Recommended reading and tools

Books on SEL & Emotional Development

Nonfiction & Self-Help

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

• Genre: Psychology / Emotional Intelligence

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 16+

• Description: Explores 87 emotions and experiences to help readers build meaningful connections through understanding and naming feelings. ​

Emotional Agility by Susan David

• Genre: Psychology / Self-Help

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 16+

• Description: Offers strategies to navigate life's twists and turns by embracing emotions and aligning actions with personal values.​

Please Understand Me II by David Keirsey

• Genre: Psychology / Personality

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 16+

• Description: Introduces the Keirsey Temperament Sorter to help readers understand personality types and improve interpersonal relationships.​

Difficult Conversations by Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton, and Sheila Heen

• Genre: Communication / Self-Help

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 18+

• Description: Provides tools to navigate challenging discussions with confidence and clarity. ​

The Birth Order Book by Kevin Leman

• Genre: Psychology / Family Dynamics

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 22+

• Description: Explores how birth order influences personality and behavior patterns. ​

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

• Genre: Parenting / Communication

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 18+

• Description: Offers practical communication strategies to build respectful and cooperative relationships with children. ​

Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb

• Genre: Memoir / Psychology

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 18+

• Description: A therapist shares her personal journey through therapy, offering insights into the human condition.​

Driven: How Human Nature Shapes Our Choices by Paul Lawrence and Nitin Nohria

• Genre: Psychology / Business

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 18+

• Description: Examines four fundamental drives that influence human behavior and decision-making.​

Children's Books

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek

• Genre: Children's Literature / Emotional Awareness

• Reading Level: Ages 3–8

• Age Recommendation: 3–8

• Description: Explores a range of emotions through vibrant illustrations and lyrical text, helping children understand their feelings. ​

How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer

• Genre: Children's Literature / Social-Emotional Learning

• Reading Level: Grades PreK–4

• Age Recommendation: 3–7

• Description: Uses the metaphor of a bucket to teach children about kindness and the impact of their actions on others.

My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss

• Genre: Children's Literature / Poetry

• Reading Level: Ages 1–5

• Age Recommendation: 1–5

• Description: Associates colors and animals with emotions, providing a simple yet profound way for young children to express feelings. ​

Graphic Novels

Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

• Genre: Graphic Memoir / Young Adult

• Reading Level: Grades 7–12

• Age Recommendation: 12+

• Description: A poignant memoir detailing the author's upbringing with a mother battling addiction and the grandparents who raised him.​

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

• Genre: Graphic Novel / Young Adult

• Reading Level: Grades 7–12

• Age Recommendation: 12+

• Description: A heartwarming tale of a prince with a secret passion for wearing dresses and the dressmaker who helps him express his true self.

Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me by Mariko Tamaki

• Genre: Graphic Novel / Young Adult / LGBTQ+

• Reading Level: Grades 9–12

• Age Recommendation: 14+

• Description: Explores the complexities of teenage relationships and the journey to self-discovery and self-respect. ​

Fiction

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

• Genre: Contemporary Fiction

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 16+

• Description: Follows the life of a socially awkward woman whose routine existence is disrupted, leading to personal growth and healing.​

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

• Genre: Literary Fiction / Romance

• Reading Level: Adult

• Age Recommendation: 18+

• Description: A timeless tale of unrequited love and the enduring power of passion over decades.​

Middle Grade & Young Adult Fiction

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

• Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

• Reading Level: Grades 3–7

• Age Recommendation: 8–12

• Description: A young girl finds friendship and healing in a new town with the help of a stray dog named Winn-Dixie.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

• Genre: Middle Grade Fiction / Historical

• Reading Level: Grades 4–8

• Age Recommendation: 4-7