Picture Book Lists and social-emotional learning in homeschools

[Sarah0000]

Hi everyone,

I'm a children's author and my publisher asked if I knew of where to best place new picture books to reach the homeschool audience. I've been homeschooling several years and I started out with the usual read aloud curriculums like AO, Wee Folk Art, etc. I'm wondering what lists, blogs, booktubers, etc are popular these days for the homeschooling crowd, especially ones that don't have a specific curriculum to buy.

Also, most picture book lists geared towards homeschoolers I've read focus on the academic subjects. With social-emotional learning being so in demand now, are homeschoolers interested in books targeting these skills even if they don't touch on core academic subjects? In other words, do you feel there would be an interest in social-emotional (including diversity) book lists on a homeschool blog/list or do you tend to keep these separate in your minds (school vs parenting)?

Thanks!

[Insertcreativenamehere]

Check out Sarah Mackenzie at the Read Aloud Revival. She has all kinds of booklists, as well as a podcast on various topics that might be a good fit for this particular topic. 

[PeterPan]

2 hours ago, Sarah0000 said:

With social-emotional learning being so in demand now, are homeschoolers interested in books targeting these skills even if they don't touch on core academic subjects? In other words, do you feel there would be an interest in social-emotional (including diversity) book lists on a homeschool blog/list or do you tend to keep these separate in your minds (school vs parenting)?

Well first, I'm not sure how many homeschoolers are looking for SEL books and SEL materials. I'm always on the lookout, but that's because my ds has ASD2. So that's a pretty niched thing. When you ask about the larger market (non-disability), I would *assume* those people see what is curated by their local librarian. Diversity is also going to be a niched interest. It's very big in the teacher's groups I frequent but not something we seem to talk about here in the same way. Again, I would expect to find those as a display curated by the local children's librarian. If someone really has those interests, they're probably just going to google and see what pops up.

https://www.weareteachers.com/15-must-have-picture-books-for-teaching-social-emotional-skills/

This is a list I had success with, and we read through almost all the books during a school year or summer with my ds. That's a site where I would expect to find other reliable lists. I personally do *not* frequent homeschooling blogs, just me. I look for *professional* recommendations, not just random well-intentioned bloggers. A professionally curated list will have new books, fresh things, and the person making the list will have access to new publication lists that I've tried to get onto and can't. Personally I think that STINKS btw. There was a publishing clearing house recommended to teachers and because I didn't have a school address they would *not* let me on. So why would I look on some random blog from someone who has no more access than I do? I don't. 

I also look on amazon and follow the suggested books and related books. I look up books that appear in professional sources, like Social Thinking.com So if ST is carrying it, I might look it up and then see what *else* that author has or what else people liking that book also liked. Fwiw I seldom go to the library and physically scan the shelves. (think covid) I look on amazon and professional vendors, find the books, and request them. The best way to reach me is to be carried by a professional vendor (AAPC, SocialThinking, ProEdInc, etc.) or to place ads in amazon.

Books for SEL are low use, something I might only use once, so I prefer not to buy them. I invest in curriculum, something I'm going to use multiple times over a number of sessions or weeks. If it's going to be a one use thing, I'm wanting that through the library.

SEL or diversity as parenting, sure, I can see that as a niched thing. For me, we're just on the long journey of intervention. I'm not sure where your larger market is. I think you're right that crossover books, picture books that appeal to the general public but are useful and instructive have extra reach. I've got piles of SEL picture, low text books I've bought that I seem to never get around to. The engagement factor isn't usually quite as high as some of these most excellent picture books. 

Timberdoodle has been including SEL materials as a section in their catalog for some time now. I trust their recommendations for usefulness and usually buy almost everything they list. You could see if Rainbow Resource has a similar section. I think if your materials can be converted into a game, a workbook, something with reusability, you're more likely to get purchases. I could be wrong on that, but I think for selling books you might do better targeting libraries or professional vendors.

Edited October 29, 2021 by PeterPan

[Rosie_0801]

I've tended to find SEL products aimed at small kids unimpressive. No insult meant towards you or your products, of course, since I've never seen them, but most of what I've used with my daughter was written for adults.

Apart from a set of cards I created myself, I usually find what I'm looking for by trawling through Amazon. (Then I usually buy from someone else, so ner to Amazon. 😛 ) 

[Clarita]

I would say the library is our source too. Then I can borrow it see if it really resonnates with my kids and if it does and seems like something I would need to use over and over again I would consider buying it at that point. To be honest most of the socio-emotional stuff (70-80%) we just need to read a few times and then we are good on that topic. For my kids, I find the ones with specifics to be more effective (5, 3.5), so even though be nice to your sibling always needs to be addressed, don't bite your sister generally only needs to be spelled out once.  

[Clarita]

You may try to look for authors who are writing books for the parents and see if they would recommend your books. 

[Sarah0000]

Thanks!

[2_girls_mommy]

I have kids with ADHD so we have looked for intentional ways to work on emotions helpful with all of the girls.  I bought lesson plans in a bundle from Schoolhouseteachers dot com before I became a member where I can access the lessons included before.   They might be a place to look at? Some authors of new curriculum allow access to some of their programs there to get out there.  I don't know how you could do picture books, but maybe you can think of something that incorporates them to pitch to them. 

[Calizzy]

Just chiming in to add to your research- I really don’t know what “social emotional” means and can’t imagine what type of books these are.