The best books to empower kids

Why am I passionate about this?

Lisa Bournelis is a transformation leader in healthcare, a new author, and TEDx speaker. Prior to this, she worked for the United Nations and NGOs in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Africa. Dealing with the unknown makes her passionate about promoting books that empower children to overcome anxiety. As a mom to a child with a mental health diagnosis, she wanted to help children by writing an uplifting novella based on her son’s experiences with OCD during the pandemic. Her aim is for anxious and neurodiverse kids to see themselves as heroes of their own stories. A portion of the royalties from her book will be donated to pediatric OCD research.


I wrote...

Louie and the Dictator

By Lisa Bournelis,

Book cover of Louie and the Dictator

What is my book about?

Do you hear voices in your head? The one that tells you to check that lock again, and again, or avoid the number seven? Louie and the Dictator is an uplifting middle grade novella inspired by the author’s son’s experiences with obsessive-compulsive disorder during the pandemic. If you love a great adventure, a dog rescue, and tools to help you be the hero of your own story, then this one’s for you!

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of The Not-So-Friendly Friend: How to Set Boundaries for Healthy Friendships

Lisa Bournelis Why did I love this book?

The author is a mom and clinician herself and based on clinical best practices has written a lovely rhyming book to help young children deal with boundaries and bullies in a way that is accessible for younger readers. Ideal for school, daycare, and clinical settings. As a parent of an empathic child, I found this book an easy way to introduce the concepts of self-worth and appropriate relationships. If you have a child that is experiencing bullying or needs to set boundaries at school, then this book is an excellent addition to your library.  

By Christina Furnival, Katie Dwyer (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Not-So-Friendly Friend as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

“Being aware of our feelings is a building block for our emotional and social intelligence. In this charming and creative book, Christina Furnival offers children a way to sense and shape their emotions that emerge in the important friendships that shape who we are now, and who we will become later on in our lives.”
―Daniel J. Siegel, MD, New York Times bestselling author of The Developing Mind, Parenting from the Inside Out, and The Whole Brain Child

How can I help my child deal with a bully?
What do I teach them about handling an on-again-off-again, not-so-friendly friend?
My…


Book cover of Butternut

Lisa Bournelis Why did I love this book?

This is no ordinary trip to the grocery store! What might appear to be an exploration of the variety of vegetables on a shopping trip is actually a bit of metaphorical brilliance. Butternut is a unique reflection of self, identity and belonging wrapped up in a simple story that will help kids learn about different veggies at the supermarket! A fun book to bring with your child to the grocery store and introduce them to the ‘veggie characters’ as you do your shopping! A deeper book for adults sharing with emergent readers exploring the notion of self, belonging, and family.  

By Jill Dana, Rachel Tan- Hwee (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Butternut as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Fresh from the farm, Butternut awakes to find himself lost in a supermarket. Is he butter? Is he a nut? Is he squash or squashed? Just who is he and where does he belong?

Join Butternut on his journey through the supermarket aisles as he makes new friends and discovers more about himself.


Book cover of Lion Lights: My Invention That Made Peace with Lions

Lisa Bournelis Why did I love this book?

In 1998 I had the privilege of working in Tanzania and meeting members of the Masai community. This is a true story that combines perseverance, indomitable spirit, and ingenuity, while allowing leaders to learn more about the unique Massai culture. In this story, the reader is introduced to a Maasai boy in Kenya who must protect his family’s cattle from lions who prowled at night. When your family’s livelihood depends on the number of cattle you keep, and your village relies on their milk and blood for sustenance, you can imagine what a huge responsibility this is for a young boy. Though lacking in formal education, the protagonist comes up with a unique and simple invention to keep the lions away, protecting his village and his family’s wealth. A celebration of culture and innovation!

By Richard Turere, Shelly Pollock, Sonia Possentini (illustrator)

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Lion Lights as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

Richard Turere's own story: Richard grew up in Kenya as a Maasai boy, herding his family's cattle, which represented their wealth and livelihood. Richard's challenge was to protect their cattle from the lions who prowled the night just outside the barrier of acacia branches that surrounded the farm's boma, or stockade. Though not well-educated, 12-year-old Richard loved tinkering with electronics. Using salvaged components, spending $10, he surrounded the boma with blinking lights, and the system works; it keeps lions away. His invention, Lion Lights, is now used in Africa, Asia, and South America to protect farm animals from predators.


Book cover of My Muddy Puddle

Lisa Bournelis Why did I love this book?

Do you ever wish you could just splash in the middle of that dark, deep puddle in the middle of your road? My Muddy Puddle is a children's rhyming book that follows a child's love of playing in puddles. The work speaks to that innate desire all of us have to dive into the unknown, get messy, and take a risk. Basic rhymes and language are great for emergent readers.

By Kristina Nearchou, Tiffany Everett (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked My Muddy Puddle as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

My Muddy Puddle is a children's rhyming book that follows a child's love of playing in muddy puddles. When the rain dries up, the puddles go away, and there's nothing else she wants to do. Using basic language, repetition, sight words, and beautiful illustrations, My Muddy Puddle is perfect for shared reading with emergent readers.


Book cover of Andy and the Mask of the Dead

Lisa Bournelis Why did I love this book?

This is a unique cultural exploration of how Halloween is celebrated as the ‘Day of the Dead.’ Until the movie Coco came out by Disney, I had no idea of the practices associated with ancestral remembrance. The story engenders curiosity in young readers through the protagonist who goes on a journey to follow a young girl as she explains this celebration through her culture’s lens. A fun read for children aged 3-5. Empowers children to explore cultural diversity with curiosity and without fear.

By Carolyn Watson Dubisch,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Andy and the Mask of the Dead as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


Andy's off to a costume party. As he waits by the car, a mysterious girl with a skeleton mask appears with a special gift that opens his eyes to the phantasmic world of The Day of The Dead. Join Andy on his latest adventure! For children ages 0-3


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Thorn City

By Pamela Statz,

Book cover of Thorn City

Pamela Statz

New book alert!

What is my book about?

Dressed to kill and ready to make rent, best friends Lisa and Jamie work as “paid to party” girls at the Rose City Ripe for Disruption gala, a gathering of Portland's elite.

Their evening is derailed when Lisa stumbles across Ellen, a ruthless politician and Lisa’s estranged mother. And to make matters worse, Lisa’s boyfriend, Patrick, crashes the party to meet his new boss, Portland's food cart drug kingpin. Lisa makes a fateful choice that traps her, Jamie, and Patrick in Ellen’s web. In this gripping thriller, Lisa must reconcile a painful past and perilous present.

Thorn City

By Pamela Statz,

What is this book about?

Suspected murder, eclectic food trucks, and artisanal cocaine: just another day in Thorn City.

It’s the night of the Rose City Ripe for Disruption gala—a gathering of Portland’s elite. Dressed to kill in sparkling minidresses, best friends Lisa and Jamie attend as “paid to party” girls. They plan an evening of fake flirtations, karaoke playlists, and of course, grazing the catering.

Past and present collide when Lisa stumbles across Ellen, a ruthless politician who also happens to be Lisa’s estranged mother. Awkward . . . When Lisa was sixteen, Ellen had her kidnapped and taken to the Lost Lake Academy—a…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in bullying, bully romance, and Day of the Dead?

10,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about bullying, bully romance, and Day of the Dead.

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Day Of The Dead Explore 8 books about Day of the Dead