
Paletero Man, by Lucky Diaz and Micah Player
Opposites: Bilingual Firsts, by Susie Jaramillo
Nana Akua Goes to School, by Tricia Elam and April Harrison
¿Cuál es diferente? / Which Is Different? By Jagger Youssef and translated by Cecilia González Godino
Friendship
Hello, Friend, Hola, Amigo!, by Andrés Salguero and Sara Palacios
What if, Pig?, by Linzie Hunter
Friendbots: Blink and Block Make a Wish, by Vicky Fang
Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market, by Raúl Gonzalez III
Best Friend in the Whole World, by Sandra Salsbury
Evelyn Del Rey Is Moving Away, by Meg Medina and Sonia Sánchez
The Kindness Book, by Todd Parr
Ways to Welcome, by Linda Ashman and Joey Chou
Thank You, Omu!, by Oge Mora
We’re All Wonders, by R.J. Palacio
Jenny Mei is Sad, by Tracy Subisak
Empathy
I Love You, Baby Burrito, by Angela Dominguez
Grandpa Across the Ocean, by Hyewon Yum
Watercress, by Andrea Wang and Jason Chin
Woodpecker Girl, by Chingyen Liu, I-Tsun Chiang, and Heidi Doll
They Only See the Outside, by Kalli Dakos and Jimothy Oliver
The Cot in the Living Room, by Hilda Eunice Burgos and Gaby D’Alessandro
The Rabbit Listened, by Cori Doerrfeld
I’m New Here, by Sibley O’Brien
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates, by Ryan T. Higgins
Milo Imagines the World, by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson
Sam Is My Sister, by Ashley Rhodes-Courter and MacKenzie Haley
Problem Solving
Jingle Dancer, Written by Cynthia L. Smith, Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu
Beach Toys vs. School Supplies by Mike Ciccotello
My Friend, Written by Taye Diggs and Illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Danbi Leads the School Parade by Anna Kim
A House in the Woods by Inga Moore
The Good Stranger’s Sancocho, Written by John J. McLaughlin and illustrated by Ruddy Nuñez
One is a Piñata, Written by Roseanne Greenfield and illustrated by John Parra
Something’s Wrong: A Bear, a Hare, and Some Underwear by Jory John
Bunny Will Not Jump, Written and illustrated by Jason Tharp
Isobel Adds it Up, Written by Kristy Everington and Illustrated by A.G. Ford
It Began With Lemonade, Written by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Lian Cho
Ten Steps to Flying Like a Superhero, Written and illustrated by Deb Pilutti
Thank you to our partners, School Library Journal and First Book, for picking books help families and educators grow big-hearted kids!
