Books for Discovering Wellness

Stories are perhaps the most powerful way to internalize learning, and a picture book has the ability to change a life—even for the youngest of readers. One thing I love about picture books is the interplay between words and pictures. That magical space between the text and the images—that’s where you’ll find so much truth, even (or perhaps especially) inside fiction picture books.

That’s also where the child reader is free to connect their own lives and goals and dreams to what they’re hearing in the words and what they’re seeing in the pictures. While we (as the adult readers) tend to focus more on the words, the child reader (engaging more senses by listening while looking) has a far richer experience, and that’s part of the reason picture books can have such a profound impact on young readers.

To help us remember the five areas of wellness we’ll focus on here in The Wellness Family Book Club (and to dip our toes into the world of wellness using picture books as our guides), this book pack includes one representative book for each wellness domain. I’ll include links to Bookshop (where I’m an affiliate and earn a small commission from qualifying purchases), but any of these books can be checked out at your local library or by using a digital resource like Libby (widely available with a library card).

Physical Movement

The Hike by Alison Farrell

In The Hike, three girls experience the pure joy of physical movement. They celebrate every part of the hike—from running and climbing to fine-motor movement like basket-making and berry-picking. The backdrop of the forest offers its own share of movement—from darting creatures to a rushing waterfall—and adds a balance of motionless, yet interesting details that invite the reader to slow down and wonder before dashing off again to the next page.

Mental and Emotional Wellness

BIG by Vashti Harrison

Sometimes the change we need to make isn’t a change in outward activities or habits—it’s about a change in mindset. BIG is a powerful story of courageous self-acceptance, and no matter how many times I read it, tears spring to my eyes.

Recovery and Regeneration

Quiet by Tomie dePaola

Quiet by Tomie dePaola is the story of a family taking a walk and searching for solace. During their walk through nature, they find a way to slow down and notice all of the details. They stop to breathe, away from the chaos of daily life, and once they find a state of rest, they discover clarity.

Nutrition

Harlem Grown by Tony Hillery, illustrated by Jessie Hartland

In Harlem Grown, the students of PS176 are in for a treat when they’re offered the chance to turn the spooky, old empty lot across the street into a vegetable garden. Together, they witness the empty lot turn into a flourishing oasis, their class transform into a community, and seeds blossom into a harvest that’s perfect for sharing.

Sleep

In a Blue Room by Jim Averbeck, illustrated by Tricia Tusa

Alice finds her way from jumping on the bed to sleeping peacefully by engaging her senses. She calms down as she smells flowers, sips tea, feels a silky-smooth blanket—all of which are described by her mom as “blue.” She objects, and the reader can plainly see that none of these items are actually blue—until the lights are out and in the moonlit room, we only see… blue.