BIBLIOTHERAPY

​​Bibliotherapy utilizes picture books to help children deal with a wide range of problem behaviors that are bound to come up from time to time. Thrоugh рісturе bооkѕ сhіldrеn аrе аblе to rеlаtе to thе сhаrасtеrs, vаlіdаtе thеіr own fееlіngѕ, аnd rеаlіzе that оthеr сhіldrеn hаvе ѕіmіlаr рrоblеmѕ. Thіѕ рrосеѕѕ еmроwеrѕ children to tаkе responsibility fоr thеіr fееlіngѕ аnd dеvеlор necessary ѕосіаl ѕkіllѕ. The insights discovered through bibliotherapy can help both parents and school personnel work together in creating a wave of positive momentum in children’s lives that will help them be as successful as they can be.​
TOPIC: Relational Aggression
Ashley likes hanging out with her small group of friends at school, but they aren’t always nice—especially Marcy, who often says hurtful things. Ashley is confused about Marcy’s indirect put-downs until she meets an unusual and wise teacher. Can this teacher help Ashley learn the difference between a frenemy and a true friend?

This full-color story offers a unique approach to one of the most pressing problems of our time … relational aggression among tween girls. Included are easy-to-understand activities that foster self-reflection about relational aggression and teach girls how to create healthy, affirming friendships.           ​
TOPIC: Friendship Triangle
​Stephanie loves her two best friends, Emma and Claire, and she’s excited when Emma invites her to an upcoming sleepover. But when Stephanie learns that Emma didn’t invite Claire, she finds herself in the middle of their fight. She has to choose one or the other—or risk losing them both. How will she get her friends to stop putting her in the middle of a friendship tug-of-war? And will they ever learn to get along?

This full-color story includes activities to help children learn about healthy boundaries in friendships and strategies for handling disagreements.
TOPIC: Cyberbully
​Olivia and Grace are best friends, but when Olivia accidentally hurts her friend’s feelings, Grace takes out her frustrations online. Olivia is shocked by the cyberbullying and even more hurt when the entire school laughs at her over something Grace posted. Can the two girls work it out? Will they ever learn to be cyber friends?

This full-color story includes activities to help children learn about cyberbullying, understand appropriate Internet communication, and deal with the effects of cyberbullying.
TOPIC: Self-Confidence
​Brittany sees lots of great things about her best friend, but she doesn’t see anything good about herself. She strikes out during softball, she’s the last girl invited to a classmate’s birthday party, and she isn’t sure anyone really likes her. Mom sees that Brittany is having a hard time and helps her do something about it. Together they make a special box—one that will show Brittany all the great things about herself. It doesn’t take long for Brittany to realize that it really is good to be her!

This full-color story includes engaging activities and thought-provoking questions designed to foster self-awareness and self-confidence.
TOPIC: Test Anxiety
​Ethan excels in almost every subject, except math. When it comes to test time, the numbers turn into some kind of alien language. His best friend, Jack helps him to relax by playing a quick game of mathsketball. With each shot Jack asks Ethan a math question, the one with the most correct answers wins! With help from his teacher, Mrs. Alexander, who gives Ethan tips on how to relax before and during a test, can Ethan take his mad mathsketball skills into the classroom and learn to overcome his test anxiety?

This book offers children a range of strategies and eight activity pages they can use to help ease test anxiety.
TOPIC: Bystander Power
​Jeffrey and his classmates are tired of being bullied by Kyle. When Jeffrey approaches his teacher, Miss Jones, for support, she advises him to keep 
his eyes open and look for a superhero. Jeffrey looks around and doesn’t see any superheroes. But throughout the school day, he is amazed to see his everyday friends transform before his eyes.

This book teaches children that kids can be powerful when they band together to take a stand against bullying. Also included are tips for parents and educators on supporting children in standing up to bullying.
TOPIC: Befriend the Bully
​Wendell has resorted to hiding to get away from Lloyd, the class bully, but he’s still getting picked on. Since he can’t hide all day at school, Wendell asks Ms. Martinez, the school counselor, for some suggestions about standing up to a bully. Ms. Martinez offers him a variety of smart, practical ideas. Will Wendell be brave enough to use them?

This book offers children a wealth of strategies they can use to take back their power in the face of bullying.
TOPIC: Kindness and Compassion
​The snowy school grounds are a winter wonderland for Amber until she befriends Taylor and realizes that winter can be a hardship for kids who don’t have warm clothes. After a small act of kindness allows Amber to help Taylor enjoy winter, Amber wants to help other kids in need. Can she make someone else’s winter wish come true?

This book is an ideal service learning project for kids. It helps children understand that some people don’t have what they need and how kids can make a difference.
TOPIC: Making Friends
​Drat. Gulp. Sigh. 
Mia’s new school seems nothing like her old school, and the lump in her throat stops her from making new friends—until she discovers a poster with ten simple ideas that can easily turn things around. Let the step-by-step adventure begin! 

Written by a school counselor, this book includes resources for parents, teachers, and counselors to discuss adjustment issues and strategies with their students.
TOPIC: Medicine Safety
​Sarah really wants to go to school today, but she's feeling very sick. It's share day, her favorite day of the week. If she stays home, she'll miss sharing her new birthday doll, she'll miss snack time with her friend, Grace and she'll miss story time. Her mom says she's going to call the doctor, but Sarah knows just what medicine she should take to feel better—or does she?
TOPIC: Medication Safety
​Charlie is curious about everything. He and his best friend, Dillin, are part of the Curious Club. Their curiosity is peaked when Ms. Shirley and her pet parrot, Pierre, move in next door. When they see a colorful trinket filled with what they think is candy, the Curious Club discovers being curious is a good thing, but curiosity without caution can be dangerous.

Join Charlie, Dillin and Pierre as together they learn about the dangers of mistaking medicine for candy.
TOPIC: Peer Pressure
​It’s hard to know what to say when older kids pressure you to do something you know is wrong. Blake is a fifth-grader with one thing on his mind: karate. He needs his friend's older brother, Jacob, to help him get ready for a big karate tournament. But Jacob’s new friend, Ryan, has other ideas—that could get all of them into a lot of trouble. What will Blake decide when the right thing to do is also the hardest thing to do?
TOPIC: Introducing the School Counselor
​Mrs. Joyce, the school counselor at Emerson Elementary, uses high-fives to connect with her students. When Raymond moves to town he's not sure what to think of Mrs. Joyce. He enters her office nervous and full of questions, but it doesn't take long for him to trust the caring counselor. By learning exactly what a school counselor does, Raymond finds he has nothing to fear and much to gain from friendly Mrs. Joyce.

Building relationships is one of the primary jobs of a school counselor. Whether it's giving a high-five, a thumbs-up, a fist bump, a handshake or a hug, finding a way to connect with students is vital. Mrs. Joyce Gives the Best High-Fives is a fun-loving story that explains the important role of the school counselor.