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Children’s Literature Guide for Awesome Books

@bricksandbookmark

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•Stephanie | Mom to 3 boys
•M.A.T. | former elementary & reading teacher
•Sharing books to grow lifelong readers
•A sprinkle of silly

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As a teacher and mom to 3 boys (3, 6 & 20), I use a lot of picture books to teach character traits such as kindness, empathy, generosity, honesty and humility. Emotional intelligence is just as important for raising strong, understanding sons.

Recognizing their own feelings, struggles, and vulnerability is important for raising boys who can one day become emotionally intelligent fathers and husbands.

My husband (a 21-year US Army combat veteran) is a master at teaching them leadership, strength, determination, bravery and integrity.

The goal is to raise well-rounded sons who are strong, brave, compassionate and intelligent (including emotionally). I hope these books help you with that!

Featuring:
The Noise Inside Boys by Pete Oswald (ages 3-7)
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld (ages 3-7)
Way Past Embarrassed by Hallee Adelman (ages 4-8)
Big Boys Cry by Jonty Howley (ages 3-7)
The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee (ages 4-8)
The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (ages 5-9)
Cannonball by Sacha Cotter (ages 4-8)
Tough Guys Have Feelings Too by Keith Negley (ages 3-5)
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts (ages 4-8)
*These age ranges are just general suggestions as younger and older readers can always enjoy them too.

#emotionalintelligence #raisingboys #boymom
#kidsbooks #childhoodunplugged by @bricksandbookmark

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20 days ago

Check out these books if you aspire to raise girls who are confident, courageous, strong, brave, ambitious, and determined.

Books are amazing teaching tools, and reading a story with a character she can relate to can make for a powerful and meaningful connection.

I struggled with low self-esteem as a young girl, and I believe these books would have really helped me boost my confidence and self-worth.

Anxiety and depression rates among kids have risen significantly over the past decade. It is important that we use literature to help educate and empower young girls (and all kids).

I hope that these books help your daughters and students find their voices, increase their confidence, and instill in them a belief that they are capable and amazing. ❤️

Featuring:
Ambitious Girl by @meena @marissaarts @littlebrownyoungreaders (ages 4-8)

Amoya Blackwood is Brave by @chantaie @aaronmarin_illustrator @tundrabooks (ages 3-7)

Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by @andreabeatyauthor @dr.illustration @abramskids (ages 4-9)

The Wildest Thing by @emilydreamworld @randomhousekids (ages 3-7)

The Recess Queen by @alexisinca2017 @sigmundpix @scholastic (ages 3-8)

The Loud Librarian by @jennabeatricebooks @erikalynnejones @simonkids (ages 4-8)

Kiki Kicks by @jyolen Ariel Stemple @johnledda @beamingbooksmn (ages 4-8)

As Brave as a Lion by @erikadraws @candlewickpress (ages 3-7)

What If… by @samanthabergerauthor @mike_curato @littlebrownyoungreaders (ages 4-8)

#girlpower #kidsbooks #girlmom #daughter #stronggirls by @bricksandbookmark

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14 days ago

Here is part 1 of my list of books for boys (and girls) ages 8-12 for teaching emotional intelligence. These stories are filled with dynamic characters who evolve and grow throughout the story.

Comment “BOOKS” to get the list sent to your messages! Make sure you’re following me or the message won’t go through!

Common themes include friendship, overcoming bullying, finding one’s identity, kindness, courage and acceptance.

I hope these stories inspire growth, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence in our children.

Age ranges are just a suggestion, not a rule. Don’t feel like you can’t go above or below the listed ages. Ages don’t necessarily determine someone’s ability to access or enjoy a text. However, if you are choosing a book for independent pleasure reading, it’s better to avoid books that are at “frustration level” as this can lead to a child losing their interest or confidence in reading. If you are unsure of your child’s reading level, reach out to their teacher.

Recent literacy studies have shown (and I’ve seen it with my own eyes) that providing children with texts above their reading level with proper support and scaffolding can lead to greater growth. I believe there’s a great use for both kinds of texts depending on the intended purpose.

Follow me @bricksandbookmark for several upcoming graphic novel editions to this series. Happy reading!

Featuring:
Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks & Gita Varadarajan
(ages 9 and up)

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly (ages 9 and up)

Restart by Gordon Korman (ages 10 and up)

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown (ages 8 and up)

A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold (ages 8 and up)

Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look (ages 8 and up)

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate (ages 8 and up)

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies (ages 9 and up)

#emotionalintelligence #raisingboys #boymom #childhoodunplugged #kidsbooks by @bricksandbookmark

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12 days ago

Graphic novels that build emotional intelligence: Part 2!
Common themes include identity, friendship, empathy, teamwork, compassion, self-doubt, finding your voice, acceptance, belonging, authenticity, and courage.

💬Comment “shop” for a list of these graphic novels and the ones from part 1.

Featuring:
El Deafo by Cece Bell (ages 8 and up)

Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez & illustrated by Gabriela Epstein (ages 10 and up)

Nat Enough by Maria Scrivan (ages 8 and up)

Timid by Jonathan Todd (ages 8 and up)

Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee & illustrated by Molly Brooks (ages 8 and up)

Leon the Extraordinary by Jamar Nicholas & color by Bonaia Rosado (ages 8 and up)

Click by Kayla Miller (ages 8 and up)

#emotionalintelligence #graphicnovels #childhoodunplugged #mentalhealth #tweens by @bricksandbookmark

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5 days ago

Graphic novels that build emotional intelligence: Part 1! Common themes include self-acceptance, belonging, friendship, bullying, empathy, anxiety, “fitting in”, resilience, courage and identity.

💬Comment “shop” for this list to be sent to your messages. Make sure you’re following me first so the message won’t get blocked.

Growing up can be challenging; I hope your kids can find comfort in knowing they’re not alone by relating to and learning from the diverse characters in these books. Stay tuned for part 2 being released this week.

Featuring:
Guts by Raina Telgemeier (ages 9 and up)

New Kid by Jerry Craft (ages 9 and up)

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd & illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter (ages 8 and up)

Four Eyes by Rex Ogle & illustrated by Dave Valeza (ages 9 and up)

Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson (ages 9 and up)

Good Boy by Andy Hirsch (ages 8 and up)

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies & illustrated by Karen De La Vega (ages 8 and up)

Stargazing by Jen Wang (ages 10 and up)

#emotionalintelligence #graphicnovel #childhoodunplugged #booksforkids #mentalhealth by @bricksandbookmark

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6 days ago

Comment “girl power” for this list and more like it! Make sure you’re following me first, otherwise the message can get blocked. They can also be found at the link in my bio.

Featuring:
Sometimes, All I Need Is Me by Juliana Perdomo (ages 3-5)
Dress Like a Girl by Patricia Toht (ages 4-8)
Raise Your Hand by Alice Paul Tapper (ages 4-8)
Meesha Makes Friends by Tom Percival (ages 3-7)
Drum Dream Girl by Margarita Engle (ages 4-8)
Shine Bright by Kheris Rogers (ages 4-8)
The Most Magnificent Team by Ashley Spires (ages 4-8)

#girlpower #girlmom #daughters #booksforkids #childhoodunplugged by @bricksandbookmark

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So many of these books made me teary. Thank you to the incredible authors and illustrators for creating such powerful, beautiful, thought-provoking, and moving stories.

I truly believe these stories will help build emotional intelligence, empathy, and compassion in our young boys. That being said, these books are wonderful for ALL children. The characters, feelings, dilemmas, and choices will resonate with every child (and adult). Happy reading!

Featuring:
-Boys can feel empathy
A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts & illustrated by Noah Z. Jones (ages 5-8)

-Boys can be compassionate
How to Heal a Broken Wing by Bob Graham (ages 3-8)

-Boys can struggle with reading
A Walk in the Words by Hudson Talbott (ages 4-8)

-Boys can give a sincere apology
I’m Sorry You Got Mad by Kyle Lukoff & illustrated by Julie Kwon (ages 3-8)

-Boys can be scared of the dark
The Dark by Lemony Snickett & illustrated by Jon Klassen (ages 4-8) *the dark is personified in this book, so if you feel your child would be unnerved by that maybe skip this one

-Boys can appreciate the power of words
The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds (ages 4-8)

-Boys can be quiet
I Am Quiet: A Story for the Introvert in All of Us by Andie Powers and illustrated by Betsy Petersen (ages 3-8)

-Boys can communicate in many different ways
More Than Words: So Many Ways to Say What We Mean by Roz MacLean (ages 4-8)

-Boys can feel shame
Way Past Shame by Hallee Adelman & illustrated by Karen Wall (ages 4-8)

-Boys can feel jealousy
Milo’s Monster by Tom Percival (ages 4-8)

-Boys can care for helpless creatures
Hey, Dog by Tony Johnston & illustrated by Jonathan Nelson (ages 4-8)

#emotionalintelligence #raisingboys #boymom #childhoodunplugged #booksforkids by @bricksandbookmark

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10 days ago

I asked 14 librarians which picture book is their favorite…and I was surprised by the answers. Some of them chose books from their childhood and some chose a new favorite.

I thought the variety was such an incredible example of how certain books and genres resonate with different people. We are so lucky to have so many wonderful authors providing us with unique, meaningful, and timeless literature.

Some of the trends I noticed were two people chose books written by Mo Willems, two people chose books written by Jory John, and 12/14 were written by men. Let me know in the comments what other things you noticed!

Thank you to @websterpubliclibrary and the many other public libraries who helped me with this project!

I hope you grab some of these to read with your children. I will add the suggested ages for each book below. Just remember that adults chose all of these, so you’re never too young or too old to enjoy a book!

Featuring:
Big Al by Andrew Clements (ages 4-8)
Jamberry (board book edition) by Bruce Degen (ages 0-4)
Goodnight Already! By Jory John & Benji Davies (ages 3-8)
The Three Questions by Jon J Muth (ages 4-8)
Smug Seagull by Maddie Frost (ages 4-8)
I Broke My Trunk! By Mo Willems (ages 3-8)
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (ages 0-7)
The Bad Seed by Jory John (ages 4-8)
Thanku: Poems of Gratitude by many authors (ages 6-10)
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf (ages 3-7)
Mr. Pine’s Purple House by Leonard Kessler (ages 4-9)
They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzel (ages 2-6)
The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak (ages 3-8)
Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems (ages 2-6)

#childrensbooks #librarian #publiclibrary #childhoodunplugged #kidsbooks by @bricksandbookmark

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18 days ago

Favorites of the week! I am always amazed with the never-ending, fantastic choices of new picture books at the library (4/5 are new to 2026).

Thank you to the authors and illustrators for providing our kids with creative, thought-provoking stories and art that inspire a love of reading and learning.

Save this post for your next library visit and follow @bricksandbookmark for more carefully selected book recommendations!

Featuring:
The Stuffie Stand by @hellomaddiefrost @hippoparkbooks @astrakidsbooks
Themes: entrepreneurship, feeling overwhelmed, asking for help, teamwork

Whale That Was Unexpected by @caseyklyall @kathryndurst @tundrabooks
Message: It’s not over till it’s over, expect the unexpected, a new day brings new adventure

Gigantic by @rbiddulph @randomhousekids
Message/themes: don’t judge someone based on their size, helping someone in need, teamwork, admitting mistakes

Sadie Mouse Wrecks the House by @elliottkalan @tm_illustration @harperkids
Message: it’s hard following the rules all of the time, siblings can overcome rivalry

Teachers in the Wild by Brad Davidson @rachelmasdavidson @littlebrownyoungreaders
Message: teachers are just like us and have families and lives outside of school

#booksforkids #bookish #kidlit #childrensbookstagram #childhoodunplugged by @bricksandbookmark

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21 days ago

Before all of the millennials get upset with me, technically “vintage” is anything over 20 years old. All of the books pictured were published at least 20 years ago…I know, crazy. I guess that means we are all vintage too. 😆

These chapter books have been passed down throughout many classrooms, students, and states throughout my teaching career from fellow teachers.

Embrace the nostalgia and share these books with your kids because they are still such great reads. Most of these range for kids between 6-10 years old but nobody is ever too young or old to enjoy a book in my opinion.

Featured chapter book series:
A to Z Mysteries
Cam Jansen
Geronimo Stilton
Magic Tree House
The Bailey School Kids
A Jigsaw Jones Mystery
Nate the Great
Flat Stanley
The Magic School Bus chapter books

#chapterbooksforkids #chapterbooks #nostalgia #millenials #kidsbooks by @bricksandbookmark

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22 days ago

Six new(2026), creative, and entertaining books your kids will love.

Save this list and follow @bricksandbookmark for more children’s book recommendations!

Featuring:
Tony Rex’s Seven Stomps to Success by Alex Latimer
I Guess I’ll Go Eat Worms by Linda Liu (quickly becoming one of our new favorite author/illustrators)
Chicka Chicka Read with Me by Blake Marsden
The Gingerbread: Man Trick-or-Treaters on the Loose by Laura Murray and illustrated by Mike Lowery
STAMPEDE! By Jerrold Connors
Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano and illustrated by Dan Tavis

#kidsbooks #childhoodunplugged #libraryfinds #picturebooks #childrensbookstagram by @bricksandbookmark

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25 days ago

Need to know what’s new and awesome in the picture book arena? Want your kids to become lifelong readers who actually LIKE reading? I can help!

Follow @bricksandbookmark for book reviews and library finds. Stay tuned for my review of this new stack!

#booksforkids #libraryfinds #childhoodunplugged #raisingreaders #childrensbookstagram by @bricksandbookmark

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