Research shows that Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs like Shipley’s Social, Emotional, Ethical Development (SEED) program can positively impact children’s mental health, social skills, and academic performance. (Taylor, Rebecca D., et al. “Promoting Positive Youth Development Through School-Based Social and Emotional Learning Interventions: A Meta-Analysis of Follow-Up Effects.” Society for Research in Child Development, Inc., 2017, https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12864.) That’s why we devote class time in each grade to this important subject area. In Shipley’s Lower School SEED classes, teacher Betsy Leschinsky (“Mrs. L,” as her students affectionately call her) uses storybooks to anchor her lessons.
The stories help students:
- explore emotions – identify them, express them, and understand how emotions impact one’s own behavior and the behavior of others (empathy),
- learn about character strengths, and
- build positive relationships and understand how to navigate conflict in relationships.
Director of Positive Education and Student Support, Sharron Russell says, “While it may seem simple or cute, Lower School SEED encourages students to answer the essential questions: What is a feeling? Do I have to act on my feelings? How do my actions impact other people? These are questions that we, as adults, would do well to answer.”
Through discussion, activities, and written projects, students integrate the lessons shared in each book. Collectively, the books form part of a carefully-crafted curriculum, but are also incorporated as-needed to help students learn strategies that they can use to deal with real-time issues that can arise in a classroom community.
Social emotional learning at school works best when it supplements work done at home. The following is a list of books by grade, including their social emotional learning themes, compiled by Mrs. L for her classes. We hope you find it useful and we know your children will love hearing some of their favorite stories at home. “Many of the books on the list can be used to help parents start and or continue conversations around behaviors, emotions, friendships and other childhood experiences,” says Mrs. L. “Sometimes, hearing about an experience in a story helps a child to know they are not the only one having that experience, conflict, or strong feelings.”
Pre-K Books
Kindergarten Books
1st Grade Books
2nd Grade Books
3rd Grade Books
4th & 5th Grade Books
PRE-K
Big Dog and Little Dog
Dav Pilkey
Friendship
George and Martha
James Marshall
Friendship
Nobunny’s Perfect
Anna Dewdney
Making mistakes
The Doorbell Rang
Pat Hutchins
Sharing
May I Please Have a Cookie
by Jennifer Morris
Manners
Cloud’s Best Worst Day Ever
by Amy Novesky
Managing behaviors and feelings
Cat’s Not So Perfect Sandcastle
by Ellen Dodge
Feelings, frustration
Bug Makes a Big Splash
Amy Novesky
Brave, proud, learning something new about yourself
A Friend for Minerva Louise
by Janet Morgan Stoeke
Friendship
Bubba and Beau, Best Friends
by Kathi Appelt
Family love
Sam Who Never Forgets
Eve Rice
Responsibility
The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog
Mo Willems
Sharing and caring
What Puppies Teach Us: Life's Lessons Learned from Our Little Friends
Glenn Dromgoole
Various life lessons
Little Bear/Birthday Soup
Elise Holmelund Minarik
Caring , friendship
Rabbit’s Gift
George Shanno
Kindness towards others
Peaceful Piggy Meditation
Kerry Lee McLean
Mindfulness
The Pigeon Wants a Puppy
Mo Willems
Responsibility
Glad Monster Sad Monster
Ed Emberley and Anne Miranda
Feelings
Help: A Story of Friendship
Holly Keller
Friends ,caring, empathy
Otis
Janie Bynum
Learning about differences-
Kindergarten
George and Martha
James Marshall
Friendship
Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things that Make Me Happy
Scott Menchin
Feelings
Corduroy’s Halloween
Don Freeman
Kindness, empathy
The Guest
James Marshall
Caring for friends, why/because consequences
Swimmy
Leo Lioni
Cooperation
Tommy the Turtle : Educating Children About Anxiety
Shelly Weiss
Feelings , managing behaviors
Little Rabbit’s Christmas
Harry Horse
Sharing, friendship
Peaceful Piggy Meditation
Kerry Lee McLean
Mindfulness
Yoko
Rosemary Wells
Appreciating differences, self-expression
Frederick
Leo Lioni
Appreciating differences
The Grouchy Ladybug
Eric Carle
Sharing, kindness
The Crayon Box That Talked
Shane Derolf and Michael Letzig
Appreciating our own unique qualities, self-expression
Cat’s Not-So-Perfect Sandcastle
Plushy Feely Corp
Frustration, managing behaviors
Fluffy and Baron
Laura Rankin
Empathy, relationships
Zinnia and Dot
Lisa Campbell Ernst
Conflict resolution
My Name is Not Isabella : Just How Big Can a Little Girl Dream?
Jennifer Fosberry
Self-identity
When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry…
Molly Bang
Managing uncomfortable feelings
An Apple Pie for Dinner
Susan Vanhecke
Taking care of friends, helping
FIRST GRADE
I Like Your Buttons
Sarah Lamstein
Compliments, kindness
George and Martha
James Marshall
Friendship
Cloud’s Best Worst Day Ever
by Amy Novesky
Managing behaviors and feelings
What’s That Look on Your Face
Catherine S. Snodgrass
Feelings
The Hallo-Weiner
Dav Pilkey
Teasing, feelings, kindness empathy
Listen, Buddy
Helen Lester
Self-awareness, manners, respect
The Listening Walk
Paul Showers
Self-awareness, respect
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Mellon
Patty Lovell
Self-expression, confidence, encouragement
How Full is Your Bucket?
Tom Rath
Feelings, managing emotions
Peaceful Piggy Meditation
Kerry Lee McLean
Mindfulness
We are All Alike… We are All Different
The Students of Cheltenham Elementary
Appreciating differences, self-identity
Chrysanthemum
Kevin Henkes
Self-expression, differences
The Sneetches & Other Stories
Dr. Suess
Differences, self expression, acceptance
Franklin’s Bad Day
Paulette Bourgeois
Managing feelings, decision-making
Help! A Story of Friendship
Holly Keller
Friendship, compassion
McDuff Moves In
Rosemary Wells
Service to others , helping ,compassion
Hey, Little Ant
Phillip M. Hoose
Decision-making
SECOND GRADE
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
Dan Santat
Friendship
Raspberries! An American Tale of Cooperation
Mary Newell DePalma
Cooperation, trust
Enemy Pie
Derek Munson
Friendship , trust , working together
Chester’s Way
Kevin Henkes
Appreciating differences , self-identity , friendship
Hero’s Big Adventure
Kimochi’s
Facing fears, bravery, trying something new
The Perfect Gift
Mary Newell DePalma
Compassion, empathy
Yoko’s World of Kindness: : Golden Rules for a Happy Classroom
Rosemary Wells
Compassion , teasing , feelings
Oliver Button is a Sissy
Tommy DePaola
Appreciating differences , teasing empathy
Dear Dragon: A Pen Pal Tale
Josh Funk
Appreciating and learning about differences
Peaceful Piggy Meditation
Kerry Lee McLean
Mindfulness
Don’t Laugh at Me
Steve Seskin
Compassion, empathy, teasing
My Little Car
Gary Soto
Responsibility
Ruby the Copycat
Margaret & Peggy Rathman
Choices, self expression
A Rose for Abby
Donna Guthrie
Homelessness, compassion
Miss Nelson is Missing!
Harry G. Allard
Frustration, managing emotions
THIRD GRADE:
The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend
Dan Santat
Friendship
It’s a Spoon Not a Shovel
Caralyn Buehner
Manners
You’re a Good Sport, Miss Malarkey
Judy Finchler
Good Sportsmanship
One Grain of Rice : A Mathematical Folktale
Demi
Integrity, honesty
The Quiltmakers Journey
Jeff Brumbeau
Kindness, empathy , service
Peaceful Piggy Meditation
Kerry Lee McLean
Mindfulness
Rosa
Nikki Giovanni
Courage, resilience, determination
Chicken Sunday
Patricia Polacco
Appreciating and learning about differences
The Littlest Maytroshka
Corinne DemassBliss
Gratitude, family, love, responsibility
Just Kidding
Trudy Ludwig
What is teasing, how to manage
The Empty Pot
Demi
Respect, honesty
Mrs. Harkness and the Panda
Alicia Potter
Perseverance, determination
Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
Isabella Hatkoff
Resilience, friendships
Alex and The Amazing Lemonade Stand
Liz Scott
Service, empathy determination
FOURTH & FIFTH GRADE
If You Had to Choose, What Would You Do?
Sandra McLeod Humphrey
Decision making, problem solving
The Golden Rule
Ilene Cooper
What is the golden rule and how can we incorporate it in our lives
What Puppies Teach Us: Life's Lessons Learned from Our Little Friends
Glenn Dromgoole
Various life lessons
Thank You, Mr. Falker
Patricia Polacco
Gratitude, empathy
Peaceful Piggy Meditation
Kerry Lee McLean
Mindfulness
Rosa
Nikki Giovanni
Courage, resilience, determination
Let’s Talk About Race
Julius Lester
Self-expression, learning about others, empathy
Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters
Barak Obama
Character traits and values
Teammates
Peter Golenbock
Courage, kindness, empathy
If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World's People
David Smith
Awareness of self and others
Fluffy and Baron
Laura Rankin
Empathy, relationships
Kids With Courage: True Stories about Young People Making a Difference
Barbara Lewis
Character lessons , self-identity, choices
OTHER RESOURCES for ADULTS:
Character Building Day by Day: 180 Quick Read-Alouds for Elementary School and Home
Anne D. Mather
Building Moral Intelligence: The Seven Essential Virtues that Teach Kids to Do the Right Thing
Michele Borba
E is For Ethics: How to Talk to Your Kids about Morals, Values, and What Matters Most
Ian James Corlett
Great Group Skits
Lynn Grasberg
Character Building
What Do You Stand For? For Teens: A Guide to Building Character
Barbara Lewis
Character Development
