This season’s health series focus on different aspects of social and emotional wellness and how they interact with physical health and with one another. Series about gross secretions and potentially frightening illnesses help demystify the human body for young readers.

Elementary

Andersen, Laura E. Public Health. ISBN 9798889985273.
Jopp, Kelsey. Emotional Health. ISBN 9798889985242.
Rossiter, Brienna. Social Health. ISBN 9798889985280.
Waldendorf, Kurt. Community Health. ISBN 9798889985235.
––––. Intellectual Health. ISBN 9798889985259.
––––. Physical Health. ISBN 9798889985266.
ea vol: 32p. (Dimensions of Health). North Star/Focus. Aug. 2025. Tr $31.35.
Gr 3-5–What does community health have to do with public health? Embracing these topics as a larger collection of connected pieces, this series dives into the complex heart of how different areas of health can impact one another. Personal health is woven into the discussion of public and community health. The text is robust and explores the depth of each topic with sample situations that will resonate with kids. Photographs show children in real health situations, such as making choices in food deserts and IEP meetings at school. VERDICT A middle grade overview of the interconnected nature of health, perfect for school and classroom libraries.

Arnez, Lynda. Boogers Are So Gross! ISBN 9781482471366.
––––. Earwax Is So Gross! ISBN 9781482471397.
––––. Poop Is So Gross! ISBN 9781482471427.
––––. Scabs Are So Gross! ISBN 9781482471458.
––––. Sweat Is So Gross! ISBN 9781482471489.
––––. Vomit Is So Gross! ISBN 9781482471519.
ea vol: 24p. (Things That Gross Me Out!). Gareth Stevens. Aug. 2025. Tr $24.27.
Gr 1-3–Gross is good when it comes to talking about the body and health to younger audiences. The forbidden and icky aspect of talking about scabs or boogers make these topics all the more tempting, drawing readers in to learn about the biology of the natural byproducts that the human body makes. The illustrations are done in a cartoon style that explains the key concepts in an age-appropriate way. Beyond tackling the gross concepts, the books introduce readers to how products like snot and earwax can lead to healthy noses and ears respectively. The cyclical and changing state of human bodies is accessibly addressed. VERDICT A group of eye-catching titles packed with sensational images and information that will have them flying off of the shelves.

Golkar, Golriz. How to Be Fair. ISBN 9798892138796.
––––. How to Calm Down. ISBN 9798892138826.
––––. How to Control Impulses. ISBN 9798892138857.
––––. How to Find Your Voice. ISBN 9798892138888.
––––. How to Problem Solve. ISBN 9798892138918.
––––. How to Show Empathy. ISBN 9798892138949.
ea vol: 24p. (Getting Better All the Time). Jump!/Blue Owl. Aug. 2025. Tr $29.99.
Gr 1-3–These titles discuss emotional regulation in a thoughtful, honest, and approachable way. Readers enter a world full of children who are exploring social emotional health strategies and issues like self-soothing and fairness. Full of high aspirations and big ideas, the text meets readers at their level. Compact chapters with short sentences are packed with bold key terms that hit on the main ideas. Expressive photographs of real children are shown in various, familiar settings like home and school. VERDICT Presenting important skills in an accessible way for emerging readers make these titles invaluable additions to most collections.

KortÉ, Steve. Grab a Life Jacket, Scooby-Doo!: A Guide to Water Safety. ISBN 9798875220753.
––––. Look Both Ways, Scooby-Doo!: A Guide to Road Safety. ISBN 9798875220678.
––––. Make a Plan, Scooby-Doo!: A Guide to Home Safety. ISBN 9798875220517.
––––. Stay Connected, Scooby-Doo!: A Guide to Online Safety. ISBN 9798875220593.
ea vol: 32p. (Scooby-Doo’s Dos and Don’ts). Capstone/Pebble. Aug. 2025. Tr $31.32.
K-Gr 2–The Mystery Inc. gang takes on safety in a playful but educational series for young readers. Splicing images of real children in safety situations with the beloved cartoon characters adds a layer of humor to serious topics. Scooby-Doo and his friends offer tips, model behaviors, and ask questions to reinforce the concepts. There are real-world safety issues addressed in a fun way, and each character has a little something to add to the discussion. The excitement of the characters is a huge draw for young readers, and the safety content is valuable for the whole family. VERDICT An excellent choice for public libraries where popular characters flourish and general safety materials are necessary.

Parker, Madison. Eat Right to Fuel Your Body. ISBN 9781978575325.
––––. Keep Clean to Keep Healthy. ISBN 9781978575356.
––––. Rest to Feel Your Best. ISBN 9781978575387.
––––. Safety First. ISBN 9781978575417.
––––. Stay Active to Stay Strong. ISBN 9781978575448.
––––. Teeth Care for a Bright Smile. ISBN 9781978575479.
ea vol: 24p. (My Healthy Habits). Rosen/Norwood House. Aug. 2025. Tr $25.27.
K-Gr 2–Taking care of oneself physically and emotionally are the core themes of this new take on healthy habits. Concise sentences are paired with images in a familiar format for emerging readers. Tying the works together are thinking questions that ask one to consider ideas between and across titles. As one would expect, there are exercise- and diet-related habits, but the inclusion of hygienic foci like oral health and sleep lifts the volumes beyond physical fitness into the realm of self-care. Regarding diet, the Healthy Eating Plate seems to be emphasized here with more water drinking and dairy as a nonessential feature. VERDICT A nice introduction to taking care of oneself that young readers and caregivers and educators can appreciate.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Dubois, Muriel. Managing Allergies. ISBN 9798892605144.
––––. Managing Celiac Disease. ISBN 9798892607070.
––––. Managing Eczema. ISBN 9798892607087.
Mattern, Joanne. Managing Asthma. ISBN 9798892607094.
––––. Managing Diabetes. ISBN 9798892607100.
Mooney, Carla. Managing Epilepsy. ISBN 9798892607131.
Orr, Tamra. Managing Sickle Cell Anemia. ISBN 9798892607124.
Rues, Tomi. Managing Autoimmune Disorders. ISBN 9798892607117.
ea vol: 80p. (Managing Common Illnesses). Mitchell Lane. Aug. 2025. lib. ed. $42.85.
Gr 5-8–A look at a variety of common illnesses and the experience of living with them. At the start of most titles a known celebrity’s story is presented to normalize the titular condition. This explains how the illness impacts their lives and work, and how they manage themselves. Each illness is explained in detail with definitions, treatment processes, and common misconceptions. A combination of illustrations and photographs are used to show both the conceptual illnesses and real people like doctors. VERDICT An intermediate look at illnesses that readers might interact with every day. Libraries can make great use of this series.

Hicks, Kelli. Dealing with Family Changes. ISBN 9798892606738.
––––. Dealing with Screen Time. ISBN 9798892606752.
––––. Dealing with Threats and Violence. ISBN 9798892606769.
Popalis, Aimee. Dealing with Difficult People. ISBN 9798892606714.
––––. Dealing with Discrimination. ISBN 9798892606721.
––––. Dealing with Health Issues. ISBN 9798892606745.
ea vol: 48p. (Dealing With... Set 2). Mitchell Lane. Aug. 2025. lib. ed. $40.00
Gr 6-8–Building on social and emotional learning frameworks, these titles explore healthy ways to manage discrimination, difficult people, and more in everyday life. Identification and recognition strategies are paired with problem solving and coping skills to help build healthy habits. Example scenarios leave space for critical thinking, and follow-up activities to more deeply explore topics. Teens are encouraged to think not only about how the behaviors of others impact them but also how their own behaviors can impact others in the same way. VERDICT A must-have collection for school and public libraries that help teens develop their own emotional intelligence and learn more about themselves.

Kuehl, Ashley. Drugs and Alcohol. ISBN 9798892606745.
––––. Nutrition. ISBN 9798895770740.
––––. Physical Fitness. ISBN 9798895770757.
––––. Smoking and Vaping. ISBN 9798895770764.
––––. Social Health and Friendships. ISBN 9798895770771.
––––. Stress and Emotional Health. ISBN 9798895770788.
ea vol: 32p. (Health: Need to Know). Bearport/SilverTip. Aug. 2025. Tr $32.95.
Gr 5-8–Hot topics like physical fitness and drugs are given a fresh treatment that updates them to meet the needs of today’s teens and tweens. Photographs of teens and the real-world objects or situations addressed are standard fair; the text is what really stands out. Not only is the classic collection of illicit substances addressed but there’s also a particular focus on vaping. Paired with the informed updates, the choice to use a dyslexic-friendly font demonstrates an effort to anticipate the reading audience’s needs. In line with the serious nature of these titles, readers are addressed with respect. VERDICT An update that is accessible and informative for school and public library collections.

Upper Middle School to High School

Eason, Sarah. Managing Your Relationships. ISBN 9781917187602.
Sanderson, Jennifer. Developing Social Awareness. ISBN 9781917187480.
––––. Learning to Be Self-Aware. ISBN 9781917187527.
––––. Learning to Self-Manage. ISBN 9781917187565.
ea vol: 64p. (Teen Survival Guides). Cheriton. Aug. 2025. Tr $34.65.
Gr 8 Up–Looking at social health is critical in a post-lockdown world, especially for teenagers. Healthy habits are explored around important topics like social awareness and managing relationships. Readers are given tools and workshops to work through targeted areas where they might be struggling. There are photographs of teenagers engaging in social situations modeled from in text. In addition to the visual cues, the text formatting is very reader-friendly with the inclusion of varied lists, bullet points, and short highlighted sections. The subjects addressed are vital to the social and mental health of today’s youth. VERDICT Going beyond mental health and incorporating social strategies make this series the right fit for school libraries.

“Dealing With...” (Mitchell Lane) builds on social and emotional learning frameworks to introduce behavior and coping strategies to middle schoolers. For a younger crowd, “Getting Better All the Time” (Jump!/BlueOwl) provides clear examples of ways to regulate emotions. Readers who love the grotesque will flock to “Things that Gross Me Out” (Gareth Stevens) and learn something about the human body along the way.

FALL 2025 SERIES MADE SIMPLE REVIEWS