Dealing With...

Preteens and teens deal with a lot every day. Schoolwork comes with pressure. Peer relationships can also be tricky to navigate. Maintaining good mental health is a challenge. Technology and social media make it all so much harder. Luckily, when armed with up-to-date information and research-based strategies, children can cultivate a positive outlook and take control over the stress in their lives. Each title in the Dealing With series provides in-depth background knowledge about an important issue and offers six simple and effective coping strategies. Titles include Dealing with Anxiety, Dealing with Bullying, Dealing with Depression, Dealing with School Stress, Dealing with Self-Esteem, and Dealing with Social Media. These books engage and support young readers with real-life stories, self-evaluation quizzes, hands-on practice activities, and extensive resources for additional help. An index and glossary are also included. The friendly and knowledgeable advice in this series will help kids deal with tough issues.

Gr 3-5–Example scenarios allow readers to step into the day of a young person dealing with a tough topic, like bullying or anxiety. Stories are tied to definitions and coping skills needed to get through each issue with ease and empathy. Green bubbles and sidebars offer a chance to consider how the heavier content relates to real world situations and how to best deal with things like social media usage and stress. Processing difficult situations can be hard to talk about, so reading about others going through similar things can open a door to understanding oneself and others. VERDICT Combining up emotional intelligence and self care, these are essential for libraries serving school age children.--School Library Journal, November 2024