Moving Tips from Lola 0

Moving Tips from Lola! Don't move house until you read this. 

5 Picture Books to Soothe the First-Day Jitters 0

Going to school for the first time—or even returning—can be intimating for students. They get the jitters and don’t know what to do with them. Back-to-school books like First Day Jitters face those butterflies head-on in a humorous way, acting as a heartwarming reminder that teachers get the jitters, too.

This beloved picture-book supports social-emotional learning by helping children recognize their feelings and understand how those around them—like their family, friends, and teachers—can help ease their worries. This relatable read is the perfect conversation starter for any child facing the jitters.

Once they've had a successful first day at school, download the Certificate of Courage to celebrate their bravery. And, they can have fun filling out the First Day Memories page!

Pair these These four picture books  with First Day Jitters to help your child confidently go to school, not just on first day, but any time of the school year.

Lola Goes to School

Lola Goes to School is a comforting and cheerful picture book that explores the school day and it's new routine for first-time students. In this sweet story, Lola prepares for the day, plays, learns, and says goodbye on her first day at school. The perfect book for children who wonder what will happen on the big day!

A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices

The jitters aren't just for students who are experiencing school for the first time, but for older students too. A New School Year: Stories in Six Voices introduces a diverse group of six children ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. Each child prepares for the new school year with not just nerves, but excitement too as they hustle in the morning, meet new teachers and new classmates during the day, and head home at the end of the day.

Each child shares a different perspective as they share their worries, hopes, and success on the first day of the school year.

I'm New Here

I'm New Here is a great way to prepare your child for meeting new classmates. Following three immigrant students from Guatemala, Korea, and Somalia, the story explores the challenges of learning a new language and adjusting to a new school while holding on to one's cultural roots. With the support of kind classmates and teachers, each child finds their voice and place in the classroom. A wonderful picture book for immigrant students, new students, and even children preparing to welcome someone new to their classroom.

A warm and reassuring resource to help children understand what it means to welcome others, build cross-cultural friendships, and create a community where everyone feels seen, safe, and valued.

Rostam's Picture-Day Pusteen

New kids sharing their culture will appreciate Rostam's Picture-Day Pusteen, a picture book about identity and courage while being in a new environment. Rostam moved to the U.S. from Iran and he's nervous about wearing his traditional pusteen for school pictures. This gentle, relatable story explores the social-emotional challenges of fitting in while staying true to yourself.

Encouraging young children to celebrate what makes them unique and to embrace the differences in others, too. A thoughtful reminder that sharing your story can help others feel brave enough to share theirs.

All of these heartfelt stories foster empathy, confidence, and inclusion, making them perfect companions for the new school year as your child learns to navigate friendships, learn to express themselves, and celebrate what makes everyone unique.

Other Charlesbridge favorites include:

Someone New, a companion story to I'm New Here
Clothesline Clues to the First Day of School
Chicken Soup for the Soul BABIES: No School for Me! (Change Is Hard)
Did You Burp? How to Ask Questions (or Not!)
Counting Kindness: Ten Ways to Welcome Refugee Children

For more back-to-school books, check out our collection.

Empathy Through Story: A Q&A with Miriam Chernick on The Zuzu Secret 0

To close out Disability Pride Month, we're honored to share this heartfelt Q&A with author Miriam Chernik, whose new middle grade novel The Zuzu Secret is inspired by her real-life experiences growing up with a brother who has Prader-Willi Syndrome. In this conversation, Miriam reflects on the power of storytelling, the importance of representation, and what she hopes readers will take away.

The Zuzu Secret is a story of honesty, empathy, and the bonds that shape us. We’re grateful to Miriam for sharing her experiences and shedding light on the realities—and the love—within families touched by disability. As Disability Pride Month comes to a close, may stories like this continue to open hearts and minds all year long.

More Resources for The Zuzu Secret:
Reader Group Guide
The Zuzu Secret Webpage

5 Easy Social Emotional Activities for Children 0

Nurturing social-emotional learning (SEL) doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right stories and hands-on activities, children can build essential life skills in fun, meaningful ways. Here are engaging book-inspired activities that support each of the five core SEL competencies.

Self-Management

Children have big emotions and often times don’t know how to deal with them. It’s important to teach them the skills they need to manage their stress, control their impulses, and even motivating themselves. This skill allows them to stop, think, and then act to make a good decision.

Here is a creative activity for kids to help with their self-management skills:

Craft your very own Grumble Boat!

This activity comes from the back matter of Grumble Boats by Susannah McFarlane, illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie

What You Need:

• Piece of paper
• Coloring utensils

1. Grumble away on your piece of paper! Choose the colors you feel and draw out your grumbles.
2. Fold paper in half (vertical) and then unfold – you created guide-lines
3. Fold in half horizontal this time
4. Fold the corners in so you create a pointed triangle at the top
5. At the bottom of the paper are edges, fold the edges up on both sides
6. Pull sides out and flatten
7. Fold front and back layers up from the bottom
8. Pull sides apart and flatten
9. Pull top flaps outward
10. Squish the bottom and pull sides up
    

Congratulations! You have your very own grumble boat. Now send your grumble boat down the stream.

You can find the downloadable directions on how to fold the grumble boat here.

Read alouds are a great way to build social-emotional skills, including self-control. While reading, pause and discuss the self-management moments within the story. Here are some great Charlesbridge books with strong self-management themes.

Far, Far Away (Picture Book)
Beansprout (Picture Book)
Found You! (Picture Book)
Grumble Boats (Picture Book)

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the foundation for emotional intelligence. Children with strong self-awareness are able to recognize and label their own emotions and understand how their emotions effect their behavior. When children are able to name what they feel and why, they’re empowered to act constructively.

Here is an artistic activity for kids to help with their self-awareness skills:

Color Your Emotions

This activity comes from the activity guide for the All About Noticing series by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated by Elizabeth Goss, specifically the All About Color activity on page 14

What You Need:

• Paper
• Pencil or Pen
• Paint (watercolor or acrylic)
• Paint brushes
• Containers of water
• Mixing palette such as plastic tub tops, washable plate, tin foil
• Optional: Emotion wheel or other emotional identification tools

1. Fold your piece of paper in half and then in half again, making four sections
2. Write an emotion on the top of each section (use the emotion wheel or other emotional identification tool for help if needed)
3. Mix your paints to create one or more colors that seem to capture each emotion
4. Paint them in the corresponding section

Questions to ask your child to help them reflect on their choices:

1. Why did you choose these four emotions?
2. What prompted you to connect these emotions with the colors you blended?
3. Did you make a cultural connection (like “seeing red” when angry) or a real-life item (like the color of a toy or a blanket that comforts them when they feel sad)
4. Was your color inspiration more abstract?

Color can be used to color your whole life, so allowing children to explore what color means to them allows them to strengthen their self-identity. 

You can find the downloadable activity guide here with plenty of activities to do with children.

Here are some Charlesbridge titles with strong self-awareness themes.

Welcome Home, Esmerelda (Picture Book)
All About Color (Picture Book)
You Are a Burst of Color (Picture Book)
Worst-Case Collin (Middle Grade Novel-in-Verse)

Social Awareness

Social awareness skills help kids become kind, respectful, and inclusive. They learn to value others and be thoughtful during conflicts.

Here is a considerate activity for kids to help with their social-awareness skills:

Create a Welcome Box

This activity comes from the activity guide for Counting Kindness by Hollis Kurman, illustrated by Barroux

Children can either create an actual welcome box or imagine what they’d put in one for someone new to either the neighborhood, classroom, or even to the country.

Ask them these questions:

• What will you put in the box?
• Which tings might these children need or enjoy having?
• Think about what you would need/want if you had just arrived in a new place where nothing is familiar. How would you decorate the box to make it cheerful and welcoming?
• Can you also make a welcome card?

Every kindness counts, especially for people in a new place who may be feeling alone. Sharing a welcome box is a great way to bridge a new connection.

You can find the downloadable activity guide here with plenty of activities to do with children.

Here are some Charlesbridge titles with strong social awareness themes.

Dropbear (Picture Book)
The Ripple Effect (Middle Grade Novel)
Counting Kindness (Picture Book)
Circle Round (Picture Book)

Relationship Skills

Strong relationship skills can help children feel empowered to form strong, supportive connections with others. They lay the foundation for healthy personal and professional relationships throughout life.

Here is a drawing activity for kids to help with their relationship skills:

Kids in Your Family

This activity comes from the activity guide for Forever Cousins by Laura Goodluck, illustrated by Jonathan Nelson

• Draw the kids in your life: siblings, cousins, step or half-siblings, foster siblings, honorary cousins, neighbors, or family friends.
• On the back of the paper, write their names and explain how you know them or are related to them.

This activity is a gentle and powerful way to help kids explore who is important to them, how they relate to others, and how to talk about relationships.

You can find the downloadable activity guide here with plenty of activities to do with children.

Here are some Charlesbridge titles with strong relationship themes.

Forever Cousins (Picture Book)
Sticky Hermana (Picture Book)
In the Autumn Forest (Picture Book)
A Thousand White Butterflies (Picture Book)

Responsible Decision-Making

Responsible decision-making skills allow children to make thoughtful, ethical, and safe choices by promoting critical thinking and ethical awareness. It strengthens their ability to solve problems and reflect on consequences.

Here is a written activity for kids to help with their responsible decision-making skills:

Make a Difference

This activity comes from the activity guide for April & Mae and the Animal Shelter by Megan Dowd Lambert, illustrated by Briana Dengoue

Propose to your child this question: If you had a million dollars to give to one local nonprofit organization, which nonprofit would you choose and why? How can you use your skills and talents to help as a volunteer?

You can use this question to do the following:

• Learn about nonprofit organizations.
• Explore your local nonprofits
• Consider what your nonprofits do – what is their impact on the community
• Structure of the nonprofit – what do they do with monetized donations?
• Learn how to volunteer to support this organization

This simple activity empowers children to see themselves as active, capable changemakers in their communities.

You can find the downloadable activity guide here with plenty of activities to do with children.

Here are some Charlesbridge titles with strong responsible decision-making themes.

Yumbo Gumbo (Picture Book)
Clack, Clack! Smack! (Picture Book)
April & Mae and the Animal Shelter (Early Reader Chapter Book)
Mascot (Middle Grade Novel-in-Verse)

These activities support reading and creativity, and help children grow into emotionally intelligent and responsible individuals. Pair the activities with the recommended Charlesbridge books to bring SEL lessons to life through storytelling.