Author Cindy L. Rodriguez shares the inspiration behind her middle grade novel, Lola Reyes is So Not Worried. Mental health is front of mind for so many educators, librarians, and caregivers. In Lola Reyes, there are worries both tangible (in the form of worry dolls come to life) and intangible, like those about food insecurity and changing friendships. Read on to hear about the power of responding to a child's worry with empathy and help.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Maggie Smith, poet and author of My Thoughts Have Wings sat down to talk about anxiety, especially in our youngest readers, and how to soothe anxious thoughts at bedtime and all the time.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It's a time to shed the stigma, to acknowledge the struggles, and to celebrate the brave steps taken every day towards better mental health. Whether you're navigating your own mental health journey or supporting someone who is, books are a wonderful tool for finding the ways to express how you're feeling and fostering empathy. We invited author Renee Beauregard Lute, author of the upcoming middle grade title Dinner at the Brake Fast to share insight into her own journey as well as the inspiration behind her book.
