This month, we share books that demonstrate the many ways in which we cultivate relationships, and the skills and tools we use to do so.
We humans are a social species. Even the most introverted among us needs others to engage with, to feel recognized, seen and heard. Our relationships are fundamental to our health; as individuals, as families, as communities, and as one global community. It is often only from within relationships, whether with self, others or the universe, that we are able to grow and change. Furthermore, pandemic time has revealed, possibly to an even greater extent than we may have realized before, cultivating relationships is important. But how do we do that? What does it take to nurture and sustain relationships? How do we ensure our relationships are vibrant, healthy and just? What tools and skills do we need for success?
As we explore this theme, we examine how we cultivate relationships
with ourselves,
with our family and friends; ,
with the communities of which we are a part,
and with our global community (human and non-human);
and some of the skills we can use to ensure our relationships are vibrant, just and healthy:
making and living up to agreements, promises and covenants,
listening, communicating and truth telling,
atoning, forgiving, repairing and rebuilding,
practicing empathy and being true to yourself.
This month’s book list includes books that focus both on who we cultivate relationships with, as well as how we cultivate them. Some books naturally fall into both multiple categories.
Who we cultivate relationships with:
With self:
picture books
Listening with My Heart: A story of kindness and self-compassion by Gabi Garcia and Ying Hui Tan (Illustrator)
It’s Okay To Be Different, Todd Parr
Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration written by Samara Coyle Doyon and illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
I Can Do Hard Things: Mindful Affirmations for Kids written by Gabi Garcia, illustrated by Charity Russell
With family and friends:
Board Book
Love Makes a Family, Sophie Beer
Cradle Me (Navajo/English) by Debby Slier and various photographers
Mommy, Mama, and Me / Daddy, Papa, and Me by Leslea Newman
Hugs of Three: My Daddies and Me / Hugs of Three: My Mommies and Me by Stacey Bromberg and Joe Taravella
The More We Are Together by Tanya Roitman
Good Night Families by Adam Gamble
Welcome, Precious by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Bryan Collier
Picture book
Yo! Yes?, Chris Raschka
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, Nikole Hannah-Jones (author) and Renee Watson (illustrator)
Juvenile
Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco
Middle Grades
How I Became a Ghost - A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story (Book 1 in the How I Became a Ghost Series) by Tim Tingle
When a Ghost Talks, Listen (Book 2 in the How I Became A Ghost series) by Tim Tingle
The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Verra Hiranandani
Teen
Darius the Great is Not Okay, Adib Khorram
Somewhere Between Bitter and Sweet by Laekan Zea Kemp
With community/ies:
Board book
Counting on Community by Innosanto Nagara
One Love by Cedella Marley and Vanessa Brantley-Newton
picture book
Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy
The Cot in the Living Room by Hilda Eunice Burgos and illustrated by Gaby D’Alessandro
Picture Book / Juvenile
Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco
When You Look Out the Window: How Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin Built A Community by Gayle E. Pitman
Juvenile
When a Bully is President: Truth and Creativity for Oppressive Times by Maya Gonzalez
The Book Itch: Freedom, Truth, and Harlem’s Greatest Bookstore by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Middle Grades
Sharing our Homeland: Palestinian and Jewish Children at Summer Peace Camp by Trish Marx and illustrator Cindy Karp
Take Back the Block by Chrystal D. Giles
Middle Grades / Teen
Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Adult
Outwitting History: The Amazing Adventures of a Man Who Rescued a Million Yiddish Books by Aaron Lansky
With the world (human and non-human):
Board Book
Nibi is Water by Joanne Robertson
Picture Book
Birrarung Wilam: A Story from Aboriginal Australia by Aunty Joy Murphy
Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman and illustrated by Loren Long
Because Amelia Smiled, written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein
Outside In by Deborah Underwood
Teen
When They Call You A Terrorist (Young Adult Edition): A Story of Black Lives Matter and the Power to Change the World by asha bandele and Patrisse Khan-Cullors, adapted by Benee Knauer
Adult
Road Map for Revolutionaries: Resistance, Activism, and Advocacy for All by Elisa Camahort Page
How we cultivate relationships:
Making and living up to agreements, promises, covenants:
Picture Books
You Hold Me Up / Ki Kihceyimin Mana by Monique Gray Smith
Juvenile
The Promise, author Nicola Davies and illustrator Laura Carlin
Middle Grades
This Promise of Change: One Girl’s Story in the Fight for School Equality by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy
Teen
When They Call You A Terrorist (Young Adult Edition): A Story of Black Lives Matter and the Power to Change the World by asha bandele and Patrisse Khan-Cullors, adapted by Benee Knauer
Adult
Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting Your LGBTQ Child by Telaina Eriksen
Listening, communicating and truth telling:
Picture Books
47,000 Beads by Koja Adeyoha
Yo! Yes? By Chris Raschka
Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano
Juvenile
We Are Still Here!: Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell and Frane Lessac (illustrator)
Juvenile & Middle Grades
I Can Make this Promise by Christine Day
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre written by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Middle Grades
Listen, Slowly by Thanhha Lai
How I Became a Ghost - A Choctaw Trail of Tears Story (Book 1 in the How I Became a Ghost Series) by Tim Tingle
When a Ghost Talks, Listen (Book 2 in the How I Became A Ghost series) by Tim Tingle
Teen
Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation, Monique Gray Smith
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, illustrated by Harmony Becker
Practicing empathy and being true to yourself:
Board Book
Calm-Down Time written by Elizabeth Verdick, illustrated by Marieka Heinlen
Clive and His Babies (All About Clive) by Jessica Spanyol
Picture Book
The Boy & the Bindi written by Vivek Shraya, illustrated by Rajni Perera
Bunnybear by Andrea J. Loney, illustrated by Carmen Saldana
When We Were Alone, written by David Alexander Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett
Juvenile
Cinderella Liberator by Rebecca Solnit (author) and Arthur Rackham (illustrator)
Teen
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, Susan Kuklin
Adult
Becoming Nicole: The inspiring story of transgender actor-activist Nicole Maines and her extraordinary family, written by Amy Ellis Nutt
A Clown in Cobwebs by Walt Nelson
Atoning, forgiving, repairing and rebuilding:
Picture Book / Juvenile
Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco
Golden Threads by Suzanne Del Rizzo
Middle Grades
Sunshine by Marion Dane Bauer
Teen
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Young Readers’ Edition: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Lowewen, adapted by Rebecca Stefoff
Just Mercy: A True Story of the Fight for Justice (Adapted for Young Adults), by Bryan Stevenson
We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, edited by Wade Hudson
Adult
Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
The Little Book of Restorative Justice in Education: Fostering Responsibility, Healing, and Hope in Schools (Justice and Peacebuilding) by Katherine Evans
