Somerville Mental Health Month Reads for Children & Families

Pilar has social anxiety, but when tryouts for her favorite ballet are held she uses the coping techniques she has learned and her love of dance to persevere.

"After something bad happens, a child has trouble connecting with those around him. His loved ones try to reach out and talk to him, but he only feels like running away. So, from his room, he picks up a shovel and digs a tunnel deep down and out into the backyard. Outside in the dark, nobody knows where he is. He could just disappear. But, seeing his mom in the window, his newfound distance offers him enough space to see the connection he needs. Something...

"This picture book, written in the first person, is gentle, supportive, and straightforward. It describes a child's experience with worry and the many ways it can surface, as well as ways to cope with what can be a challenging emotion for young children. Back matter for adults offers more context and expands on the information in the book"-- "Children learn practical strategies for coping with worry and anxiety. Gentle, supportive, and straightforward,...

"It's another busy day at the hospital! Meet doctors and nurses, ride in an ambulance, and discover the magic of medicine in this nonfiction story for kids. This book is perfect for any child who is nervous about a trip to the hospital. Dr. Christle Nwora takes readers behind the scenes to meet the incredible people who keep you healthy, from surgeons to mental health therapists. Dr. Nwora also explains the science behind how things work, from X-rays...

Ten-year-old Ada has never left her family's one-room apartment. Her bitter mother is too humiliated by Ada's twisted foot to let her outside. But when her little brother, Jamie is going to be shipped out of London to escape World War II, Ada doesn't waste a minute: she sneaks out to join him. So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take in two kids. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read,...

Told in verse, Ellie lives by Fat Girl Rules to avoid being bullied, but with the support of her dad, her therapist and her neighbor Catalina, can Ellie set aside these rules and just be herself?

"Maggie Edkins Willis's Smaller Sister is a debut middle grade graphic novel about body image, confidence, and the everlasting bond of sisterhood. Lucy's always looked up to her big sister, Olivia, even though the two are polar opposites. But then, Lucy notices Olivia start to change. She doesn't want to play with Lucy anymore, she's unhappy with the way she looks, and she's refusing to eat her dinner. Finally, Lucy discovers that her sister is not...

"After an entire summer trying to figure out how to go back to being the person she was before her depression and anxiety diagnosis, twelve-year-old Pluto finds out--with the help of the Hayden Planetarium hotline, a new tutor, and a new friend--that there is no old or new Pluto, there's just Pluto, growing up"--Provided by publisher.

"A picture book about a young girl who imagines her anxiety as vines that grow around her body making it hard to function."--

Tyler's brain is different. Unlike his friends, he has a hard time paying attention in class. He acts out in goofy, over-the-top ways. Sometimes, he even does dangerous things--like cut up a bus seat with a pocketknife or hang out of an attic window. Nobody, including Tyler, understands why he does these things until his doctor diagnoses him with ADHD. But that is just the start of his journey.