15 Books on Wellness for Kids
Ages 6 – 8
by Jennifer Garry
There’s no better time than now to teach our kids the importance of caring for their minds and bodies. With stressful news cycles, the constant fear of getting sick, and completely upturned routines, we are all feeling a little out of sorts.
These 15 kids’ books on wellness will encourage little readers to eat right, move more, practice mindfulness, and make peace with ever-changing emotions.
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Find Your Happy Place: A Book of Mindful Activities
What better way to encourage your child’s wellness than with a book full of mindfulness activities? This book uses puzzles, games, stickers, and coloring pages to show kids how to manage their thoughts and feelings.
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Be
Available from:It’s been a stressful year, and journaling can offer some relief. With anxiety becoming more prevalent in children, it’s essential to find ways to help them manage it. From taking walks and writing down what you see to identifying your feelings, children will find prompts and ideas for dealing with stress.
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The No-Cook Cookbook
Available from:If you have a budding chef who isn’t quite old enough to use the stove’s burners, this cookbook is the answer. Children will find dozens of nutritious recipes that don’t require any heat to make. They’ll gain confidence and independence, and you’ll get to enjoy their tasty creations!
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I Am, I Can
Available from:Build confidence and resilience with these positive affirmation flashcards and activities. The flashcards use historical examples to show kids how to stay calm, have courage, and be resourceful. Then, you’ll find activities that will help them apply what they’ve learned. If you’re looking for a resource to help children build kindness, gratitude, and believe in themselves, this book is a must-have.
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Peaceful Like a Panda: 30 Mindful Moments for Playtime, Mealtime, Bedtime-or Anytime!
Available from:From mealtime to playtime, this collection of mindfulness exercises shows kids how to make the most of every minute of their day. Whether they want to develop a morning routine to feel energized or boost their brainpower for learning, they can use these exercises anytime and anywhere.
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My Heart
Available from:My Heart encourages readers to take care of a sometimes-overlooked piece of our wellbeing: the heart. This beautiful, poetic book reminds readers that emotions ebb and flow and encourages them to remember to take care of their heart. Empowering readers and inspiring kindness and empathy, this book is a must-have for any bookshelf.
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Meditate with Me
Available from:This fun, clear guide to meditation is a great starting point for growing readers. With sweet animal friends and kid-friendly, step-by-step directions, this book is sure to engage little readers while teaching them how to focus on their breath, the sensations in their body, and the sounds around them to relax and settle their minds.
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Calm: Mindfulness for Kids
Available from:Another book aimed at mindfulness, this one contains activities aimed at helping children find calmness. Activities include things like making a mindfulness jar, mindful eating, and exploring nature. Photos mixed with illustrations add a whimsical, imaginative touch, and an illustrated journal section encourages kids to take note of their feelings. Notes for parents are included throughout, with advice on how to encourage little readers to embrace mindfulness.
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The Monster Health Book
Available from:Colorful and concise, this illustrated guide to making healthy choices includes everything from a look at food groups, nutrients, and food labels to tips for creating healthy habits. With fun facts sprinkled throughout and a friendly green monster determined to make healthy choices, this book is as engaging as it is informative.
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Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book
Available from:Written to make readers yawn, this rhyming picture book is perfect for making reluctant sleepers sleepy. It starts with a teensy little bug with a great big yawn that spreads super quickly. Soon, the Who’s-Asleep-Count is in the zillions. Kids will giggle at the classic Seussian tale, but they’ll also be ready to sleep once it’s done!
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The Busy Body Book
Available from:This book explores all of the amazing ways your body can move, detailing how your bones and muscles, heart and lungs, nerves and brain work together to do so. Filled with illustrations of joyous, active children, little readers will want to jump, twirl, and dance along with them.
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Big Feelings
Available from:I have big feelings
You have them too.
How can I help?
What can we do?Big Feelings is another book that examines emotions and helps readers navigate the ups and downs of daily life. When things go wrong, we may feel mad, frustrated, or overwhelmed. This book shows that we can work through those big feelings and start fresh by talking through them and seeing things from other perspectives.
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Plant, Cook, Eat!
Available from:Part gardening manual, part kid-friendly recipe book, this vibrant garden-to-kitchen cookbook takes you from planting seeds to making things like tomato, feta, and basil pizza. With brightly-colored photos and organized sections, this book teaches families to grow their own crops and eat them for dinner!
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My First Gratitude Journal
Available from:Practicing gratitude has many benefits: from increasing happiness and improving self-esteem to reducing stress and increasing mindfulness. This journal includes simple daily prompts that encourage kids to write and draw about the things they’re grateful for. Every 10 days, there is a more in-depth prompt that asks them to think about gratitude a little bit differently. A sweet keepsake, this journal is an excellent tool to help kids develop a daily gratefulness habit.
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Crabapple Trouble
Available from:Callaway is an apple who worries a lot. When her town full of fruits and vegetables holds a festival with a harvest contest, Callaway starts comparing herself to others and convincing herself that nothing she has will be good enough. She meets a fairy named Thistle, and together they help their friends and each other learn that it’s ok to ask for help. This graphic novel is a great lesson in problem solving and self-confidence.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2021.