Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Author/authors: Judith Viorst (Ray Cruz)

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: anger, conflict resolution

Year of publication: 1987

Publisher: Aladdin

ISBN#: 978-0689711732

Age level: Lower Elementary

# of pages: 32

Quality of illustrations: Good; excellent character expressions

Brief summary: Alexander has a horrible beginning to his day, getting gum in his hair, tripping over his skateboard, and dropping his sweater in the sink.  His day keeps getting worse and Alexander vows to move to Australia.

Activity: Write a class book about the worst day ever.  Have each student write one page and illustrate it about the worst thing that has happened to them.

The Day Leo Said, "I Hate You!"

Author/authors: Robie Harris (Molly Bang)

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: Parent/child relationship, conflict resolution

Year of publication: 2008

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

ISBN#: 9780316065801

Age level: Lower Elementary

# of pages: 40

Quality of illustrations: Colorful, expressive

Brief summary: After Leo’s mother keeps telling him no to everything he wants to do and Leo is sent to his room, he yells to his mother that he hates her. The rest of book shows how Leo and his mom deal with his feelings and how Leo makes it better.

Activity: Make a class list of words and phrases that are hurtful and mean.  Then cross these out and write phrases that make people feel happy.

What Every Kid Should Know

Author: Jonah Kalb & David Viscott, M.D.
Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Parent/child relationship problems, feelings, making friends, self-esteem, divorce
Year of Publication: 1976
Publisher & Location: Boston: Houghton Mifflin
ISBN#: 0395629837 
Target Age Level: Late elementary, junior high
# of Pages: 127
Quality of Illustrations: some simplistic sketches added throughout
Brief Summary: Discusses the problems of growing up and gives suggestions on coping with various emotions, understanding oneself, getting along with others, and dealing with parents.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: Written in 1976, so may be a bit outdated.

Activity: Have the student compile a "Bill of Rights for Kids" like was done in the book. He/she makes a list of rights that are important to him/her (examples include "right to pick my own friends," "right to privacy," "right to my own opinion). Discuss each one and why that is important. Talk about how the student could discuss these rights with his/her parents, especially when they disagree.

Whirligig

Title: Whirligig

Author: Paul Fleischman

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Anger, Conflict Resolution

Year of Publication: 1999

Publisher & Location: Random House Publishing

ISBN#: 9780440228356

Target Age Level: Young Adult, Teens

# of Pages: 144

Quality of Illustrations: none

Brief Summary: In a drunken rage, 16-year old Brent leaves a party and inadvertently causes the death of a high school girl. For restitution, the girl’s family asks that Brent build a whirligig (type of windmill) on the four corners of the United States. As Brent travels, his anger is changed into repentance and ultimately his journey is one of healing.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book: sensitive subject matter

Post Reading Activities: This book provides a reader with a sense of hope- hope that someone can change and become a “good person” even after committing a grievous act. This book could be used to help a person process their own emotions after an accidental or purposeful act that resulted in the harm of another person.

Everyone Else's Parents Said Yes

Title: Everyone Else’s Parents Said Yes

Author: Paula Danziger

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Parent-child relationships

Year of Publication: 1998

Publisher & Location: Penguin Group

ISBN#: 9780698116870

Target Age Level: Upper Elementary

# of Pages: 128

Quality of Illustrations: none

Brief Summary: Matthew is about to have a birthday party and plans to throw himself the biggest birthday bash ever. The only problem is that his parents are not too pleased with his plans for the party. The discussions include what activities the boys will participate in and what food will be allowed at the party. Amidst the planning, Matthew runs into problems with all the girls in his grade. Eventually, Matthew and his parents resolve their differences- each of them compromising.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book: This book felt like it was written by an adult. Some of the situations and discussions seemed

Post Reading Activities: Students could write about a time when they disagreed with their parents. Have them retell the story using descriptive words that would help a reader understand the emotions the student felt during the situation. A teacher may then want to conduct a discussion about reasons that parents and children may disagree. Conflict resolution techniques could also be taught and role played.

Enemy Pie

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed:Resolving Conflict

Author/authors: Derek Munson

Year of Publication:2000

Book Title: Enemy Pie

ISBN #: 081182778x

Age level: Lower Elementary

# of pages: about 30 pages

Quality of illustrations: Great

Brief summary (a short paragraph is sufficient): A little boy decides that the new kid in the neighborhood is his #1 enemy when he teases him. His father cooks a pie that he guarantees will get rid of any enemy. The trick is that he has to hang out with the boy all day and be nice to him the whole time. It is a little hard for him, but in the end he starts to like him. He is afraid of his father giving the boy some pie, but then realizes that the trick to getting rid of an enemy is to make him your friend by being nice.

Activity: Discuss with the students how enemy pie works. Why is the rule about hanging out with a person and being nice all day so important. Give a homework assignment challenging the students to use the rule of enemy pie to make a new friend.

Mr. and Mrs. Muddle

Type of emotional/crisis issues addressed: CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Author/authors: Mary Ann Hoberman & Catherine O’Neill

Year of Publication: 1988

Book Title: Mr. & Mrs. Muddle

ISBN #: 0316367354; 0-316-36735-4

Age Level: Early Elementary

# of pages: 26

Quality of illustrations: great colorful ilustrations

Brief Summary: A married couple of horses have a lot of things in common. The one thing they cannot seem to agree on however is their choice method of transportation. Mr. Muddle likes walking, Mrs. Muddle likes cars, and they cannot seem to agree. One day they decide to solicit the advice of one of their close friends who suggests that there are both good things and bad things about both options. So, Mr. & Mrs. Muddle are finally able to come to an agreement to buy a canoe as this is a method they can both compromise on.

Post reading activity: Have the students get into groups of two and talk about the things they like and don’t like. Then have them make a list of “compromises” that they can use to get along better with their partner. Having the students practice problem solving skills is a good follow up to this story.

I Love My New Toy!

Author: Mo Willems

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Anger, conflict resolution

Year of Publication: 2008

Publisher & Location: New York: Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Book Group

ISBN#: 9781423109617

Target Age Level: Preschool, lower elementary

# of Pages: 57

Quality of Illustrations: cute, but very simplified

Brief Summary: When Elephant accidentally breaks Piggie's new toy, they both experience intense feelings before coming to realize how important their friendship is.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: Pretty simple, so probably only useful for the youngest age groups. Demonstrates that it is okay to be angry/sad when something upsetting happens, but not to let it ruin a relationship.

Activity: Make a list (&/or pictures) of situations where the child felt angry, sad, happy, etc. Talk about what those emotions look and feel like.