Resilience and wellbeing

You Are Awesome, by Matthew Syed & Toby Triumph

“If you believe you can’t do something, the chances are you won’t try. But what if you really could get better at maths, or sport or exams? In fact, what if you could excel at anything you put your mind to?

“You Are Awesome can help you do just that, inspiring and empowering young readers to find the confidence to realise their potential.”

Stories for Kids Who Dare to be Different, by Ben Brooks & Quinton Winter

“Björk, Dr Seuss, Whoopi Goldberg, Andy Warhol, Ellen MacArthur, Greta Gerwig, Andrea Bocelli, Hua Mulan - these are men and women who all dared to be different.

“Boys will be boys and girls will be girls - or so the meaningless saying goes. Because what if you’re a girl and you like cage fighting? Or you’re a boy and you love ballet? And what if you’ve always dreamed of being a scientist but you can’t see anyone who looks or sounds like you, and who has left a legacy - in the form of microscopes and Bunsen burners - for you to follow?

“This is the book for children who want to know about the lives of those heroes who have led the way, changing the world for the better as they go.”

We Are All Wonders, by R. J. Palacio

“With over 5 million copies sold, Wonder is a true modern classic, a life-changing read, and has inspired kindness and acceptance in countless readers. Now younger readers can discover the Wonder message with this gorgeous picture book, starring Auggie and his dog Daisy on an original adventure, written and illustrated by R.J. Palacio.

“With spare, powerful text and richly-imagined illustrations, We’re All Wonders shows readers what it’s like to live in Auggie’s world - a world in which he feels like any other kid, but he’s not always seen that way.”

How Not to Lose It: Mental Health - Sorted, by Anna Williamson

“Exam stress? Friendship issues? Panic attacks? How Not to Lose It will help you be the boss of all of this, and more.

“It’s not just your body that should be fit and healthy - your mind needs to be, too! How Not to Lose It is the go-to guide for achieving a balanced mind and strong emotional well-being.

“With immediate, heart of the matter advice and a chatty yet honest tone, Anna Williamson addresses all of the key issues affecting children today.”

The Great Big Book of Feelings, by Mary Hoffman & Ros Asquith

“This title opens with the question, ‘How are you feeling today?’, and leads on to a spread by spread presentation of a wide range of feelings.

“Lots of different children in lots of different situations, brief text captions, and plenty of humour make sure the book is fun, as well as dealing with a serious and important subject - human feelings.”

50 Ways to Feel Happy, by Vanessa King, Val Payne, Peter Harper & Celeste Aires

“What can you do to help yourself (and others) feel happier? This book is packed full of activities and ideas to try with family, friends and on your own. So, whether you feel happy right now and want to stay that way or you need some ideas to help you feel happier, this book is for you.

“A cheerful, fun, inspiring, and varied collection of projects for creative, happy and thinking individuals, it includes a mixture of step-by-step projects and shorter activity ideas that encompass happiness-inspiring crafts, mindfulness, relaxation, and positivity techniques, and fun ways to get active and boost happiness outdoors.”

A Book of Feelings: starring Sam, Kate and Fuzzy Bean, by Amanda McCardie & Salvatore Rubbino

“This story stars a brother and sister, Sam and Kate, and their dog, Fuzzy Bean. Sam and Kate know what makes them happy: cuddling Mum, reading a story with Dad, swimming, running and dancing, lots of things. But they don’t feel happy all the time (nor does Fuzzy Bean), and in the course of the book we see them feeling grumpy, embarrassed, shy, nervous, frightened, sad and jealous.

“Both words and pictures portray the children in many different situations at home and at school, and show how they change over time, how emotions can escalate, and how people can help each other.”

Mental Well-being and Mindfulness, by Katie Woolley & Ryan Wheatcroft

“You can’t see mental wellbeing but you can feel it. Your mental wellbeing is all about how you think and feel. Some people call it ‘mental health’ or ‘emotional wellbeing’.

“Having good mental health doesn’t mean being happy all the time. We all experience feelings of anger, sadness, fear and frustration. These feelings are perfectly normal. Mental wellbeing comes from finding positive ways to manage these feelings as you grow and develop.

“This simply written title explores what mental health is, why it is important and ways to deal with some mental health problems such as stress and anxiety.”

Just Breathe: meditation, mindfulness, movement, and more, by Mallika Chopra

“Just Breathe - a book of meditation and mindfulness for kids - is a fun and accessible, fully illustrated go-to meditation guide written by wellness expert Mallika Chopra. For kids ages 8 to 12, this book is full of specific exercises to help deal with day-to-day challenges and tips to lead a healthier, happier, and more connected life.”

12 Hacks to Boost Self-esteem, by Honor Head

“This short book quickly and clearly advises children on how to improve their self-esteem. From changing the way you think about yourself to building up life skills, not being afraid of failure and improving body image, everyone can learn to believe in themselves and know that they are special.”

What is Mental Health? Where does it come from? And other big questions, by Lucy Maddox

“This book is about the whole range of mental health, from feeling good and being able to do what we like, to needing extra help with thoughts or feelings or behaviours that have got out of hand. Having a mental health problem is part of the range of human experiences that any of us could have, and the book includes pieces from a range of contributors who share their experiences relating to mental health. Mental health problems can be frightening to experience, but there is help available and this book includes useful skills that can boost mental healthiness.”