M ay is Mental Health Awareness Month and the New Orleans Public Library has great books for all ages about mindfulness, managing stress, getting in touch with your emotions, and more.
from the bookshelf
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CHILDREN In The Magical Science of Feelings: Train Your Amazing Brain to Quiet Anger, Soothe Sadness, Calm Worry, and Share Joy , clinical social worker Jen Daily helps kids understand the science behind feelings. The book takes readers on a lively tour of the brain to see where anger, anxiety, sadness, and joy start, and offers activities for calming emotions. Today My Brain is a Dinosaur by Kyla Mora is an award-winning, authentic perspective on neurodiversity. Through engaging illustrations and thoughtful explanations, Mora gives readers an authentic glimpse into what life can feel like for kids with autism, ADHD, and other neurodivergent traits. The Whatifs by Emily Kilgore is a great pick for kids who struggle with anxiety. By personifying our worries as imaginary monsters called “whatifs,” kids learn how to manage unknowns of daily life. MIDDLE GRADE How to Handle Stress for Middle School by Silvi Guerra is a great guide for kids dealing with a notoriously difficult time. With topics ranging from breathing strategies and managing emotions to developing a growth mindset and challenging their brain mistakes, this book is an awesome tool for your middle schooler. In Moonflower by Kacen Callender, a nonbinary child named Moon struggles with overwhelming depression but finds escape in a magical spirit realm where they have adventures with a friend named Wolf. The Summer of June by Jamie Sumner is a middle grade novel about a 12-year-old girl who shaves her head to start fresh and tackle her severe anxiety (trichotillomania) over the summer. Her goal is to become a “lion” instead of a “mouse” with the help of her supportive single mom, a new friend, and a secret library garden. TEENS Ab(solutely) Normal: Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes is a young adult
anthology edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter and Rocky Callen. Featuring 16 short stories by authors with lived experience with mental health conditions, the collection aims to challenge stereotypes through diverse formats like prose, verse, and graphics, and includes author notes and resources. Mental health problems in young people are on the rise, and teens want resources to help friends in crisis. I’m Here: A Peer Counseling Guide for Teens by James J. Crist aims to be just that. With advice around problem-solving, goal setting, conflict resolution, and what to do when someone’s problems put the person or others in harm’s way, this book shares important helping skills teens can use to listen to and support one another. Your Brain Needs a Hug by Rae Earl is a judgement-free guide for living well with your mind. The author offers personalized, friendly advice on the A-Zs of mental health, social media, family, and friendship. With coping strategies and humor-filled anecdotes, this is a perfect read for feeling happier and healthier.
Kelly Jones is an outreach librarian for the New Orleans Public Library. Marie Simoneaux is the media and communications coordinator for the New Orleans Public Library.
8 MAY 2026 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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