The Power of Stories, A Conversation with Northbrook’s Tara LaCerra

" I guess we shouldn't make up someone else's story," stated a kindergartner after hearing the book Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Pena.

That is the powerful message one kindergarten student walked away understanding from their library time with Tara LaCerra. LaCerra is a beloved librarian at one of our local elementary schools. She sees firsthand how our youths’ mental health has changed over the last decade; the anxiety, the frustration, the struggle to build resilience. And she shares a message of hope noting that stories are still powerful tools for self-identification and acceptance of others. Amy and Dr. Lisa sat down with her to start season three of Parenting the Mental Health Generation, LaCerra talks with our podcast hosts about how stories and conversations create connections with our kids.

Check out our Show Notes for all of the wonderful books she brought with her to share during our conversation.

SHOW NOTES
06:00 Wait Until 8th Instagram
10:43 Perfectly Norman, Tom Percival (preschool-3rd grade)
11:43 Odd Dog Out, Rob Buddulph (preschool - 3rd grade)
12:39 El Deafo, Cece Bell (3rd-7th grades)
13:28 Starfish, Lisa Fipps (5th-6th grades)
22:22 Milo Imagines the World, Matt de la Pena (preschool-3rd grade)
26:46 Don't Feed the Worry Bug: A Children's Book About Worry, Andi Green (preschool-2nd grade)
27:06 Parenting the Mental Health Generation: Help! My kid is falling apart!
27:47 Fish in a Tree, Lynda Mullaly Hunt (5th-9th grades)
30:16 Each Kindness, Jacqueline Woodson (kindergarten-3rd grade)
33:55 Dr. Becky's Good Inside website

©CATCH 2023
Music credit: Tune 2 go / POND 5

To find all of the resources CATCH provides to caregivers of young people struggling with their mental health, go to www.catchiscommunity.org.

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CATCH, Community Action Together for Children's Health, is a 501(c)3 that provides support and education for families around mental health topics. Original content and materials from CATCH and its collaborators are for informational purposes only. They are provided as a general resource and are not specific to any person or circumstance.