R aising compassionate, empathetic, and caring kids includes instilling in them the importance of self- care. Check out these reading recommendations from the New Orleans Public Library to help kids of all ages care for themselves, as well as the people around them.
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CHILDREN Nothing is ever truly easy when you’re starting something new—not even tying your shoes! Loops by Jashar Awan is a confidence-boosting picture book about the perseverance and positive self-talk needed to learn this tricky milestone.
meowsseur digs soft toe beans into the burnt-out main character’s aching muscles, his heart warms and his worries melt away. This is only the beginning, as he and other world-weary workers are about to meet the other feline professionals who have mastered pawfully cute techniques to reduce human stress. The Life Guide for Teens: Harnessing Your Inner Power to Be Healthy, Happy, and Confident by Ran D. Anbar, MD, uses clear, empowering terms to take a deep dive into the most prevalent wellness concerns for teens. Throughout, he offers encouragement, reassurance, and strength to teens who are struggling, showing them how they can develop a positive, healthy self-image and promote self-care. In I Feel Awful, Thanks by Lara Pickle, readers meet Joana, a young witch who secured her dream job with a coven in London. However, she will soon discover the reality of city life is not so idyllic. Little by little, she makes her place, but fatigue, sadness, and doubts threaten to topple her hard-earned success—until she starts talking to a professional who helps her realize that in order to take care of herself, she must know herself.
A Million Yes’s by DJ Corchin & Dan Dougherty thoughtfully illustrates why always putting others before yourself can be harmful, and how setting boundaries can help you be an even better friend in the long run.
Tiny Garden by Deborah Underwood & Jax Chow is an ode to cultivating and caring for one small rectangle of the world. Paired with beautiful illustrations, it is also a story about caring for oneself—and staying true to both, no matter what.
MIDDLE GRADE For advice, tips, and techniques to help make thoughtful choices, check out Smart Girl’s Guide to Caring for Herself: Making Smart and Strong Choices to Help You Stay Positive During Changing and Challenging Times by Erin Falligant & Brenna Vaughn. This self-care guide is a great tool to help boost self-esteem, manage emotions, build resilience, and become your best possible you. Best Brain Ever: How to Level Up, Be More Focused, and Be Less Stressed by Therese Huston is packed with actionable tips and backed by science. Whether you’re boosting your creativity, building friendships, or navigating technology, this book will help you think sharper, feel better, and become the best version of yourself. TEEN Cat-loving teens can get a cozy break from the world in Cat Massage Therapy volumes 1–3 by Haru Hisakawa. This full-color manga is about purrfectly professional massage therapists: fluffy cats who knead your troubles away. As the professional
Kacy Helwick is the youth collection development librarian for the New Orleans Public Library’s collections and acquisitions department. Marie Simoneaux is the media and communications coordinator for the New Orleans Public Library.
8 SEPTEMBER 2026 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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