Explore your inner strength and find the encouragement you need to navigate the world!

Reading to your child, as a family, and independently are critical ways to foster resiliency.Through reading, children & adults explore stories around safely expressing feelings,

empathizing with others, calming when stressed, learning from mistakes, and so manyother resilience-building skills that help us bounce back from stressful situations andconnect with others and the world around us. Check out some of our book suggestions

below & links to where you can listen to, read, or learn more about these titles!

RESILIENCE WEEK VIRGINIARESILIENCE READING LIST FOR

AGES 3-7

THE THING LOU COULDN'T DO(Kids Can Press)By: Ashley Spires

Lou takes on an adventure and overcomes herfears of trying something new.

FIFTY CENTS AND A DREAM(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

By: Jabari Asim

The triumphant story of Booker T.Washington and his journey of resilience.

AGES 8-11

AGES 8-12

PAX(Square Fish)Written by: Sarah PennypackerIllustrated by: Jon Klassen

A compelling and poignant novel about thepowerful relationship between a boy and hisfox.

AGES 4-8

JABARI JUMPS(Candlewick Press)By: Gaia Cornwall

A story of a young boy who learns patienceand builds resilience through overcoming hisfears with the encouragement of his father.

AGES 8-11

BIRD (Lee and Low Books) Written By: Zetta Elliott Illustrated by: Shadra Strickland

A touching story of a boy learning to cope with reallife troubles with quiet resilience, and a pencil andpaper.

AGES 10-12

A LONG WALK TO WATER(Clarion Books)Written by: Linda Sue Park

The resilient stories of two eleven-year-olds inSudan overcoming hardships and intersectingwith one another in an astonishing and movingway.

Compiled by:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

AGES 5-10

I CAN DO HARD THINGS(Skinned Knee Publishing)

Written By: Gabi Garcia Illustrated by: Charity Russell

AGES 6-9

EMMANUEL'S DREAM(Schwarts & Wade)Written By: Laurie Ann Thompson Illustrated by: Sean Qualls

A true story of a Ghanian boy who overcomes manychallenges to reach his dream and showed "disabilityis not inability."

AGES 5-9

THE CURIOUS GARDEN(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)

By: Peter Brown

Liam goes on a quest for a greener city -one garden at a time!

AGES 9-12

EL DEAFO(Harry N. Abrams)

By: Cece Bell

In this funny, poignant, graphic novel memoir, joinCece as she navigates school and friendships, withher Phonic Ear.

Reading to your child, as a family, and independently are critical ways to foster resiliency.Through reading, children & adults explore stories around safely expressing feelings,

empathizing with others, calming when stressed, learning from mistakes, and so manyother resilience-building skills that help us bounce back from stressful situations andconnect with others and the world around us. Check out some of our book suggestions

below & links to where you can listen to, read, or learn more about these titles!

RESILIENCE WEEK VIRGINIARESILIENCE READING LIST FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

LLAMA LLAMA MISSES MOMMA(Viking Books for Young Readers)By: Anna Dewdney

A story about how to enjoy school evenwhen missing our special grown-ups at home.

WHISTLE FOR WILLIE(Viking Press)By: Ezra Jack Keats

A short story about Peter, who longs towhistle for his dog, Willie, and persistsuntil he does.

AGES 2-4

AGES 0-3

AGES 2-6

(Hyperion Books)By: Mo Willems

A story about a pigeon who wants to drive abus, that encourages children to help throughproblem-solving.

AGES 4-8

EACH KINDNESS(Nancy Paulsen Books)Written by: Jacqueline WoodsonIllustrated by: E.B. Lewis

Follow Chloe on her journey tounderstanding how even small acts ofkindness can change the world.

AGES 0-4

BREATHE, BABY, BREATHE(Amanda Lynch) Written by: Amanda Lynch Illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire

Follow Leila's journey as she learns tobreathe and practice her MindfulnessABC's.

AGES 4-8

THE INVISIBLE STRING(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) Written by: Patrice Kurst Illustrated by: Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

A heartwarming picture book that explores theintangible but unbreakable connectionsbetween us.

Compiled by:

AGES 3-7

THE FAMILY BOOK(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)By: Todd Parr

No matter what kind of family youhave, every family is special in itsown unique way.

AGES 0-4

I LIKE MYSELF(HMH Books for Young Readers)Written by: Karen BeaumontIllustrated by: David Catrow

High on energy and imagination, this ode to self-esteem encourages kids to appreciateeverything about themselves!

AGES 4-8

THE MINDFUL DRAGON(DG Books Publishing)By: Steve Herman

What happens when your dragon feels worriedabout so many things? You teach him how tobe mindful!

DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS

AGES 3-5

TOUGH GUYS (Flying Eye Books)

By: Keith Negley

Explore how everyone gets sadsometimes - ninjas, wrestlers, knights,everyone!

(HAVE FEELINGS TOO)

Reading to your child, as a family, and independently are critical ways to foster resiliency.Through reading, children & adults explore stories around safely expressing feelings,

empathizing with others, calming when stressed, learning from mistakes, and so manyother resilience-building skills that help us bounce back from stressful situations and

connect with others and the world around us. Check out the books below for some of oursuggestions for books for this age-group & links to where you can find these titles!

RESILIENCE WEEK VIRGINIARESILIENCE READING LIST FOR TWEENS & TEENS

AGES 12-14

THE BITE OF THE MANGO(Annick Press)By: Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland

The heartbreaking and astonishingly resilientstory of a girl's survival from an attack in SierraLeone to her eventual arrival in Toronto.

AGES 11+

FREAK THE MIGHTY (Scholastic Paperbacks)By: Rodman Philbrick

A wonderful story of triumph overimperfection, shame, and loss.

AGES 12-15

HIDDEN FIGURES (Harper Collins)By: Margot Lee Shetterly

Follow the story of four African-American femalemathematicians at NASA who achieved some of thegreatest moments in our space program.

AGES 14+

(Sourcebooks Fire)By: Alyssa Sheinmel

A novel that examines how society treatswomen and girls and inspires the power to claim your worth.

Compiled by:

AGES 12-15

ESPERANZA RISING (Scholastic)By: Pam Muñoz Ryan

Join Esperanza's story of resilience, thatgives voice to those who have historicallybeen denied one.

AGES 13+

BROWN GIRL DREAMING(Nancy Paulsen Books)By: Jacqueline Woodson

Through vivid poems, the author tells her moving storyof her childhood and journey to finding her voicethrough writing stories.

AGES 14+

I AM MALALA(Little Brown Books for Young Readers)By: Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick

The powerful story of Malala Yousafzai and theability of one (young) person to inspire change hercommunity and beyond.

YOUNG READERS EDITION

YOUNG READERS EDITION

AGES 15+

HATCHET(Scholastic) By: Gary Paulsen

A tale of one boy's resilience to take onthe wilderness with only a hatchet, hiscourage, and his will to survive.

AGES 14+

DIG.(Dutton Books for Young Readers)By: A.S. King

A profound novel that speaks to a generation of young people who are working towards a more equitable future.

AGES 12+

ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DISCOVERTHE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE(Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers) By: Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Two teens discover they share a special friendship --one that teaches the most important truths aboutthemselves and the kind of people they want to be.

WHAT KIND OF GIRL

Reading to your child, as a family, and independently are critical ways to foster resiliency.Through reading, children & adults explore stories around safely expressing feelings,

empathizing with others, calming when stressed, learning from mistakes, and so manyother resilience-building skills that help us bounce back from stressful situations and

connect with others and the world around us. Check out the books below for some of oursuggestions for books for this age-group & links to where you can find these titles!

RESILIENCE WEEK VIRGINIARESILIENCE READING LIST FOR ADULTS

Compiled by:

THE DEEPEST WELL(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)By: Nadine Burke Harris

An exploration of ACEs research, with an offerof hope for preventing lifelong illness for thosewe love and for generations to come.

THE YES BRAIN:

(Bantam)By: Dan J. Siegel & Tina Payne BrysonAn essential tool for nurturing positivepotential and keeping your child's innerspeak growing strong!

THE AGE OF OVERWHELM(Berrett-Koehler Publishers)By: Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

This book aims to ease our burden ofoverwhelm, restore our perspective, and giveus strength to navigate what is yet to come.

BORN FOR LOVE:(Harper Collins)By: Maia Szalavitz and Bruce Perry An unprecedented exploration of how and why thebrain learns to bond with others and theimportance of empathy for ourselves, our children,and everyone.

WHY EMPATHY IS ESSENTIAL -- AND ENDANGEREDRISING STRONG

(Random House Trade Paperbacks)By: Brené BrownBrown writes about the process of how we risestrong after we fall, and how this processteaches us the most about who we are.

HOW THE ABILITY TO RESET TRANSFORMS THEWAY WE LIVE, LOVE, PARENT, AND LEAD

HOW WE FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES: A MEMOIR(Simon & Schuster)By: Saeed JonesA stunning coming-of-age portrait of whatwe all do for one another - and to oneanother - as we fight to become ourselves.

THE PRETTY ONE:

(Atria Books)By: Keah BrownA collection of essays exploring what it means to beblack and disabled in America, from disability rightsadvocate and creator of the #DisabledAndCute viralcampaign.

LONG WALK TO FREEDOM

(Back Bay Books)By: Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela's moving autobiography of hisresilient journey during South Africa'santiapartheid movement and fight for humanrights and racial equality.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF NELSON MANDELA

I KNOW WHY THECAGED BIRD SINGS (Random House)By: Maya AngelouA poetic and powerful autobiography thatmarks Maya Angelou's journey to feeling freeinstead of imprisoned.

EDUCATED: A MEMOIR (Random House) By: Tara Westover

Tara invites us on her journey from asurvivalist upbringing in rural Idaho toher quest to get an education.

HOW TO CULTIVATE COURAGE, CURIOSITY, AND RESILIENCE IN YOUR CHILD

ON LIFE, POP CULTURE, DISABILITY, ANDOTHER REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH ME.