Inclusive Early Childhood Education
Book Resources
Books are a powerful way to communicate with young children about both positive and challenging aspects of their lives. Below is a "social-emotional" book list for a variety of potential preschool topics, with high-quality book reccommendations.
Teaching Social/Emotional Skills Through Books
Adoption
Over the Moon by Karen Katz
Tell me Again about the Night I was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Alzheimer’s Disease
Grandpa Doesn’t Know It’s Me by Donna Gutherie
Anger
When Sophie Gets Angry- Really Really Angry by Molly Bang
Mouse was Mad by Linda Urban
Angry Arthur by Hiawyn Oram
Mad isn’t Bad by Michaelene Mundy
Sometimes Moms Get Angry- Caillou
I Was So Mad by Mercer Mayer
Being Different
It’s Okay to be Different by Todd Parr
Elmer The patchwork Elephant by David Mckee
Different Just Like Me by Lori Mitchell
The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater
Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae
The Dot by Peter Reynolds
Love Monster by Rachel Bright
Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg
I’m Here by Peter Reynolds
So Few of Me by Peter Reynolds
Biting
No More Biting from Billy Goat by Bernette Ford and Sam Williams
Little Dinos Don’t Bite by Michael Dahl
Teeth are not for Biting by Elizabeth Verdick
Cancer
Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings by Ellen McVicker
Mom has Cancer by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
Confidence Building
Ish by Peter Reynolds
The Dot by Peter Reynolds
The Museum by Susan Verde
Community
Rose’s Garden by Peter Reynolds
How to Fill a Bucket by Carol McCloud
Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen
Creativity / Imagination
Sky Color by Peter Reynolds
The North Star by Peter Reynolds
Divorce
Mom and Dad Glue by Kes Gray
Dinosaur Divorce by Marc Brown
Was it The Chocolate Pudding? by Sandra Levins
Two Homes by Claire Masurel
Death
I Had a Friend Named Peter by Janice Cohn
When Someone Dies by Sharon Greenlee
Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm
The 10th Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tommie DePaola
Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to YOung Children by Doris Stickney
Empathy/Bullying
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Little Quack’s New Friend by Lauren Thompson
Stand in my Shoes by Bob Sornson
Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen
Feelings
The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
The Secret Olivia Told Me by N. Joy
My Blue is Happy by Jessica Young
Duck and Goose, How are You Feeling? by
Feelings by Aliki
Feelings to Share from A to Z by Todd Snow
Have you Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
Today I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis
How are You Peeling? by Saxton Freymann and Joost Elffers
Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
Following Rules
Do’s and Don’ts by Todd Parr
How to Fill a Bucket by Carol McCloud
Growing Up
My Very Big Little World by Peter Reynolds
Hitting
Hands are Not For Hitting by Martin Agassi
Homelessness
Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting
IVF
Mommy, Was your Tummy Big? by Carolina Nadel
Love
Guess How Much I love You by Sam McBartney
I’ll Love You Forever by Roger Knapp
I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm
An Awesome Book of Love by Dallas Clayton
Wherever you Are, My Love Will Find you by Nancy Tillman
Daddies are for Catching Fire Flies by Harriet Ziefert
Papa Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carl
Daddy is a Doodlebug by Bruce Degen
Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Lying
The Berenstein Bears and The Truth by Stan and Jan Berenstein
A Big Fat Enormous Lie by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Sam Tells Stories by Thierry Robberecht
Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin
Making Friends
Big Al by Andrew Clements
Friends by Helme Heine
Best Friends by Miriam Cohen
Will I Have a Friend? by Miriam Cohen
Friends by Mies Van Hout
The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell
Making Friends by Fred Rogers
I’m Here by Peter Reynolds
How to Fill a Bucket by Carol McCloud
Have you Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
One by Kathryn Otoshi
Little Quack’s New Friend by Lauren Thompson
Moving
Moving by Fred Rogers
Moving House by Civardi
The Berenstein Bears Moving Day by Jan and Stan Berenstein
New Sibling
The Baby Sister by Tommie DePaola
Berenstein Bears New Baby by Jan and Stan Berenstein
Little Miss, Big Sis by Peter Reynolds
New Student
The Brand New Kid by Katie Couric
Same Sex Partners/Family STructure/ Single Parents
The Family Book by Todd Parr
Mommy, Mama, and Me by Carol Thompson
Daddy, Papa, and Me by Carol Thompson
Who’s in my Family? by Robie Harris
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Who’s in a Family? by Robert Skutch
Love is a Family by Roma Downey
Why Don’t I have a Daddy? by Georigre Anne Clay
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon
Sharing
I Can Share by Karen Katz (toddlers)
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson
The Giving Tree by Shell Silverstein
Harriet’s Halloween Candy by Calrson
Duck and Goose by Tad Hills
Separation Anxiety
No Matter What by Debi Gliori
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Week at Grandma’s by Berenstein Bears
Thankfulness/Gratitude
An Awesome Book of Thanks by Dallas Clayton
The Smallest Gift of Christmas by Peter Reynolds
Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen
