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Find out morePersonal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) focuses on developing the knowledge, skills and attributes to keep children and young people healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work. The books in this section cover a range of PSHE topics including bullying, disability, family issues and racism. There are both fiction and non-fiction titles and cover age ranges from Toddler to Older Teen.
May 2022 Debut of the Month | Dealing with big emotions, bravery, bullying and harnessing an extraordinary gift to “make people’s lives that bit better”, Ellie Clements’ The Wondrous Prune is a heartfelt joy. Readers will be moved by adorable Prune’s magical, courageous superhero-esque quest. Talented artist Prune and her big brother Jesse have just moved into her grandparents’ old house with their mum, which means starting at a new school, where the horrid, bullying Vile-let girls make her life miserable. This move also heralds the start of Prune’s incredible gift — whenever she feels big emotions, incredible colours swirl before her eyes. What’s more, if she focuses on her emotions while drawing, her images come to life! When her gift starts to make mayhem, Prune sets about learning to control it, and realises that “there was a lot of good I could do with my power”. This becomes all the more pressing when a bully leads Jesse off the rails, and it falls to the Wondrous Prune to harness her talent to save the day.
From early childhood boys often feel pressured to be athletic and muscular. But what impact does this have on physical and mental well-being through their teens and beyond? Worryingly, a third of teen boys are trying to 'bulk up' due to body dissatisfaction, and boys and men account for 25% of eating disorder cases. What can we tell our boys to help them feel happy and confident simply being themselves? Being You has the answers! It's an easy-to-read, evidence-based guide to developing a positive body image for boys aged 12+. It covers all the facts on puberty, diet, exercise, self-care, mental health, social media, and everything in-between. Boys will find answers to the questions most on their mind, the truth behind many diet and exercise myths, and real-life stories from other boys. Armed with this book, they will understand that muscles don't make a man - it's enough simply being you!
‘Just like all ring-tailed lemurs, Maki liked to bathe in the sun and huddle under the moon. BUT one thing Maki DIDN’T like to do, was LISTEN!’ Join Maki on his adventures through the Madagascan forest, where things may not be as they seem. Can clever chameleon, Sofina, help Maki to listen when it matters the most? For children, this charming story is about a loveable lemur who learns to listen. For adults, the text explores neurodiverity, demand avoidance & alternative parenting styles.
Benefitting from very clear and attractively designed pages to highlight information and with quirky appealing illustrations and a friendly, informative, but non-patronising and non-lecturing tone, this is a book which will attract readers to pick it up and engage with it. The tone of voice is particularly important to the sensitive pre-teen age group it is aimed at. They are growing up fast and want to be treated with respect and not just given stern warnings and rules they should stick to. In this case while dealing comprehensively with topics such as privacy settings, direct messaging, bullying, appearance-enhancing filters, influencers and fake news, it is taken for granted that the reader will make up their own minds and have their own choices. By using open ended questioning, literal screen shots of conversations and interactions and explaining how things work and what impact and consequences your actions can have, the reader feels respected. A popular additional feature of Usborne books has been the Usborne.com/Quicklinks facility where useful websites and other resources linked to book can be found. This used to particularly good effect with this title. Throughout the book you are pointed towards additional information and support around topics such as body image, bullying and mental health, as well as direct links to the tools for reporting inappropriate behaviour and images. Safety, mental health and wellbeing are prioritised throughout this extremely useful guide. A must for school libraries and one that parents will want to have available in the home for their own information too- the excellent glossary will be very helpful to the less media savvy amongst us!
With this art journal for kids aged 7+ from Xavier Leopold, AKA Xavi Art, young readers can use art to brighten their day, find calmness and confidence, and show how they really feel. Xavi uses his unique story to show readers how to use art for self-expression and wellbeing. When city trader Xavi picked up a brush during lockdown in 2020, he found a whole new world of communication for feelings. Throughout this journal, he explains how anyone can put their thoughts and dreams on paper, no matter what training they have. Themed around key wellness topics like healthy living, positive thinking and expressing emotions, each chapter contains lots of inspiration for art from the heart. Plus, there's ample room for readers to make the journal their own by filling the pages with their art - and there's even a free online art club to join.
June 2022 Debut of the Month | Chester Chestnut is a happy little chap, but sometimes even the happiest of chaps get worried or nervous and when this happens Chester’s tummy starts to hurt. Follow the journey of Chester Chestnut as he learns about his anxious thoughts and feelings, where they come from and how to control them. A great tool to use at home and in classrooms to discuss feelings of worry and anxiety.
June 2022 Debut of the Month | Propa Happy sees pillars of primetime TV, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, deliver a lively, inclusive guide to emotional health and happiness. Written with guidance from the NSPCC, and in consultation with a child psychology expert, this smartly-designed, visually engaging handbook is packed with jokes, challenges and quizzes, with activities designed to help kids find their way to happiness alongside tonnes of invaluable advice. Lending itself nicely to being used at home and in the classroom, Propa Happy kicks off in exuberant style by inviting readers to “Be PROUD to let others see how AMAZING you are!” before explaining that happiness comes from within, and means something different to us all. The first chapter focuses on the individual, and includes exercises to help readers explore who they are, and what makes them happy The book goes on to explore everything from friendship, the power of kindness, and how to be a good friend, to how to boost your mood. Practical and inspirational, with the authors’ proceeds going to the NSPCC, it’s a terrific toolkit for mindfulness and positive thinking.
14-year-old Leah has a lot of big questions, about life, about the universe and about her place in it. Struggling to form her questions and feelings into words, this sometimes makes her feel like an outsider. Thankfully she has great friends and family around her who all seem to help her ponder the big questions too. An experience stargazing one night transforms Leah, and challenges her to step outside her comfort zone, heading for an international summer camp to broaden her horizons and hopefully find some of the answers she’s looking for. This book touches on everything from etymology to more traditional teen issues of school bullies and body image issues and the ever increasing urgency to act to slow down global warming. It's clear that the author has some passionate and spiritual ideas they wish to share with readers about unity and how a sense of ownership and belonging might inspire more action to reduce pollution and the other behaviors that are harming the world around us. Although written with great intentions, I would have liked to find more dimension in Leah, something outside of her existential musings to help me relate to the character. I liked how Leah’s family and friends were supportive of her exploring her ideas. I like the messages throughout to push outside your comfort zone to learn more about the world and yourself, as well as the conflict resolution at the summer camp. This is a book with a lot of positive messages and would be a good introduction into more philosophical thinking for teenagers while helping them to perhaps understand themselves and the world around them better. Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
It starts with a tiny blue dot making its way along a busy street hitching a ride on some smart new trainers and because the boy makes him welcome and is kind that makes it grow bigger. A big puddle means the boys shoes get soaked through, but a girl kindly offers him a towel and the dot grows again. On they go, helping an old man and a stranded kitten; all through the town spreading kindness, which means the dot gets bigger and bigger and happiness spreads, until the mayor kindly decides to take everyone to the beach for icecream. The lovely rhyming text swoops and swirls along with them. But then they meet a huge, fiery anger and a little girl who has been left out. Undaunted, kindness sees the sadness inside the anger, and cuddles and inclusion smooth the way for a delightful beach party for all. With a lovely diverse and inclusive cast of characters and a really joyful colour palette the evocative illustrations are wonderful at conveying emotions with a very impactful use of thick black and flame red to personify the anger. This conveys an important message about the power of simple acts of kindness ‘just pass on a smile and you’ll never regret it.’ A delightful book to read aloud and to share one to one.
Tilly and Shadow her dog have moved into a new house. They love playing by ‘the splash and curl of the sea’ and have lots of fun together on the beach. But Shadow can’t go to Tilly’s new school, he has to stay outside with Mum. At breaktime, Tilly has to play all on her own. Her teacher suggests she visits the Friendship Bench, ‘Children find new friends to play with there.’ But when Tilly gets to the bench, there’s already somebody on it. Her teacher encourages her to try again and soon the bench is working. The text is perfectly judged so that the very youngest will understand the magic of making friends, while the illustrations by Daniel Egnéus are full of light, sunshine and the sounds of children playing. Another beautiful, touching picture book from this award-winning team. You can find more books with this theme in our Collection of Brilliant Books about Friendship
When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. The timely and touching story from Stonewall Award Winning author Alex Gino, Author of Rick and You Don't Know Everything, Jilly P! Gino's latest book, Alex Austen Lived Here, is out in April 2022
Interest Age 8+ Reading Age 8 | Navigating family tragedy and finding the freedom to follow your dreams, Eve Ainsworth’s All to Play For is a perfectly-pitched, top of the league triumph for readers who enjoy the thrilling possibilities of dreaming big through stories rooted in real-life. Lewis’ “happy place” is the narrow strip of grass at the back of his estate. Here he can “pretend to be somebody else”, like his football hero scoring a winner for England at Wembley. Lewis needs this escape because real life is tough. His family don’t have much money and, “even if she could afford it, Mum would never let him play football. Not after what happened to his dad”. Tragically, Lewis’ father died when his weak heart failed during a match, and his mum blames the beautiful game for taking her beautiful husband. After being spotted by Ash, a scout for his dad’s former team, Lewis is faced with a dilemma - training with the club would mean disobeying Mum, so he tries to convince her to let him join. Tackling grief and social inequalities with sensitivity, All to Play For is a rewarding read, with all the heart-in-your-mouth tension of a penalty shoot-out. Readers will be on the edge of their seats willing Lewis to succeed, willing his mum to support his dream. Published by Barrington Stoke, this is especially ideal for reluctant readers, with satisfying short chapters and dyslexia-friendly paper.
Once again, Jacqueline Wilson has created a pitch-perfect, heartfelt story for older readers, with emotionally engaging insights into teenage pregnancy and motherhood in the early 1960s, and a timelessly resonant representation of treading that tricky tightrope between childhood and teenhood. Imagine a moving, teen-centred episode of Call the Midwife with added empathy. 14-year-old Laura comes from a proud working-class family. Young for her age, Laura hasn’t had any experience of boys until she befriends glamorous, wealthy Nina, the daughter of two doctors. Laura is incredibly flattered by Nina’s attention, but aware she lives in what’s known as the “Shanty Town”, while Nina has everything she could possibly wish for, and kissing experience to boot. The dynamics between the two girls is incredibly realistic, perfectly capturing the differences between them. A trip to the lido sees Laura coaxed into spending time with a pair of older French boys. Uncomfortable with Nina’s flirting, Laura leaves, but one of the boys insists on walking her home, and leads her into the cricket changing rooms. She’s not sure what happened, but a few months later she discovers she’s pregnant. Deemed to be “spoiled goods”, Laura’s parents send her to a special home for girls in her circumstances, where she’s the youngest, where girls are typically forced to give up their babies. Truly moving, true-to-life, rich in detail that evokes the 1960s setting, and suffused with compassion, the beautiful afterword sees Laura in her seventies, reflecting on the courageous, life-changing decision she made all those years ago, thanks to the help of her forward-thinking aunt.
A Scientific Guide to Growing Up | Dr Pang was diagnosed as autistic at the age of eight and saw the world differently. This book explores all the stages of life as readers grow up and explains them in the terms of scientific concepts. This is based on Dr Pang’s life and the fact that quite early on she realised that science with its tangible and logical patterns helped her understand all the things that seemed so strange and messy in ordinary life. The book acknowledges that it is difficult growing up and becoming the person you want to be for everyone, but it uses that as a key into the scientific possibilities of understanding some of those difficult areas. These include things like stereotyping, how to handle emotions, dealing with pressure, finding your own personal passions to list just a few. This is a book that will be very useful to many people as it helps us look at and explain some of life’s intricacies and problems with a different perspective. Ideal for PHSE collections and it will appeal across a wide cohort of young people.
Knowing how to say hello is one of the most important life skills, and this lively, inclusive board book demonstrates lots of different ways to do it, so that however confident they are, or not, little children will find a method that suits. We see people bumping elbows, saying hello with a wave, a kiss, a cuddle, even a dance. Offering a snack can be a way to say hello, or you can do it with a high five. If you need to do it from a safe place (behind your parents), well that’s OK too. The tone is relaxed and positive, and the busy scenes illustrated are lovely to look at, full of detail and unwritten stories. A welcome addition to any small child’s book collection.
March 2022 Book of the Month | At its core, Darren Simpson’s Furthermoor is a heartfelt, pacey quest that tells of a boy’s struggle to find a way through grief and bullying. Poignantly underpinned by a comforting belief that loved ones we’ve lost never truly leave us, this highly readable fantasy-meets-real-world novel sees a broken family coming together. Ever since Bren’s sister Evie was killed in a car crash, he’s isolated himself from everyone. He spends his days at school trying to avoid truly atrocious bullies, and in place of playing football with his mates in his free time, he’s retreated into Furthermoor, a weird world of mechanical animals, where Evie is still alive. Bren feels safe in Furthermoor, until Featherley flits onto the scene, a strange creature who speaks uncomfortable truths and compels Bren to confront his fears: “You’re letting yourself down, young fleshling. A master in this realm, a runt in the other.” In a Coraline-esque turn of events, Furthermoor infiltrates the real world (“This wasn’t home. This was Furthermoor”) and a gripping race against time unfolds. The plotting is sharp, with clear cliff-hanger chapter endings signposting the dangers that lie ahead, and an empowering message about bravery ringing clear. In Evie’s words, “Bravery isn’t always big and loud, Bren. It can be quiet too.”
Powerfully applying the horror genre to explore racism and homophobia in a high school setting, Ryan Douglass’ The Taking of Jake Livingston is an un-put-down-able, chilling tale for our times. Sixteen-year-old Jake isn’t exactly your average teenager. He’s a medium, he can see the dead. Ghouls and zombie-like beings appear to him, ectomist seeps into his vision, “snakelike and sinister”. Jake is also one of the few black students at his private high school: “I hate it here. Every time we run warm-ups it’s like there’s a BLACK KID sign blinking above my head like a firetruck light”. As a result, the arrival of a gorgeous new black student is especially welcome, and brings the promise of romance. But Jake’s visions are worsening, to say the least. While most of the ghouls he sees are harmless, Sawyer Doon’s spirit is vengeful. After killing six students in a high school shoot-out, Sawyer killed himself, and is now set on using Jake to exact revenge. As an intense and chilling story of survival unfolds at breakneck speed, The Taking of Jake Livingston balances edge-of-your-seat scares and action with emotionally engaging themes.
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