Picture Books about Mental Health

Kids Books about Mental Health
With childhood anxiety and other mental health concerns on the rise, talking to your child about mental wellness is more important than ever. Here are some picture books that can help start conversations about mental health and wellness with young children.

What's Up MalooWhat’s Up, Maloo?
By Geneviève Godbout
ISBN 9780735266643 | Hardcover
Ages 3-7 | Tundra Books
No other kangeroo can hop like Maloo! But one day Maloo’s friends find him stepping instead of hopping. What’s wrong, Maloo? His pals look for ways to help Maloo regain the spring in his step. With patience, support and a little “hop” from his friends, Maloo gets his bounce back.

Noni Is NervousNoni Is Nervous
By Heather Hartt-Sussman
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté
ISBN 9781770493230 | Hardcover
Ages 3-7 | Tundra Books
Noni is nervous about playdates, and global warming, and most of all, about the first day of school. Her parents are worried too, and even her brother is a little wary. But Noni finds a friend, someone a little more outgoing than herself, and discovers that through friendship, she can belong and succeed in a world that once filled her with dread.

Where Oliver FitsWhere Oliver Fits
By Cale Atkinson
ISBN 9781101919071 | Hardcover
Ages 3-7 | Tundra Books
Oliver has always dreamed about where he will fit. Will he be in the mane of a unicorn? The tentacle of a pirate squid? The helmet of an astronaut? When he finally goes in search of his perfect place, he finds that trying to fit in is a lot harder than he thought. But like any puzzle, a little trial and error leads to a solution, and Oliver figures out exactly where he belongs.

swarm of beesSwarm of Bees
By Lemony Snicket
Illustrated by Rilla Alexander
ISBN 9781101918791 | Hardcover
Ages 3-7 | Tundra Books
Watch out! A mischievous boy has unleashed an angry swarm of bees! The result is a zany gallop through a charming town where readers will encounter evidence of some bad behavior, some frenzied anger and thankfully, a hug and some spaghetti. It can feel good to be angry. It can feel better to stop.

Whimsy Heavy ThingsWhimsy’s Heavy Things
By Julie Kraulis
ISBN 9781770494039 | Hardcover
Ages 4-6 | Tundra Books
Whimsy’s heavy things are weighing her down. She tries to sweep them under the rug, but she trips over them. She even tries to sail them out to sea, but they always come back. Eventually Whimsy decides to deal with the heavy things one at a time … and a surprising thing happens.

Bug in a VacuumBug in a Vacuum
By Mélanie Watt
ISBN 9781770496453 | Hardcover
Ages 5-9 | Tundra Books
A bug flies through an open door where its entire life changes with the switch of a button. Sucked into the void of a vacuum bag, this one little bug moves through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and eventually acceptance – the five stages of grief – as it comes to terms with its fate.

The Bad Mood and the StickThe Bad Mood and the Stick
By Lemony Snicket
Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe
ISBN 9781101918777 | Hardcover
Ages 4-8 | Tundra Books
Moods can be confusing. Especially to children. The Bad Mood and The Stick offers a refreshing, thoughtful look at the ways in which a bad mood wreaks havoc as it moves through the world, from person to person, leaving an unexpected trail in its wake: opportunities for laughter, forgiveness and even love. With wry, luminous art by Matthew Forsythe, at last you can look your bad mood in the eye.

The Pink UmbrellaThe Pink Umbrella
By Amelie Callot
Illustrated by Geneviève Godbout
ISBN 9781101919231 | Hardcover
Ages 6-9 | Tundra Books
When it’s bright outside, Adele is the heart of her community, greeting everyone who comes into her café with arms wide open. But when it rains, she can’t help but stay at home inside, under the covers. Because Adele takes such good care of her friends and customers, one of them decides to take care of her too.

The Word on the Street 2016

wots-2016
Hello friends! The Word on the Street is back in Toronto on Sunday, September 25, 2016 at Harbourfront Centre. Come on down for a day of fun and to meet our authors and illustrators. We will be selling books at the Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers tent on Kidstreet (KS11).

yitzi-and-the-giant-menorahYitzi and the Giant Menorah
By Richard Ungar
For ages 5 to 9
Kindergarten to grade 4
1:00 PM to 1:30 PM – Richard will be at the First Book Canada tent to sign copies of Yitzi and the Giant Menorah.

 

who-broke-the-teapotWho Broke the Teapot?!
By Bill Slavin
For ages 3 to 7
Preschool to grade 2
3:00 PM to 3:20 PM – Bill will be at the TD Children’s Literature Stage for a reading and drawing demonstration.

 

Once in a Town Called MothOnce, in a Town Called Moth
By Trilby Kent
For ages 12 and up
Grades 7 and up
3:30 PM to 4:15 PM – Trilby will be at the Teen Spirit Stage for a panel on New Starts for Outcasts.

 

Noni Speaks UpNoni Speaks Up
By Heather Hartt-Sussman
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté
For ages 3 to 7
Preschool to grade 2
3:40 PM to 4:00 PM – Heather will be at the TD Children’s Literature Stage for a reading.

 

Solutions for Cold FeetSolutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems
By Carey Sookocheff
For ages 4 to 8
Preschool to grade 3
4:15 PM to 5:00 PM – Carey will be at the Sago Mini Children’s Activity Tent making sock puppies with everyone!

 

downside-upDownside Up
By Richard Scrimger
For ages 10 and up
Grades 5 and up
4:15 PM to 5:00 PM – Richard will be at the Teen Spirit Stage for a panel on Ordinary Teens, Extraordinary Stories.

Kindness Week: Reading List

April 3 to April 8, 2016 is the third annual Kindness Week. We rounded up this handy list of picture books, and middle grade and young adult novels for those who want to celebrate this week and year-round.

Noni Speaks UpNoni Speaks Up
Written Heather Hartt-Sussman
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté
Hardcover | 24 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 9781770498396
Noni always tries to do the right thing. But she doesn’t know how to help her classmate Hector, who is constantly bullied for his name, his size and his giant glasses. Noni stands by silently, afraid that the kids will turn on her if she speaks up. Yet “doing nothing” doesn’t feel very good. Will Noni be brave enough to take matters into her own hands?

Bird ChildBird Child
Written by Nan Forler
Illustrated by François Thisdale
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 5-8
ISBN: 978-0-88776-894-1
Eliza’s mother has given her “wings to fly” and the ability to see all the possibilities that lie before her. So, when bullies pick on the new student, Lainey, gradually robbing her of her smile and ability to paint beautiful pictures, Eliza wants to help, and she does, by finding a way to show Lainey all that she can be.

When I Get OlderWhen I Get Older
The Story behind “Wavin’ Flag”
Written by K’NAAN and Sol Guy
Illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 6-9
ISBN: 978-1-77049-302-5
Like so many other immigrants, K’naan had to make a place for himself in a world of alien customs, clothes, and language. His road was a hard one: he lost many friends to violence. But K’naan’s love of music, and his enormous talent, became a way for him to connect with his past, with his classmates, and eventually, to millions of people around the world.

Best Friends through EternityBest Friends through Eternity
Written by Sylvia McNicoll
Hardcover | 192 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-710-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-712-2
Fourteen-year-old Paige, who, taking a shortcut alongside the tracks to avoid the school bullies, is tragically hit by a train and transported to a surreal world where she encounters Kim, who died seven years before. Convinced she is only dreaming, Paige must discover a way to return to her former life. Poignant, gripping, and full of unexpected twists and turns, Best Friends through Eternity will resonate with readers who have struggled with cultural identity, a sense of belonging, and the real meaning of home.

We Are All Made of MoleculesWe Are All Made of Molecules
Written by Susin Nielsen
Hardcover | 256 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-779-5
eBook: 978-1-77049-781-8
Thirteen-year-old Stewart Inkster is academically brilliant but “ungifted” socially. Fourteen-year-old Ashley Anderson is the undisputed “It” girl of grade nine, but her marks stink. Their worlds are about to collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. “The Brady Bunch” it isn’t. Stewart is trying to be 89.9% happy about it, but Ashley is 110% horrified. She already has to hide the truth behind her parents’ divorce; “Spewart” could further threaten her position at the top of the social ladder. They are complete opposites. And yet, no matter their differences, they share one thing in common: they – like the rest of us – are all made of molecules.

The Serpent KingThe Serpent King
Written by Jeff Zentner
Hardcover | 384 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN: 978-1-77049-883-9
eBook: 978-1-77049-885-3
Dillard Early, Jr., Travis Bohannon and Lydia Blankenship are three friends from different walks of life who have one thing in common: none of them seem to fit the mold in rural Tennessee’s Forrestville High. As the three friends begin their senior year, it becomes clear that they won’t all be getting to start a promising new life after graduation. How they deal with their diverging paths could cause the end of their friendship. Until a shattering act of random violence forces Dill to wrestle with his dark legacy and find a way into the light of a future worth living.

Fifteen LanesFifteen Lanes
Written by S.J. Laidlaw
Hardcover | 304 Pages | Ages 14+
ISBN: 978-1-10191-780-0
eBook: 978-1-10191-782-4
Noor has lived all of her fourteen years in the fifteen lanes of Mumbai’s red light district. Across the sprawling city, fifteen-year-old Grace enjoys a life of privilege. Her father, the CEO of one of India’s largest international banks, has brought his family to Mumbai where they live in unparalleled luxury. But Grace’s seemingly perfect life is shattered when she becomes a victim of a cruel online attack. When their paths intersect, Noor and Grace will be changed forever. Can two girls living in vastly different worlds find a common path?

Tuesdays with Tundra 53

Tuesdays with Tundra is a monthly post on our new releases. The following books are available today in stores and online!

If I Had a GryphonIf I Had a Gryphon
Written by Vikki VanSickle
Illustrated by Cale Atkinson
Hardcover | 32 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 9781770498099
“VanSickle’s rhymes are unflaggingly exuberant as the girl puts up with noisy harpies, biting chupacabras, and mischievous fairies, and Atkinson fills the pages with visual comedy. In one of the funniest scenes, a dopey-looking kraken grins innocently as its tentacles snag an ocean liner and a rather perturbed whale.” – Publishers Weekly

Noni Speaks UpNoni Speaks Up
Written Heather Hartt-Sussman
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté
Hardcover | 24 Pages | Ages 3-7
ISBN: 9781770498396
“Young readers will definitely enjoy this beautiful picture book! Noni Speaks Up would be particularly useful for parents and teachers as a read-aloud…. The story will provide the basis for lively discussion with parents, caregivers or teachers on topics such as bullying, peer pressure, friendship, responsibility and caring for others. Highly Recommended.” – CM Magazine

MoversMovers
Written by Meaghan McIsaac
Hardcover | 275 Pages | Ages 12+
ISBN: 9781770498181
“McIsaac is definitely onto something with this Terminator-like young adult series, and I hope that young readers will have access to Movers in classrooms and libraries alike. This is a strong start to what I hope will be a powerhouse trilogy.” – CM Magazine

Pub Date Giveaway: In the comments below, please tell us which new February 2016 release of Tundra’s you would love to read and one lucky reader will receive their requested book! One request per person and please review our rules. This giveaway ends at midnight on Monday, February 15, 2016!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Brenda who won a copy of If I Had a Gryphon!

The Word on the Street 2013

The Word on the Street

Don’t forget, the Word on the Street is coming  up! Here’s a quick glance at the schedule in Toronto on Sunday, September 22, 2013 at Queen’s Park.

SmokescreenSmokescreen
Written by Nancy Hartry
Hardcover |  208 Pages
Ages 12 and up
ISBN: 978-1-77049-405-3
eBook: 978-1-77049-406-0
Nancy Hartry will be at The Remarkable Reads Tent from 11:30 am – 12:15 pm and at This Is Not The Shakespeare Stage from 1:40 pm – 2:00 pm.

Noni Is NervousNoni Is Nervous
Written by Heather Hartt-Sussman
Illustrated by Geneviève Côté
Hardcover |  24 Pages
Ages 2-5
ISBN: 978-1-77049-323-0
Heather Hartt-Sussman will be at the TD Children’s Reading Tent from 1:30 pm – 1:50 pm.

Where Do You LookWhere Do You Look?
Written by Marthe Jocelyn and Nell Jocelyn
Hardcover |  32 Pages
Ages 2-5
ISBN: 978-1-77049-376-6
Marthe Jocelyn will be at The Remarkable Reads Tent from 11:00 am – 11:30 am.

Whimsy Heavy ThingsWhimsy’s Heavy Things
Written and illustrated by Julie Kraulis
Hardcover | 32 Pages
Ages 4-6
ISBN: 978-1-77049-403-9
Julie Kraulis will be at the TD Children’s Literature Tent from 12:10 pm – 12:30 pm.

Mister Dash and the Cupcake CalamityMister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity
Written by Monica Kulling
Illustrated by Esperanca Melo
Hardcover | 32 Pages
Ages 3-7
ISBN: 978-1-77049-396-4
Monica Kulling will be at the TD Children’s Literature Tent from 1:50 pm – 2:10 pm.

Death of a KingDeath of a King
Written by Andrew H. Vanderwal
Hardcover | 304 Pages
Ages 10 and up
ISBN: 978-1-77049-398-8
eBook: 978-1-77049-399-5
Andrew H. Vanderwal will be at the TD Children’s Literature Tent from 4:20 pm – 4:40 pm.

For more information about the Word on the Street in Toronto, you can visit their website, facebook page, twitter, and blog.