Alley Oops

Author: Janice Levy

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Bullying

Year of Publication: 2005

Publisher & Location: Flashlight Press

ISBN#: 0972922547

Target Age Level: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: Good

Brief Summary: JJ Jax is a bully. He’s been bullying an overweight boy named Patrick. JJ’s father talks to him about bullying and relates a story of when he was younger and he was a bully. The kid he bullied later became a cop and Mr. Jax that he now arrests people like him. Mr. Jax felt really bad for what he had done, but it was too late. JJ feels bad about his behavior. He goes to Patrick and apologizes. They become friends, and JJ discovers that Patrick is really good at arm wrestling.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: The resolution is a bit forced, but it’s a good starting point for discussion.

Activity: Often the kids that are bullied have talents that are not seen by others. Challenge the students to look for the hidden talents in others. What can they see in other people that may be shy or insecure?

Amazing Gracie

Author: A.E. Cannon

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Mental illness of a parent, family financial problems, suicide

Year of Publication: 1991

Publisher & Location: Dell Publishing, New York, New York

ISBN#: 0440215706

Target Age Level: Jr High, High School

# of Pages: 214

Quality of Illustrations: None

Brief Summary: (Set in American Fork and Salt Lake City, UT )Gracie’s father died when she was four, so it’s been her and her mother ever since. Gracie looks a lot like her mother, but she’s afraid she’s like her in other ways. Cynthia, Gracie’s mom, struggles with depression. She had to go to the state hospital when Gracie was seven. Gracie has felt it her duty to keep her mother happy. Cynthia gets remarried to Pete who sometimes seems irresponsible. Gracie has to adjust to a new step-father and step-brother. Pete moves the family to Salt Lake City so he can pursue his multi-level marketing career. This should help Cynthia with her depression, but it doesn’t. She spirals down until she attempts suicide. Gracie finds her lying on her bed. Cynthia is taken to the hospital where she stays for a while. She eventually returns and there is hope that she will be able to control her depression.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: The characters are very real and believable. It could be very applicable to students in this area as it is set in American Fork and Salt Lake.

Activity: Have students identify what Gracie is experiencing with a mother who suffers from depression. Identify how she handles the responsibility and her feelings towards her mother when she attempts suicide.

My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge and Belonging

Author: Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death, Illness

Year of Publication: 2001

Publisher & Location: Riverhead Trade

ISBN#:

1573228567 (isbn13: 9781573228565)

Target Age Level: Young Adult, Adult, High School

# of Pages: 400

Quality of Illustrations: none

Brief Summary: When doctor and author Rachel Naomi Remen was young, she was caught between two different views of life: that of her rabbi grandfather and that of her highly academic, research-oriented parents, who believed religion was the opiate of the masses. As Remen gravitated toward academics and serving the world as a medical doctor, her grandfather became an "island of mysticism in a vast sea of science." But over time, Remen discovered that two seemingly divergent paths could lead to the same destination, especially as she learned to blend her spiritual beliefs with her medical treatment.

Remen uses the heart-rending stories of her patients to teach readers how to follow in her example, that is, combining a life of service with a life of receiving and giving blessings (a combination that avoids common problems such as burnout, self-sacrifice, and navel gazing). Remen also includes personal stories of her grandfather, who showered the world with his mystical beliefs and wizened blessings. --Gail Hudson

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: good book, deals with different types of loss. for older readers.

Activities:
Since it is for older readers, a discussion would probably suffice. Although each chapter is a different story and are typically not long, you could find one (the one about collectible toy cars is a good one to use) that you could do activities with.

When Sophie Gets Angry -- Really, Really Angry

Author: Molly Bang

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

Year of Publication: 1999

Publisher & Location: Scholastic, Inc.

ISBN#: 0439213193

Target Age Level: preschool, lower elementary

Quality of Illustrations: Excellent

Brief Summary: From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-Sophie is playing with her stuffed gorilla when her sister wrests it from her, knocking her to the floor. When their mother agrees that it is her sister's turn to play with the toy, Sophie becomes so angry that "She wants to smash the world to smithereens." She kicks, screams, and eventually runs into the woods where she climbs a huge beech tree, looks out over the water, and is comforted by the "wide world." Calm, she returns home ready to participate in family life. The text is appropriately brief, for it is Bang's double-page illustrations, vibrating with saturated colors, that reveal the drama of the child's emotions.

Now One Foot, Now the Other

Author: Tomie dePaola

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: illness in family

Year of Publication: 2005

Publisher & Location: Putnam Juvenile

ISBN#: 0399242597

Target Age Level: preschool, lower elementary

# of Pages: 48

Quality of Illustrations: Excellent

Brief Summary: Bobby's grandfather, Bob, teaches him to walk and play as he is growing up. When Bob suffers a stroke, Bobby learns to return the favor, even though it is awkward and different at first.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: This one hit close to home for me, but is a simple and beautiful book for anyone who has/had a parent or grandparent with a sudden or debilitating illness.

The Terrible Thing That Happened At Our House

Author: Marge Blaine

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Family Relationships

Year of Publication: 1975

Publisher & Location: Scholastic, New York

ISBN-10: 0590403559

ISBN-13: 978-0590403559

Target Age Level: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary# of Pages: 29

Quality of Illustrations: Good

Brief Summary: “My mother used to be a real mother.” Written in first person, the main character’s mother goes back to work teaching science. The girl is upset because her mother has gone back to work and they no longer do the things they used to. She used to take them to the park, they came home for lunch, and after school her mom would give them a snack and ask about their day. Now, the girl and her brother are rushed to get ready in the morning, they have to eat lunch at school, and after school her mom has a headache and doesn’t ask about their day. Her father’s role has changed as well. Instead of playing games after dinner, he cooks dinner and does the dishes. The girl is not happy about all the changes. One night at dinner she explodes. The family discusses how things have changed. They make adjustments so that they can still do some of the things they used to. It’s a little different, but they’re happier.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: I think my parents got this book when my mom when back to work to be a teacher. So, it holds some sentimental value for me. It’s a great book to discuss change in a family that may disrupt the previous norms and how the family adjusted.

Activity: Read the book with the child. Discuss how things in the family changed. Discuss how the family made changes that helped them return some things back to “normal".

The Lonely Little Monster

Author: Andi Green

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Loneliness, Making Friends

Year of Publication: 2007

Publisher & Location: Monsters in My Head, LLC

ISBN#:

• ISBN-10: 097928600X
• ISBN-13: 978-0979286001

Target Age Level: Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary

# of Pages: 67

Quality of Illustrations: Creature is different but illustrations are colorful and fun.

Brief Summary: Though The Lonely Little Monster begins with a traditional “Once upon a time,” what follows is anything but pedestrian. Nola has never ventured beyond her remote desert home, and her heartsick isolation pervades the watercolor landscape, practically engulfing her. Ironically, Nola’s flood of tears reveals some new friends who were there all along—she had only to look beyond herself.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: Non-threatening book for kids. I also like that it deals with depression as well.

Activity:
1. Read story
2. Have kids talk about and possibly draw what is outside of them and then what is inside of them.
3. Take kids for walk outside (if good weather) and have them notice what is around them.
4. Have kids lay down inside (or oustide, if appropriate) and notice how they feel inside
5. Talk about making friends and how to "look beyond themselves."