Don't Say Ain't by Irene Smalls

Illustrated by Colin Bootman. 32 p., Charlesbridge, 2003.

It is 1957, and Dana, who is African American, is chosen to attend an advanced (integrated) school. Her best friends assume that she thinks she's "better" than they are, yet she doesn't feel she knows how to fit in at the advanced school. The two worlds have different languages: at home, people talk "like real people" and use the word ain't, whereas at school, ain't isn't allowed, and people talk "strange." Dana struggles with the idea that the language of school is somehow more acceptable (which her godmother encourages) and the idea that the language of home feels familiar and real. When Dana's teacher says ain't while visiting her home, Dana finally realizes that both languages are OK, just in different situations. At the same time, she's able to repair her friendships, telling her friends that she isn't better than them; instead, each has something she's especially good at, including Dana's academics. This story offers a way to value and belong to two cultures simultaneously.

Ages 4-10
Main character's cultural background: African American
Cultural context: multicultural

Oliver Button Is a Sissy by Tomie dePaola

48 p., Harcourt Brace, 1979.

Oliver likes to play jump rope, read, draw, play dress-up, and especially, to dance. He doesn't like to play ball, mainly because he isn't good at it. His papa and his classmates call him a sissy. His parents send him to dancing school, saying it's for exercise. He learns to tap dance, and works hard to do well. But kids bully him because of his dancing. He performs in a talent show, where he is very disappointed not to win first prize. However, his parents express pride in him, and his classmates decide that he is a star, not a sissy. Individuals' talents aren't always consistent with stereotypes, and there's an important message here about being true to yourself, regardless of other people's arbitrary ideas about what you're supposed to like or be good at.

Ages: 4-7
Cultural Context: multicultural

The Penguin Who Lost Her Cool: A Story About Controlling Your Anger by Marla Sobel

Illustrated by Denise Gilgannon. 59 p., Childswork/Childsplay, 2000.

Penelope Penguin, an elementary school student, gets so angry - justifiably - when Splashy taunts her about her diving skills that she loses her concentration and dives poorly. Her friend Snow empathizes with her anger, and teaches her to take deep breaths and count to ten when she's angry to help her calm down, so that she doesn't do anything impulsive. But Penelope continues to react angrily to several provocations. Unfortunately, time out is used as a punishment rather than as a self-control technique, as she ends up in the "Chill Out" room, with the threat that if she loses her temper again, she won't be allowed to compete in tomorrow's diving contest. At the contest, Splashy again taunts Penelope about her diving skills. But this time Penelope remembers what to do. She breathes deeply, counts to ten, and performs a perfect dive. Splashy tries to provoke Penelope again, but Penelope is having none of it. She enjoys her successes at both diving and controlling her anger. An introduction for adults explains issues around anger control in children. Illustrated with black-and-white drawings. Children who struggle with anger will find empathy in Penelope's experiences, as well as a good role model for going from uncontrolled to controlled anger.

Ages: 5-10
Cultural Context: non-human

Bear and Mrs. Duck by Elizabeth Winthrop

Illustrated by Patience Brewster. 32 p., Holiday House, 1988.

When Nora (who is about three or four years old) goes to the store, Mrs. Duck babysits Nora's Bear, who has a cold. Bear has a hard time letting Nora go, and at first refuses to play. Mrs. Duck understands that Bear misses Nora, Bear copes with her by drawing a picture of her. After this, he's able to enjoy playing with Mrs. Duck. In a happy reunion with Nora, Bear acknowledges his fun with Mrs. Duck while emphasizing his special love for Nora. This story shows children that they can love their parents, miss them, and cope with missing them by keeping an image of them close by; and can also enjoy a sitter.

Ages: 2-6
Cultural Context: European American

We Can Get Along: A Child's Book of Choices by Lauren Murphy Payne

Illustrated by Claudia Rohling. 36 p., Free Spirit, 1997.

In this nonfiction book, the author describes what it feels like to get along with people, and how it feels when they don't get along. She suggests that children can use those feelings to make good choices in relationships; for example, maintaining self-control, listening, sharing, and problem-solving cooperatively. She comments that even though sometimes we may feel like hitting, it's never permissible to do that. She gives examples of positive ways to cope with having been hurt. The marker illustrations, which show children from a range of cultural backgrounds, have colorful, elaborate, child-friendly borders. A group leader's guide is available. This book offers children many accessible suggestions for specific behaviors that can help them make friends and can enhance their friendships.

Ages: 3-8
Cultural Context: multicultural

Always My Brother by Jean Reagan

Illustrated by Phyllis Pollema-Cahill. 32 p., Tilbury, 2009.

One way to maintain a connection with someone who has died is to do things that person did. In this story, Becky and her bother, John, love to play soccer. John is a goalie, and he encourages Becky to be one too. But they agree that then they couldn't practice together, so she drops the idea. After John's death, Becky feels sad, lonely, incomplete, and occasionally angry. Her parents are reassuring, and the family dog is a special support, always loving her. Slowly, Becky is able to find moments of joy in everyday life. When soccer season approaches, Dad offers to play goalie in practice with her. But she finds herself impatient with Dad's limited goalie skills and takes his place - making the important discovery that she has John's goalie skills within her. She has realized that John is always with her, inside. In deciding to be her team's goalie, she completes her mourning process. Although John's death is mentioned very abruptly - perhaps reflecting Becky's experience of it - and nothing about its cause is mentioned, this story offers children hope for healing from grief.

Ages: 7-11
Cultural Context: multicultural

This Place I Know: Poems of Comfort by Georgia Heard

46 p., Candlewick, 2002.

This Place I Know is an anthology of poems collected to offer comfort to the children who witnessed the tragedy of the World Trade Centers. Each poem is beautifully illustrated by a different distinguished artist. The poems acknowledge loss; one is an incantation against troubles. They remind children of the possibility of hope; encourage them to sustain their dreams; and speak of the comfort in having someone with you; the constancy of nature in spite of upheaval; the intrinsic liveliness of cities; and the potential for unity of people around the world. I only take issue with one poem, which says repeatedly, "Do not grieve," because when there is loss, we must grieve. This deeply moving collection is a source of support for children who have experienced loss or trauma in their many forms.

Ages: 6-11
Cultural Context: multicultural