text: Books to help children cope with their feelings during difficult times
  December 11 – As our lives continue to change as we deal with COVID and its physical, mental and emotional consequences, children face their own concerns. So it's a good thing that publishers and authors in Minnesota offer well-written and accurate picture books to help young people deal with their feelings, whether it's figuring out what to do when you're a victim of. bullying or angry, or how to make friends. These are not grim books; they are written in a friendly and positive manner.
  "Be Nice. The End. Simple Wisdom of the Playground Kids" by Bryan Skavnak, illustrated by Wendy Kieffer Shragg (Wise Ink Creative Publishing, $ 30)
  Wendy's illustrations only show heads of children on a white background. Young people will identify with these happy pictures because they look like their friends with all kinds of smiles, missing teeth, awkward hair – a full playground filled with children of all ethnicities. No wonder people wanted prints. Images of the children can be found on the pages to the right, with text to the left on backgrounds in a variety of soft colors.
  "Ease the Tease" by Judy S. Freedman and Mimi P. Black, illustrated by Steve Mark; "Make a Friend, Be a Friend" by Eric Braun, illustrated by Steve Mark (Free Spirit Publishing, $ 9.99 each)
  In "Ease the Tease", for example, various types of teasing are discussed, such as a person's appearance, their feelings ("Scaredy-Cat"), their homework ("Nerd") and what they like. ("This game is for babies"). Suggestions on what not to do when being teased include getting upset and crying. That's what a tyrant wants. Instead, use the inner monologue ("I'm too cool to let mean words bother me"), ignore teasing, or take teasing as a compliment. In "Make a Friend, Be a Friend", the tools for making friends include starting a conversation. There are four ways to make a friend: be nice, share, be a good sport, and start a friendly conversation by asking the other person about themselves.
  "We Check in With Other" by Lydia Bowers, illustrated by Isabel Munoz (Free Spirit Publishing, $ 14.99).
  This is the second in the publisher's We Say What's Okay series, helping young children understand it's okay to set personal boundaries and change their mind. The tale follows Harrison, who enjoys playing dinosaurs, as he realizes that sometimes a friend can change their mind and make art, even though the friend had said the day before that he wanted to play with dinosaurs. When Harrison's father tickles him and continues to ask if that's enough, the boy learns that some people don't like being tickled and should say so. And when two of his friends say they're fed up with gambling, he accepts their decision. The author, who leads workshops and trainings on teaching consent for families and early childhood educators, offers additional activities at the end of the book, including five steps to teaching consent – I listen to my body, I am in charge of my body, I ask permission, I register, I accept "no". The hardcover book includes a song from Peaceful Schools with downloadable audio files and sheet music. To listen to a recording, go to freespirit.com/song.
  "Sometimes When I'm Crazy" by Deborah Serani, Psy.D., illustrated by Kyra Teis (Free Spirit Publishing, $ 14.99)
  "Mambo Mucho Mambo" by Dean Robbins, illustrated by Eric Velasquez (Candlewick Press, $ 17.99)
  "People were dancing all over New York… but they had to follow the rules of the 1940s," we are told. "People from different neighborhoods weren't supposed to mix. Not at balls and not in many other ways." Italians, Puerto Ricans, Blacks, Jews, all had their place. Until there was a group called Machito and his Afro-Cubans. "They used jazz trumpets and saxophones, along with Latin maracas and congas, to create a whole new sound called Latin Jazz … music for the head, / heart, and hips. world danced on it. " If only there was a place they could all dance together.