The kids' guide to staying awesome and in control: Simple stuff to help children regulate their emotions and senses

The kids' guide to staying awesome and in control: Simple stuff to help children regulate their emotions and senses is a 112-page book for kids in 3rd grade through the 6th. Written by an occupational therapist who specializes in sensory integration and self-regulation strategies for children and young people.

This book is written in two parts. The first part is for kids. From learning how to understand what they're feeling to learning how to use tools to recover their control and self-regulation, this part offers loads of tips and strategies (and the science behind why to use them) to help kids stay grounded when they are beginning to feel out of control. The second part is written for adults and includes some background on sensory disorders along with suggested charts to use as visuals for kids.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

This is not the Abby show

This is not the Abby show is a 320-page novel about a seventh grader with ADHD who feels out of place in suburban Florida. She longs for the lights of Hollywood, knowing that some day she will be a star. But Abby is what they call "twice exceptional," meaning that she is gifted in one area (math and science) and struggles in another (ADHD). While she excels in math and science, she is failing English and is seriously angry with her teacher. And forgetting to take her medication is probably not helping matters. 

Abby ends up having to go to summer school rather than the summer camp that she has anticipated for months and decides to exact revenge on her teacher. When that goes awry and she is caught, Abby is not only in trouble with her parents but in trouble with the law! She knows that her ADHD sometimes shows up in negative ways, but what she learns that summer is that her disability can sometimes become her strengths as well.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Ouch! moments: When words are used in hurtful ways

"Sometimes kids use hurtful or ugly words to put down other kids, whether they mean to insult or are just going along with the group. These hurtful words often carry a deeper meaning that many children aren't aware of. Ouch! Moments shows kids who is affected by these words: the target, the mean kid, and bystanders. Includes a "Note to Parents and Caregivers." -publisher

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

1-2-3 a calmer me: Helping children cope when emotions get out of control

"1-2-3 A Calmer Me introduces readers to a simple rhyming mantra to help children slow down their immediate reactions and replace them with responses that are more comforting. Based on the psychological principles of relaxation and mindfulness, the mantra can be used anywhere, anytime. Includes a Note to Parents, Teachers, and Other Grown-Ups with more information about the steps of the 1-2-3 rhyme and advice for working on them together with your child." -publisher

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

A boy and a jaguar

"Alan loves animals, but the great cat house at the Bronx Zoo makes him sad. Why are they all alone in empty cages? Are they being punished? More than anything, he wants to be their champion—their voice—but he stutters uncontrollably.

Except when he talks to animals…

Then he is fluent.

Follow the life of the man Time Magazine calls, "the Indiana Jones of wildlife conservation"as he searches for his voice and fulfills a promise to speak for animals, and people, who cannot speak for themselves. This real-life story with tender illustrations by Catia Chien explores truths not defined by the spoken word." -publisher

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Books on vision impairments for kids

Looking out for Sarah is a Schneider Family Book Award winner and is written from the perspective of Sarah's service dog, Perry. Perry helps Sarah, a blind musician and teacher, navigate her way through her day. "This true story of an amazing black Labrador retriever and his owner will inspire young readers to follow their own dreams and give them the courage to achieve anything." -publisher

Another Schneider Family Book Award winner that CeDIR recently purchased is Things Not Seen. This book is about a fifteen year old boy who suddenly turns invisible to everyone, including himself. "For Bobby that means no school, no friends, no life.  He's a missing person.  Then he meets Alicia.  She's blind, and Bobby can't resist talking to her, trusting her.  But people are starting to wonder where Bobby is.  Bobby knows that his invisibility could have dangerous consequences for his family and that time is running out.  He has to find out how to be seen again-before it's too late." -publisher

Want to check out either of these books? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use Worldcat to find them in a library near you:
Looking Out for Sarah
Things Not Seen

A Mango-Shaped Space

In A mango-shaped space, "thirteen-year-old Mia Winchell has a secret: sounds, numbers, and words appear to her in color. Mia has synesthesia, the mingling of perceptions whereby a person sees sounds or tastes shapes. This coming-of-age novel chronicles Mia's developing appreciation for her gift." -publisher

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Blue skies for Lupe

Blue skies for Lupe is based on the real-life adventures of a Mexican immigrant born with physical disabilities. "Lupe and her mother cross the desert at night and arrive in California where their new life begins." From listening to her mother sing while she works in the fields to attending school where Lupe uses a wheelchair, we get a glimpse of what life is like for a little girl and the community that supports her. An update on the adult Lupe's accomplishments and future plans, as well as a short glossary of Spanish-language vocabulary words featured in the story are also included.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Sally Simon Simmons' Super Frustrating Day

Got a child who has trouble managing their emotions? In Sally Simon Simmons' Super Frustrating Day, we get a glimpse at a young girl who wants to do everything herself and can't control her emotions when things don't go the way she wants them to. With simple rhyming and gentle guidance from her teacher, Sally learns about patience and practice.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Prickly Jenny

Know someone who could be considered "prickly?" In Prickly Jenny, a young girl is observed being emotional and full of contradictions. One moment she wants to be left alone and the next she cries for her mother. While there is no obvious solution presented, the book acknowledges that sometimes even the smallest of us has unsettled emotions.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Arnie and His School Tools: Simple Sensory Solutions to Build Success

Arnie and His School Tools: Simple Sensory Solutions to Build Success is an illustrated children's book about an exuberant little boy who had difficulty paying attention in class and doing his school work until he was equipped with the tools to accommodate his sensory needs. Written from Arnie's point of view, the book uses simple language to describe some of the sensory tools and strategies he uses at school and home to help him achieve a more optimal level of alertness and performance.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

When my worries get too big!: A relaxation book for children who live with anxiety

When my worries get too big!: A relaxation book for children who live with anxiety is an illustrated children's book with tips on how to recognize and cope with anxiety. This expanded second edition includes teaching ideas for parents and educators and other professionals.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check it out or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

How I learn: A kid's guide to learning disability

How I Learn: A Kid's Guide to Learning Disability provides a simple explanation of why some children struggle in school. It introduces learning disability in concrete terms for younger students, emphasizing that they are capable of learning but do so in a different way from most children.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

My Service Dog: One Way a Boy Got Help with His Sensory Processing Disorder

My Service Dog is based on a true story of a boy that received a service dog to help with his Sensory Processing Disorder. Service dogs can help children with special needs make everyday interactions more manageable.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Ten turtles on Tuesday: A story for children about obsessive-compulsive disorder

Ten Turtles on Tuesday is a story about a little girl named Sarah who has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. She feels like she has to count or else something bad will happen. With the help of her family and her therapist, Sarah learns that she can take charge of her OCD. Eventually, she is able to handle her anxious thoughts and compulsions and get out of the OCD game! -from the book description

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Animal fun for everyone!

From Woodbine House comes another fun board book for children authored by Marjorie Pitzer. Animal fun for everyone! depicts young children with down syndrome enjoying a day at a farm. It's filled with action words and nouns to help even the youngest learn vocabulary words while having a blast!

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Elvis and the Underdogs

In Elvis and the Underdogs, 10-year-old Benji is small for his age. He was born prematurely and continues to have health issues including a new one: seizures. Benji has the choice to either wear a protective helmet, which will only be fodder for the class bully, or get a service dog. Guess which one Benji chose!

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Libby and the Cape of Visitability

In Libby and the Cape of Visitability, Libby, who uses a wheelchair, doesn't get invited to a friend's house for a birthday party, and her feelings are hurt. The friends then meet an athlete who uses a wheelchair and learns about the disability rights movement. They are shown a picture of a public protest where wheelchair users block inaccessible buses. This spurs the kids to stage their own public demonstration toward the goal of step-free entrances to new homes and wider bathroom doors to ensure that all newly constructed homes are "visitable" by everyone!

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Helen Keller's Best Friend Belle

Have you ever heard about Belle? Many of us know the story of Helen Keller's amazing life, but in Helen Keller's Best Friend Belle, we learn about her amazing love for her dog. This picture book of Helen Keller's early life offers readers an introduction to her beloved dog, Belle, who is with Helen every step of the way.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Breathing Room

Set in the 1940s when the whole world was in turmoil, Breathing Room takes us to a sanatorium to follow the hopeful recovery of Evvy Hoffmeister, a thirteen year old girl with an unfortunate, for the time, last name. Evvy has tuberculosis, disease that killed hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. The political unrest at the time touches the girls even in this secluded place of healing.

Want to know more? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title. Or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.