Children Books

Popular Children Books and Happiness

A list of Popular Children Books promoting Happiness, Positive Mental Health, Optimism, and Social Learning:

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss and Crockett Johnson

 

 

 

The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood

Ish by Peter H. Reynolds

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

The Little Prince by Antoine de St. Exupery

Mom, Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other by Nathalie Ishizuka

 

 

 

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni

The World is Your Oyster by Tamara James

 

 

 

What a Tantrum by Mireille d’Allance

 

 

Chez moi c’est la Guerre by Fatima Sharafedinne

These books include some of my favorites, more to come.  I am gathering a list of books that express ideas about happiness, optimism, love, being different and enjoying one’s differences, bullying, spiritual growth, fear and change, resilience, giving, and living in the present.

2 Responses to Children Books

  1. It flatters me that “Chez moi c’est la guerre” is among the list of books that promote happiness and hope. I hope all readers get this point.
    Thank you,
    Fatima

    • Nathalie says:

      Unlike you, Fatima, I have no personal experience of war. Yet, a book on children and their experience of war reminds me of the enemy soldier within, of the one that attempts to guard us from happiness. Sworn to protect, we believe in him — mistakenly.

      The little girl in the story dreams perhaps like the author of the book to be a teacher, to teach children how to read, how to draw and how not to be afraid of the enemy. That is beautiful and an expression of hope.

      And so when the little girl in the story cries out, “enemy leave our city, we love it!” I feel it as her cry to shatter her inner wall; to eliminate her fear of the ‘other’ and of a false sense of self.

      The enemy is fear and it lies within. In the name of fear, we have exterminated even our neighbors. Yet fear, unless faced remains. If we shy from facing our fear, the war continues for us and for our children long after the bombs stop.

      That is my interpretation of your story. You have brought beautiful stories of love, color and hope to many children who never had the joy of books, nor written tales in their language. I look forward to reading them and to their message of hope.

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