This list is of wellbeing books focused on providing details for primary schools (or grade skills) – for kids ages 6 to 11, so the older ages within this type of school. The books, again, given you more ideas for #BeWellRead and beyond, providing ideas anf inspiration for stories and advice on feelings and emotions. These wellbeing books are kids are the perfect addition to any school library or kids’ bookshelf.
We have popped them into a checklist for you too, so you can easily see what you still have to get for the school, or your home-shelves. An example of the list is here for you:
If you would like to download the checklist, scroll down to the circular image at the end of this article.
Wellbeing books for kids: The primary school age edition
1. Mitchy Titch Around the World by Avril O’Brien
Travel around the world with Mitchy Titch as he teaches us the Yoga skills to help with meditation and mindfulness. A great book to promote wellbeing.
2. If you can’t say it, sing it by Sophie Garner
A journal-based book, which will encourage children to get in touch with their inner voice. Helps promote wellbeing and being in touch with our emotions. A great pick for all children.
3. At times I get these feelings by Clare Shaw
This brilliantly written book covers twelve main emotions and is packed full of tips and activities to help children with their emotional literacy. From happy to embarrassed, to jealous or angry, it touches on each emotion offering talking points around some of the trickier feelings. Bold images and colours to match the emotion make it bright and engaging for the child.
4. Daniel’s Dreams: Monster Mountain by Leanne Brown
The first in the series, Daniel’s Dreams focuses on improving mental health in children. Daniel must help his monster friends with their worries, anxieties, and sadness. With helpful breathing techniques and coping strategies, this is a must read for all children. The ideas behind this book are to raise awareness of mental wellbeing and mental illnesses in children. The underlying story will offer strategies to cope and show symptoms that can be identifiable to both children and parents. However, there is a lovely story that can be enjoyed without having to focus on the mental wellbeing and illness.
5. The Secret Forest by Claire Lamb
Jake’s journey takes him on a road of discovery. He is stronger than he thinks, and he has to use this strength to help someone. Can he, do it?
6. Listening to my Body by Gabi Garcia
A book that helps children understand their feelings and emotions. How their body can send them signals and learn ways to cope.
7. Poems about Emotions by Brian Moses
An amazing anthology of poems that explore emotions. A great way to help children understand and develop their emotions and the reactions to those emotions.
The poems touch on a number of topics, and poetry can help with many emotions. We have a poem about loss, including a colouring sheet, you might want to check out too.
8. My Body Sends a Signal by Natalie Maguire
A book of great activities about how our bodies receive signals about how we feel and how we can cope with those feelings.
9. The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Rauf
When Ahmet arrives at school, there is something strange about him. He doesn’t talk, he doesn’t get involved and he doesn’t like sweets. But there’s a reason for this. Can we find out more about the boy at the back of the class?
10. The Huge Bag of Worries by Virginia Ironside
When you have a bag full of worries and they follow you everywhere, you have to find a way to deal with them. This book is a great resource to help deal with worries, anxieties and concerns.
11. The Exploding Life of Scarlett Fife by Maz Evans
When Scarlett has big, big feelings, she has to find a way to deal with them. If she doesn’t deal with them, they will explode in all kinds of ways. Really explode.
12. Proud of Me by Sarah Hagger-Holt
An accessible child-centred story about self-acceptance and the importance of opening up to those closest to you.
13. Break the Mould by Sinead Burke
An empowering story about pride and believing in yourself. A great resource for all, inspiring pride and confidence in our younger children.
14. Can you see me? By Libby Scott
Tally is autistic. She feels misunderstood and frustrated. People think she doesn’t understand what they are thinking, but she sees and hears everything.
15. You Are Unique by Annabelle Lindgreen
Are you looking for original and contemporary stories for children which promote courage, strength of character, self-confidence and a sense of gratitude? Look no further!
16. I Have the Power to Control My Worries by Toni McAree
A fantastic resource about how to control worries and not let them become bigger than we already think they are. A book about taking away the power of worries.
17. A Boy Called Hope by Lara Williamson
Dan hopes for all kinds of things – strange things, crazy things, but most of all he hopes for his dad to love him.
18. The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson
When a toddler goes missing, it is Matthew’s job to help discover what happened to him. But can he overcome his OCD disorder to help solve the mystery of the missing child.
19. The Heart and The Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
This beautiful story is about love, loss and there is always hope. A great book and resource from Oliver Jeffers. Would you know how to get your heart back if you put it in a bottle?
20. Breathing Makes It Better by Christopher Willard
A wonderful resource that deals with powerful emotions and how children can breathe through their feelings and find a calmness within.
21. A Pocketful of Stars by Aisha Bushey
Safiya and her mum don’t seem to understand one another, but when tragedy strikes what brings them together? Will it be the reality or the life of gaming?
22. Our Emotions Matter Collection by Sue Graves
A whole collection of books that deal with emotions, why they matter and how we can deal with them.
23. The Worries by Jion Sheibani
Sohal worries about everything but when he discovers that he can draw out his worries, he finds a way to cope. But are his drawings all that they seem and who are the new figures in his life.
24. Charlie Changes into a Chicken by Sam Copeland
If Charlie can’t find a way to deal with his worries then he is going to continue to turn into animals. Can he find a way to calm his worries, and stop changing into a chicken, or a pigeon, or a rabbit?
25. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he’s being sent to a real school – and he’s dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted – but can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, underneath it all?
26. Love from Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
A perfect book for showing children how to express their love for someone and how to communicate that effectively.
27. Stars Before Bedtime by Dr Jessamy Hibberd
A beautiful book to help children with their bedtime routine, how to leave the worries behind, how to use mindfulness as a technique to promote good sleep and how to deal with emotions.
28. One Girl by Andrea Beaty
Encouraging the empowerment of girls and how they can be anything, this heart-warming and moving narrative shows how books and education can inspire change and how one child can make a huge difference.
29. Swan Song by Gill Lewis
Dylan world is turned upside down when he is forced to move to his grandparents. He is struggling and it is at the hands of his grandad that he finds a kind of peace, but then tragedy strikes and Dylan must keep going to make things better.
30. Respect by Rachel Brian
A great book about boundaries, respecting yourself and what should be given consent to.
31. Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot by Horatio Clare
Aubrey’s father, Jim, has fallen under an horrendous spell, which Aubrey is determined to break. Everyone says his task is impossible, but Aubrey will never give up and never surrender – even if he must fight the unkillable Spirit of Despair itself: the TERRIBLE YOOT!
32. Scarlet Ibis by Gill Lewis
Scarlet and Red are split up and sent to live with different foster families, but Scarlet wants her brother back and she is prepared to do whatever it takes to get him back.
33. Perfectly Imperfect Stories by Leo Potion
A fantastic book that celebrates the idea that it is okay to not be okay, especially when children’s mental health is challenged.
34. How to Be the Best You Can Be by Marcus Rashford
This shows kids how to:
- Be comfortable with who you are – you can’t be a champion until you’re happy being you!
- Dream big,
- Practise like a champion,
- Get out of your comfort zone and learn from your mistakes,
- Navigate adversity in a positive way,
- Find your team,
- Use your voice and stand up for others, and
- Never stop learning.
35. The Day the Screens Went Blank by Danny Wallace
When the screens go blank across the whole world, it is a race against time to help Grandma on the other side of the country who is alone. Is the trip going to be a disaster, or will there be a way to live without the love of screens.
36. The Boy Who Couldn’t by Rachel Coverdale
When life is turned upside down, James must be the person he can be and not the person he is expected to be.
37. The Night Bus Hero by Onjali Rauf
Told from the perspective of a bully, this book explores themes of bullying and homelessness, while celebrating kindness, friendship and the potential everyone has to change for the good.
Thirty-seven excellent books to help your primary kids, either at home or at school, and anywhere too, from the US to the US, with their thoughts. These wellbeing books are there to help, and so are we; check out the other mindfulness resources we have on site if you have time.
To download this as a checklist – just click on the circular image below.
Don’t forget to take a look at some of the other Wellbeing books listed on the site if you get. a moment. We have a few for wellbeing:
Wellbeing books for kids
Here are some more of our book lists for #BeWellRead focusing on using reading as a means for developing positive mental health.
Wellbeing: 45+ picture books on feelings and mental wellbeing
A mahoosive list of picture books focused on wellbeing - some of these are, simply, classics.
Teens wellbeing: 25+ books to help young adults with wellbeing
We mustn't forget teens wellbeing; so here are 25 books for them too.
Health and wellbeing: 15 Non fiction books to promote it in your kids
Non fiction is another important part of developing positive mental health; using books to learn and understand our wellbeing is very helpful.
35+ wellbeing books to support kids under 11
Supporting kids in primary, and under 11s with their wellbeing with all these fantastic book ideas - check them out too!
What about those amazing mindfulness resources elsewhere – here are some more links for you!
Mindful activities for kids from other sites
Here are a few more ideas for you about mindful activities that your kids can do today.
50 Mindful Journal Prompts for Teens
Some prompts for the journal that you might now have from Upside Down Books - or just some general journaling ideas for your kids.
Tip To Encourage Mindful Sibling Relationships
Ideas for encouraging mindful sibling relationships - something that we struggle with a little in our family...so perhaps some of you do to?
Inspiring Your Child to Love Themselves
Helping your kids with their self-esteem is a great way to encourage them to be more mindful too. Why not check out this advice to help them?
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Thanks for coming to see us as always.
Helen