September 2019

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September Reading List: Make Mental Health a Priority

Our reading list this month features books about mental health. These books can be read in the classroom, in libraries or at home.

Picture Books
Can I Catch It Like a Cold?: Coping With a Parent’s Depression  Written by Centre For Addiction And Mental Health Illustrated by Centre For Addiction And Mental Health Tundra Books, 2009 ISBN 978-0-88776-956-6 IL: Ages 5-8 RL: Grades 1-3 In partnership with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Tundra is proud to launch an important series of books for children who have to cope with adult-sized problems. Young Alex’s father had been a policeman until he began to suffer from depression, perhaps the most common mental health issue we face. Alex’s questions are those that are often asked by the children of parents who have depression: is the parent simply lazy? Does he no longer care? And is it something I can catch, like a cold? Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	The Cold Little Voice Written by Alison Hughes Illustrated by Jan Dolby Clockwise Press , 2018 ISBN 978-1-98834-711-0 IL: Ages 6-9 RL: Grades 1-3 What can we do when that cold little voice inside our own head tells us that we aren’t good enough or smart enough to matter? Or when the voice tells us that we’ll never succeed, that we look weird, that we’re too tall or too short, that we can’t do anything right? Sometimes all it takes is a bit of self-acceptance and love to make that cold little voice warm right up so that we can become our own best friend. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers
Elliot Written by Julie Pearson Illustrated by Manon Gauthier Translated by Erin Woods Pajama Press, 2016 ISBN 978-1-927485-85-9 IL: Ages 5-8 RL: Grades 1-3 Elliot’s parents love him, but they don’t know how to take care of him. When a social worker named Thomas comes, Elliot’s world turns upside down. His foster families are kind, but everything is strange and new, and all the changes make him cry, and yell, and misbehave. When it is clear that Elliot’s parents will never be able to take him back, Thomas finds Elliot one last home — a forever, forever home. This title is also available in French under the same name. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	Margo Thinks Twice Written and illustrated by Monica Arnaldo Owlkids Books, 2016 ISBN 978-1-77147-162-6 IL: Ages 3-7 RL: Grades 2-3 Margo is an imaginative, adventurous little girl who sometimes feels nervous and uncomfortable, especially inside the wild world her imagination sometimes creates. Margo’s mind turns everyday advice into worries and worst-case scenarios. Luckily, Margo’s mom comes up with an idea to ease her daughter’s anxieties and encourage her inventive spirit in a positive way. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers
The Silence Slips In Written by Susan Hughes Illustrated by Ninon Pelletier Illustrated by Charlene Chua Orca Book Publishers, 2019 ISBN 978-1-45981-706-7 IL: Ages 3-5 RL: Grades 1-2 When the party’s over and the baby finally falls asleep, when the dog is all barked out and the screens are dark, the Silence pads in on soft, furry feet. A warm, comforting presence, the Silence curls up in a sun-beam like a cuddly cat and helps you read, think and be still. The Silence is friends with the Dark. Together they soothe the jagged edges left when the Noise has rolled on and gently launch the boats of your dreams into the night. When the day becomes overwhelming or other feelings become too big, the Silence slips in. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	Virginia Wolf Written by Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault Kids Can Press, 2012 ISBN 978-1-55453-649-8 IL: Ages 4-8 RL: Grades 2-3 Vanessa’s sister, Virginia, is in a “wolfish” mood — growling, howling and acting very strange. Vanessa tries everything she can think of to cheer her up, but nothing seems to work. Then Virginia tells Vanessa about an imaginary, perfect place called Bloomsberry. Armed with an idea, Vanessa begins to paint Bloomsberry on the bedroom walls, transforming them into a beautiful garden complete with a ladder and swing “so that what was down could climb up.” Before long, Virginia, too, has picked up a brush and undergoes a surprising transformation of her own. Loosely based on the relationship between author Virginia Woolf and her sister, painter Vanessa Bell, Virginia Wolf is an uplifting story for readers of all ages. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers
Junior & Intermediate
Be My Love Written by Kit Pearson HarperTrophy Canada, 2019 ISBN 978-1-443-44402-6 IL: Ages 10-14 RL: Grades 5-7 For as long as she can remember, Maisie has spent her summers on Kingfisher Island. She and her beloved cousin Una run wild, and Maisie feels the warm embrace of her big, extended family. This summer Maisie needs that escape more than ever, as her father’s depression has changed everything at home. But now everything on Kingfisher has changed as well: Una has returned from her mainland school a sophisticated young woman too mature for childish games, and even worse, she has an all-consuming infatuation with David Meyer, both an old friend and an older man. When Maisie’s greatest attempt to maintain the special magic of her friendship with Una goes up in smoke, it seems as though all is lost. But with an enormous revelation, and a heartrending intervention, Maisie may finally discover the strength she needs to find the same peace that the island has brought her within herself. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	Eight Times Up Written by John Carr Orca Book Publishers, 2019 ISBN 978-1-459-81861-3 IL: Ages 9-12 RL: Grades 4-5 Ever since his mom left, Riley has been a mess. He feels nervous all the time. His heart pounds, his neck is tight, and he can’t seem to turn off his brain. His dad signs him up for aikido, hoping it will help. In the dojo, Riley meets boys who are much rougher than he is and a girl who is tougher than all the rest of them put together. For Wafaa, aikido is not her first choice. She was disqualified from competing in judo for wearing a hijab. From the first time she steps on the mat, it’s clear she is far more skilled than anyone expected. Through the teachings of their sensei, Riley and his classmates come to understand that aikido is not about winning or losing or about being perfect. Sensei shows them how to tap into their inner strength and find their place in the universe. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers
Grandfather and the Moon Written by Stéphanie Lapointe Illustrated by Rogé Translated by Shelley Tanaka Groundwood Books, 2017 ISBN 978-1-55498-961-4 IL: Ages 10-13 RL: Grades 6-7 Grandfather sinks into depression when his beloved wife succumbs to cancer. His granddaughter has a different response. She enters the Who Will Go to the Moon Contest, and when she actually wins, she hopes that Grandfather will be proud of her. She embarks on the thrilling journey, which takes an unexpected turn. This title is also available in French as Grand-père et la Lune. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	OCDaniel  Written by Wesley King Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016 ISBN 978-1-4814-5531-2 IL: Ages 10-14 RL: Grades 5-6 Thirteen-year-old Daniel — a budding author, friend and second-string football player — is plagued by “Zaps,” triggers such as an unlucky number that compel him to repeat certain actions — rituals that leave him exhausted and positive he is crazy. His life gets weirder when Sara, a selectively mute schoolmate, sends him a mysterious note and draws him into a mystery that just might change everything. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers
Young Adult Fiction
Calvin Written by Martine Leavitt Groundwood Books, 2015 ISBN 978-1-55498-720-7 IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8 Calvin has always known his fate was linked to the comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes. But, at 17, he is suddenly stricken by a schizophrenic episode, and Hobbes (as a large man-eating tiger he can’t quite see) is with him as a delusion he can’t control. As the hallucinations persist, Calvin struggles to regain control of his own mind and destiny — with one grand, incredible adventure. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	Faerie Written by Eisha Marjara Arsenal Pulp Press, 2015 ISBN 978-1-55152-618-8 IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8 The horror of becoming an adult and leaving childhood behind has broken Lila’s heart. She likens herself to a half-human faerie creature not belonging to the earthly world; in reality, she is a psychiatric patient, being treated for anorexia — her sickness driven by the irrational need to undo nature and stop time. Lila is desperate to escape her body, to set the faerie inside her free. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers
Kat and Meg Conquer the World Written by Anna Priemaza HarperTeen, 2017 ISBN 978-0-06-256080-3 IL: Ages 13 and up RL: Grades 8-9 Kat’s anxiety makes it hard for her to talk to people, while Meg’s ADHD makes sustaining relationships difficult. When the two girls are thrown together for a year-long science project, they discover they’re both obsessed with the same online gaming star and his hilarious videos. It might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship — if they don’t kill each other first. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	Speak: The Graphic Novel Written by Laurie Halse Anderson Illustrated by Emily Carroll Straus & Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2018 ISBN 978-0-374-30028-9 IL: Ages 12 and up RL: Grades 7-8 Because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, Melinda is friendless — an outcast — at her high school. Through her work on an art project, Melinda is finally able to face what really happened that night. But, before she can make peace with the past, she must confront the present. Only words can save her… she can’t stay silent anymore. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers
Non-Fiction
Anxiety: Deal With It Before It Ties You Up in Knots (Deal With It) Written by Joey Mandel Illustrated by Ted Heeley James Lorimer, 2014 ISBN 978-1-4594-0710-7 IL: Ages 9-13 RL: Grades 5-6 This accessible title helps kids understand anxiety and offers practical ideas for coping. Filled with information, quizzes, definitions and helpful hints, this book helps young people identify and deal with the different ways that anxiety is expressed, from phobias to panic attacks, in settings as diverse as home, the schoolyard and the mall. Strategies for kids coping with anxiety are included. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	Depression & Other Mood Disorders: Understanding Mental Health Written by Jon Eben Field Crabtree, 2014 ISBN 978-0-778-70090-6 IL: Ages 11-15 RL: Grades 6-7 In an attempt to overcome social stigmas, this series takes a sincere and authentic approach in discussing different kinds of mental illness. Concise, easy-to-follow text explains the importance of social and emotional health and the symptoms and possible treatments of different mental illnesses. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers
On Our Street: Our First Talk About Poverty (The World Around Us) (Scholastic Canada Biography) Written by Jillian Roberts, Jaime Casap Illustrated by Jane Heinrichs Orca Book Publishers, 2018 ISBN 978-1-4598-1617-6 IL: Ages 5-8 RL: Grades 2-3 A gentle introduction to the issue of poverty, this title explores the realities of people living with inadequate resources and addresses issues such as mental illness, homelessness and refugee status. Sidebars with insightful quotes from individuals and organizations such as UNICEF add further food for thought. Readers are encouraged to take what they have learned and make a difference. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers	Stress Lee: Tips and Tools To Help You Chill Written by Helaine Becker Scholastic Canada, 2018 ISBN 978-1-443-14870-2 IL: Ages 8-13 RL: Grades 3-4 Kids today experience high levels of stress. With so much of their daily activity charted for them, they often feel overwhelmed and out of control. In this light and fun collection, kids will find a variety of time-tested and scientifically proven methods for dealing with stress. Tips cover physical, emotional, social and just-plain-fun techniques. The breezy style that lets kids flip around in the book and choose whatever seems to suit at the moment. This companion to the highly successful Don’t Stress: How to Handle Life’s Little Problems gives kids even more tools to deal with everyday challenges. Canadian Bookstores | Wholesalers

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Author’s Corner: Wesley King

First, tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get your start as an author? What is your writing process like? 

I got my start as per the vast majority of published authors: rejection, existential crisis, repeat. I came out of Carleton University as a journalism graduate who far preferred fiction. I wrote a story, was rejected by a bunch of agents, and tried to form a publishing company without any money because I was ambitious, young, and, more importantly, an idiot. It wasn’t confidence. It was just that I had to write and wanted to make it a job. Shockingly, Flock Publishing House didn’t fly, so I knuckled down on a story idea I had been kicking around for a while about some teenage supervillains. I wrote said novel and proceeded to be rejected again: 24 agent rejections in I stumbled by fortune onto the world’s greatest agent, a then-brand-new Brianne Johnson at Writers House, and from there we were both rejected by a bunch of publishers. After a year or so of accumulating mostly-nice rejection letters later, I was completely out-of-money and fairly directionless. Then I got the best phone call of life. G.P Putnam’s Sons wanted to purchase both The Vindico and a sequel, which gave me the proverbial foot-in-the-door and enough money to, you know, not live in a car. The Vindico was fairly successful and I was off… I have been writing and publishing constantly since and release books 10 and 11 next year.

In terms of my writing process, it is fairly free-flowing. No outlines. No plan. I write like I am reading a book, and therefore it is usually a quick process: my first drafts often take about a month. I wrote one book in a week. Of course, everything varies, but I do a very extensive editing ritual that takes far more time than that… probably because every first draft I have ever written has been a complete disaster. Now I write between a lakefront home in Nova Scotia and a classic steel ketch I am sailing around the world… thankfully my writing options have changed a bit since the days of that ill-fated publishing house in my parent’s basement. You got lucky, Random Penguin House/Intergalactic Empire.

What was your inspiration for writing OCDaniel and the upcoming prequel, Sara and the Search for Normal? 

OCDaniel was based on my own experiences growing up. I had, and have, OCD, and at Daniel’s age, I had absolutely no idea what it was. I was performing rituals for five or six hours a night. Brushing my teeth until my gums bled. Pulling out my hair. Praying until I couldn’t stand up anymore. I was afraid of my own brain, and in turn the forces I blamed for it: alien genetics, God, demonic possession… I ran through the whole gauntlet. OCD people are very creative in their self-destruction. It was deeply lonely. So I wrote OCDaniel for my 12-year-old self, and for every person who is facing the same journey and provide any hope that I could.

Sara is the next level of the story. It’s a prequel, and Sara is undoubtedly one of my favourite characters across any story I have ever written. The story deals with different aspects of anxiety and depressive disorders, and in some ways delves a bit deeper into the true effects on our outlook and indentity. But as before, the inspiration was to provide a hopeful story for readers… and I couldn’t be happier with the result. It was an emotional write. It’s funny and challenging and raw, and I can’t wait to share it. The last page sums up just about everything I want to tell those who are suffering.

Do you think books like OCDaniel can help equip teens with the tools to cope with the challenges they’re faced with?

Absolutely… to an extent. I hear from readers everywhere I go about how much the book helped them: teens, middle-grade readers, and adults. But I always caution that I want the book to encourage readers to talk to loved ones and professionals, and not to go self-diagnosing or considering the book itself is a lesson. It is simply a story about coping with our difficulties, and more so, a pointed reminder that we are not alone in facing them. And that message has been very helpful for a lot of people. The fact that it has reached so many people is the proudest part of my writing career. I wish I could have told my 12-year-old self where all that suffering was leading.

What was it like working with Kobe Bryant on The Wizenard Series: Training Camp?

It was (and continues to be) an incredible experience. Book two is out in the spring, and there are plenty more in the works. I already knew about Kobe’s infamous work ethic, but I didn’t know he was so passionate about storytelling. The guy is a nerd (like me), a visionary, and the world’s greatest dad who wants to tell stories for his daughters. We geek about Harry Potter and Game of Thrones and share the same vision of stories that are magical and fun but also real and inspiring for readers of all levels. The response has been crazy. Obviously my first #1 New York Times Bestseller, big sales overseas, and perhaps a few more exciting things to come. Our writing process is crazy: I fly down, we brainstorm, flip around ideas, write drafts, and repeat again and again until it’s right. Everything is researched and analyzed to make sure it is authentic. I have been to inner-city Chicago and met international leaders on child psychology and more. Every sentence in the book is there for a reason.

Find out more about Wesley on twitter @WesleyTKing

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YA Write with Amy Mathers

In 2014, Amy Mathers read and reviewed 365 YA books to raise funds to create the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award.

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Illustrator’s Studio: Peter H. Reynolds

Peter H. Reynolds is the award-winning author and illustrator of The North Star, The Dot and Ish. He also illustrated the bestselling Someday by Alison McGhee, Tess’s Tree by Jess M. Brallier, and the bestselling Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald. Peter is the founder and CEO of FableVision, an educational company that produces animated films, books, and software. He lives in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Tell us a little about yourself. How did you get your start as an illustrator and author? 

There are so many influences that lead me to where I am today. I owe most of it to that initial spark fo passion for putting pencil to paper. I like to say that I got my start because I didn’t stop. By about fourth grade I noticed that a lot of the kids around me had put their pencils down. I was still drawing on any piece of paper I could get my hands on. My brother. Paul would sift through my school backpack to review all the art I had done that day. I wish my teachers had appreciated my art as much as my twin did. Most teachers told me to do my drawing on my own time and to pay attention. 

I self-published The North Star in 1997. It was a story of a boy lost in a swamp and discovering the “map” he had had all along: the stars. It is an allegory about the learning journey – about life. Mary Lee Donovan at Candlewick Press got hold of a copy. She took me to lunch and shared that she liked my sensibilities and offered me contact to illustrate a book called “Judy Moody.” I didn’t realize that it was to become an New York Times bestselling series with spinoffs and a movie. 

At another lunch with Mary Lee and my art editor, Ann Stott, I was asked if I had any of my own stories I’d like to share. I said I had a mission to keep kids from putting down their pencils and brushes — to be brave and develop their own strong and positive voice. I told them about three stories I had written: The Dot, Ish and Sky Color. They immediately said they wanted to publish all three. I coined a name for that collection of three books about creativity: The Creatrilogy.

Each one of your books seems to draw inspiration from real life. What or who has impacted you the most as a creator?

Again, it is hard to pinpoint a specific person or event, but I think that the house I grew up in had the right “creative climate control” that nurtured my art and story-crafting.  It was a busy house with seven people — born in four different countries. Dinner was always a family experience filled with story. Our parents were left-brained — by day doing accounting and financial work — but at home, Dad was busy in the garden and his woodworking shop. Mum was busy sewing and crafting. We had loads of art supplies around the house. Drawers filled with pens, markers, tape and glue. 

At school, for the most part, I had to wait for art class to get the creativity flowing. As I mentioned before, most teachers felt that my drawing in their class was not appropriate and most asked me to stop. My seventh-grade math teacher, Mr. Matson, saw me drawing and challenged me to write and illustrate a story to teach math to kids! That was such a delightful suprise for 12 years old me to hear coming from a math teacher. I went home and created a comic book. when I brought it in, Mr. Matson he asked me if I knew what I had created. 

“A comic book?”

“Well, yes, it is a comic book, but it is also called a storyboard. It is what filmmakers use to plan out their movies. Would you like to make a film from your storyboard?”

That was actually one of those life-changing moments. That film inspired me in many ways — connecting me to my mentor media makers, Jim and Jean Morrow, and a first job when I graduated from university as an art director for an educational media company started by an innovative teacher, Tom Snyder. 

Your books truly speak to children. How do you keep the natural joy of childhood alive in your stories?

I like to think that I write for “children of all ages.” My messages are certainly enjoyed by children, but many of the big ideas in my stories are good reminders for grown ups: balance, bravery, resilience, creativity, empathy among others. 

I have two children, Sarah and Henry, who keep me inspired, as well as owning a bookshop I opened the same year that my book, The Dot was published: 2003. The Blue Bunny Book & Toy Store is a good example of a space that is intentionally designed to have great “creative climate control.” It is a space to discover, to rest, to think, to sip, to draw, to write and to play. It looks very much like the inside of my brain. I take that energy and imbue it into the characters of my books. I want Jerome, Vashti, Marisol, Ramon, Raj, and the others to show what creative spirit looks like. I want them to model bravery, self-advocacy, and kindness. I also pay tribute to the power of great teaching and parenting. 

How do the books you write and/or illustrate help equip children with the tools to cope with the challenges they’re faced with?

My hope is that the themes of my books will become tools for my readers’ journeys.  Life is a lot easier if you have the right tools in the toolkit. Story is still one of the most powerful forms of “technology” to share information and inspiration. Picture books are especially powerful. Big ideas can get dipped into art and words and easily shared and understood. Not just understood, they become indelibly inscribed in a person’s thinking. They recharge the human soul. 

You own The Blue Bunny Book & Toy Store just outside of Boston and we know that you support and collaborate with schools, community organizations, and non-profits in the area. What type of things do you do to support these groups? 

I love helping organizations that are helping children and communities to develop their full potential. There are so many groups I love being able to support with my time, my art for auctions, and my own money. LitWorld, The Horizons School, The Walker School, The Georgie Badiel Foundation are among the many great organizations I admire and support. We welcome schools to visit my bookshop in Dedham, MA where I will meet them and share my stories and encourage them to share their voices with the world, in whatever way feels right for them: through art, through their words, or through action. 

What is next for you? What projects are you working on now? 

I just wrapped up an animated film version of The World Collector. Jerome comes to life in this production created by Scholastic Weston Woods and my own studio, FableVision in Boston, MA. We have now begun a film version of Say Something!

Be You! is my latest. I nicknamed it a “Handbook for Amazing Human Beings.” It is a reminder that we are capable of being so many things — brave, curious, kind, and original, but that being true to yourself is not always easy. If you find the people who truly love you for who you are then the journey becomes much easier. 

I still have a lot of things to share. As I get older, I feel the urgency of getting these stories written and shared. Of course, every year that goes by is another year filled with new experiences, ideas, and often times, hard-earned wisdom. My hope is that my own journey can inspire others on their own wonderful journeys. 

Find out more about Peter and his work at www.peterhreynolds.com

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