Juvenile Fiction, Social Issues, Depression & Mental Illness
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Anxiety Bug
by Elly Gilmore
Buzz, buzz. What’s that sound? What’s that weird, not-good feeling? When a young girl gets “bitten by the anxiety bug,” she feels confused, scared, and lonely. She worries about everything: Do the other kids not like me? Will the wind blow those ...
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What Kind of Sick is Uncle John?
by Sharon Simon
Uncle John is in the hospital because he’s sick. But he doesn’t have a tummy ache, sniffles, or a fever. So… what KIND of sick is Uncle John? In this tender conversation between a mother and son, the child is trying to understand his uncle’s ...
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The Semicolon
by Britt Sayler
Every night, a giant pit sucked and slurped up everything... And every night, it slurped me up, too... For one young child, nothing has been the same since losing their father. Words won’t fit together. Playing soccer is no longer fun. And every ...
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The Witch's Family
by JJ Page
The Witch’s Family is an inspirational story for young children about the power of kindness, patience, and compassion. The witch cares for a band of problematic pets until she’s run herself ragged. She takes care of everyone but herself, until she ...
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The Little Grey Pig
A Story About Self-Confidence by Janet H. Lau
Little Grey Pig lives on a small farm with her loving mother. They don’t have very much money, but that doesn’t stop Little Grey Pig! She uses her imagination and becomes resourceful in creating the things that her heart desires. But when the other ...
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Searching for Mindfulness
by Veronica Kusiak
Sherwood is a carefree squirrel, spending his days gathering nuts in the forest. One day, his carelessness puts him in danger and he realizes he must learn to pay attention. His friend Terry says he should practice Mindfulness so that he can be ...
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Pendulum
by S.E. German
The ‘Wonder’ of mental health In his early years, Ben loved to run around, be silly and play Star Wars, Spiderman and Toy Story. Just after his sixth birthday and days before Christmas, Ben developed aggressive facial tics. His personality and ...
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What Will Jack Bring?
Making Moments With Grandma Ellen by Marlane Pentelechuk
Jack is very excited to begin his special weekly visits with his Gram now that his older brother, Henry, is in school. Often, visits with Gram include taking a trip to visit Gram's mom, Grandma Ellen. But Grandma Ellen has dementia, so she is losing ...
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When I Am Quiet
by Teresa Monaghan
For a moment... Wherever you are, just breathe... With each slow breath, allow yourself to settle, to relax, to just be who you are in this moment. Find the quietness, the calm that is here, underneath it all. You can even let your eyes gently ...
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Gator on My Back
by Mary Ann Burrows
One day an alligator climbs up onto a boy's back and changes his world completely. This new friend makes the boy feel sad and believe bad things about himself. A fox appears and asks the boy to talk about the feelings that are making him look so ...