Maya Lê - MaiStoryBook

Big Feelings are a kind of *Superpower* ~ they may make you feel emotions like anger, anxiety, and sadness more intensely, but they can also lead to more empathy, imagination, happiness and more! 💛 This one is for all of your Big Feelings kids (and honestly, we could all use some emotional support with the current state of affairs). Read it to affirm their emotions and help them navigate their big feelings. (This one also features a nonbinary character who uses the pronoun they) 📚 And for more books like this one: ‼️ Comment BALLOONS for a shoppable link to a list of Big Feelings Picture Books. I’ll send it straight to your DMs‼️ *Also, filmed this one while I was still pregnant and just getting to posting it now - hence the baby bump is suddenly back!

We’ve all experienced embarrassing moments ~ and in the moment they can feel mortifying and we swear we will never recover! But with time we learn to move on, and to give ourselves grace ~ and soon our embarrassing moment may be no more than a funny story. Or ~ our source of embarrassment can become a source of pride as we navigate identity, self-love, and self-confidence. Wherever the embarrassment may stem from- perhaps one of these recommended reads can help your littles navigate this tumultuous feeling. ‼️ Comment EMBARRASSED for a shoppable link to this book list. I’ll send it straight to your DMs ‼️ 💬 If you’re up for it- share an embarrassing moment, or something that used to embarrass you, in the comments! No judgement here!

Check out what California’s School Food Professionals are cooking to set our kids up for success one school meal at a time! #sponsored Last week, I had the honor to attend the Powered by School Food Professionals Awards to celebrate the California School Food Professionals who are going above and beyond to transform school food. From sourcing ingredients from local farms and bakers to crafting and cooking culturally relevant recipes incorporating flavors kids love, School Food Professionals are shaping the future of school meals by creating healthier, fresher, and more delicious meals for students As a former teacher and now a mama to two, I’ve witnessed firsthand the importance and impact fresh, healthy meals have on children’s behavior, focus, and health. And this impact extends beyond the cafeteria, influencing the overall well-being, academic success, and healthy habits of the students. I am grateful for the dedication and hard work of our School Food Professionals in making this possible. Join us as we set the table for fresher, healthier school meals that empower kids in the classroom and beyond. Learn more at SchoolFoodPros.org In Paid Partnership with @SchoolFoodPros #CASchoolFoodPros #PoweredBySchoolFoodPros #PoweredBySchoolFoodProsAwards *The food featured at this event was prepared using the recipes submitted by the winning school districts. While the portions and pairings differ from the actual meals served to students, the award-winning recipes adhered to the same USDA nutrition guidelines that School Food Professionals follow daily and are served to students in their respective districts.

This teacher’s district has declared that this poster is a “distraction”- stating that it isn’t “content-neutral” nor “conducive to a positive learning environment.” I beg to differ. A positive learning environment is created when all students feel accepted, included, and safe- and this poster does just that. And if this teacher is hanging up posters like this in her classroom, I guarantee she is fostering a positive learning environment where her students feel wanted and welcome. To further share and reinforce the message that *Everyone is Welcome* - featured here is a collection of diverse and inclusive picture books that celebrate schools and classrooms as safe and nurturing spaces for *all children.* ‼️ Comment WELCOME for a shoppable link to this book list. I’ll send it straight to your DMs ‼️

Children are full of compassion and empathy, especially for a loved one, and especially when that loved one is ill or in pain. (Ad )In this book, I love how tender, patient, and loving the family is towards each other ~ how the son acknowledges that even though there is plenty his mama cannot do due to her chronic illness, he knows her love is still constant and strong ~ and how the Mama does her best to still show up and care for her son in all the ways she can, even when she is struggling and in pain. 💛 If you know someone with chronic illness, this is the most touching picture book to share. And even if you don’t know someone, this read will help foster empathy and compassion in all readers. ‼️ Comment HUGS for a shoppable link to *preorder* this picture book. I’ll send it straight to your DMs ‼️ 📚 Featuring *Gentle Hugs* by Lily Guzman, Illustrated by Dorota Rewerenda. @gentlehugspicturebook. Publishing April 5th

*World Down Syndrome Day* GIVEAWAY 🎉 Today is World Down Syndrome Day, and to celebrate, I’m collaborating with @minilandusa for an * Inclusive Book + Play* Giveaway! ⭐️ Representation of *all* identities is important for *all* kids. All children should have the opportunity to see themselves in the media they consume, and the toys they play with. 💙 That’s why I’m excited to collaborate with @minilandusa to host this GIVEAWAY featuring a Picture Book and Doll with Down Syndrome Representation. Giveaway includes: 🔹 1 copy of *The Unstoppable Jamie* by Joy Givens 🔹 My Friends and Me Down Syndrome Doll from @minilandusa TO ENTER: ⭐️ Like and Comment: Who will you share this book + doll pairing with ⭐️Follow @maistorybooklibrary + @minilandusa ⭐️ Tag friends in separate comments: separate comment = separate entry 🎉🎉 Bonus Entry: Share this reel in your stories and tag me @maistorybooklibrary and @minilandusa so we can share in the bookish-play fun! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Giveaway ends Sunday, 3/23, at 11:59 PM PST. Open to US and Canada . Giveaway is not affiliated with meta/ IG

Happy First Day of Spring Nurture your little’s social emotional development all Spring long with this curated collection of all NEW Spring SEL picture bookscollection ‼️Comment SPRINGTIME for my full list of 30+ spring sel titles. sI’ll send a shoppable link straight to your dms‼️ 🌸 I love seasonal read alouds~ celebrating each season and its natural wonder is special and festive. And if I can slip in some SEL to give the littles an extra boost of social-emotional support, even better! Book Titles + Social emotional lesson listed below: The importance of sharing *Our Tree* The courage to face a challenge *Spring’s Miracles* Welcoming a new sibling *The Teeny-Ween Unicorn’s Great Big Wish* Slowing down and cherishing time spent together *Emilio Sloth’s Modern Manners* Realizing some things cannot be rushed *The World of Peter Rabbit: Up and Away* Imagination and finding magic in even the most mundane *Fairy Walk* Starting over again even when all seems lost *Hope in a Jar* Loyalty and tricky friend situations *Happy Together* Mindfulness *Mindful Nature* Calming your body and mind through muscle relaxation *Calm Your Roar Like a Dinosaur* Finding the good on a bad day *Something Good*

🎉GIVEAWAY: This is a must-read for families looking to introduce disabilities in an uplifting way, while also celebrating the power of perspective, resilience, and unconditional love.  (Ad) Read along as these two unique butterfly siblings learn of the power of differences to open their eyes to new possibilities. 🦋 The back of the book includes the author’s personal story, discussion questions, and additional resources to continue the conversation (including free coloring pages you can download from her website), making it a fun and interactive experience for your kids! ‼️ Comment BUTTERFLY for a shoppable link to this book. I’ll send it straight to your DMs ‼️ Or enter the GIVEAWAY to win a copy: ⭐️ Like this post ⭐️ Follow @confessionsofararediseasemama ⭐️ Tag a friend who would love a copy to read, too! Giveaway ends 3/21, at 11:59pm PST. Open to US only. Giveaway not affiliated with IG/ Meta 📚 Featuring *Soaring Together: A Butterfly Family’s Story of Discovery, Love, and Resilience* by @Confessionsofararediseasemama

Save Our Libraries 📚✊🏽❤️ ‼️ Comment LIBRARY for this shoppable book list, and for a link to message Congress to fight for our libraries. I’ll send the links straight to your DMs ‼️ Late on Friday, March 14th, the president issues an executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services. Millions of people rely on library services and programs supported by IMLS. I am gutted by this executive order. If anything, libraries (and museums) deserve - and need- *more* funding. We’ve already been on a slippery slope with this administration, but it’s a dangerous decline when they want to dismantle an institution that advances literacy and innovation by providing free access for all to books, computers and internet, and countless programs and services used by more than 1.2 billion people every year. 📚 My family and I visit our local library weekly: we check out books, attend toddler and baby story time, participate in their kid-programming, attend their special events, and over the summer we appreciate their free-meals program for kids. Plus, there are countless other resources our library provides! 
✊🏽 If you want to take action and *Show Up for Our Libraries* I encourage you to follow @americanlibraryassociation to keep updated on how you can help fight back! They shared the following info down below: Visit the link bit.ly/ProtectLibraryFunding (I also included it in the DM message with the book list links when you comment LIBRARY) to tell Congress to overturn the President’s harmful order to eliminate the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services. Eliminating IMLS would be harmful for ALL the Americans who rely on library programs and services.

☘️ A collection of green for St. Patrick’s Day ☘️ If you forgot to wear your green for today, snag one of these picture books to read - and you’re good to go! Featuring all *New/ Upcoming* releases with a splash of green on their cover ➡️ Swipe right for cover closeups and illustration sneak peeks 📚 And check out a few highlighted favs below: *Way Past Shame*| After winning the spelling bee through not-so-honest means, Hooper starts to wonder if he truly deserves the trophy. | @halleeadelman @waypastbooks *The Land Knows Me* | Explore Indigenous plant relationships through the Squamish language and cultural traditions, and discover how we are all interconnected with nature through plant-based foods, medicines, and materials. | @dr_leighjoseph_ethnobotanist @quartobooksus @quartokids *Hilwa’s Gifts* | Taking place in Palestine, this story shares a tradition many thousands of years old—harvesting and pressing olives into oil | @safawritesbooks @candlewickpress *Planted with Love* | A touching picture book about a child’s journey in foster care, reminding every child that, much like a garden, love from the right source will help them grow and thrive. | @waterbrookmultnomahkids @natasha_stories 💬 Want to know more about a specific title? Comment below which book, and I’ll share the deets! ‼️ And Comment GREEN for a shoppable link to this book list! I’ll send it straight to your DMs ‼️

Eid Mubarak! 🌙 As Ramadan comes to an end, Eid al-Fitr celebrations begin! The first day of Eid al-Fitr is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon marking the start of the 10th month of the Islamic calendar, Shawwal. This year, Eid is expectedexepcted to fall on March 30th, depending on the sighting of the moon.March ‼️Comment EID for a shoppable link to this book list. I’ll send a link straight to your DMs‼️ 💜 Eid al-Fitr is celebrated for three days. Some traditions include: Starting the day with a sweet treat, giving and wearing new clothes, sharing gifts, gathering for early communal prayer, donating to those less fortunate, giving children money, and visiting and gathering with loved ones for a meal. 📚 Another way to celebrate: Read aloud an Eid picture book together and join these bookish families as they celebrate the special festival!

So long damsel in distress; Hello powerful princess! These feminist fairytales will empower your young grill to rise up and take control of their own destiny. *But also- read these books to boys - and all littles - so that all children can see princesses in powerful roles. ‼️ Comment FAIRYTALES for a shoppable link to this book list. I’ll send it straight to your DMs ‼️ ✨ I can’t wait to read these fairytale versions to my own baby girl as she grows up ~ and I know big brother will love reading along, too! *I remember growing up, there was one princess book I had - it was actually a dual language book written in Vietnamese and English - about a princess who was supposed to get married so her parents sent a bunch of suitors her way. But for each prince who came to court her, she set up a trap that would chase them away. Instead of getting married, all she wanted was to enjoy her own time with herself and her pets. I wish I could remember the title~ but it was a hilarious book and I loved the princess’ spunk! 💬 Have a title to add to this collection! Share in the comments below so we can add it to our own shelves.