Episode 4: Mental Health Books for Kids

The Watchung Booksellers Podcast

In this episode of the Watchung Booksellers Podcast, children's book publisher Lauri Hornik and children's buyer and bookseller Aubrey Cece discuss the much needed and growing market for mental health books for kids. Through creating and selling titles with topics ranging from anxiety, depression, LGBTQ+ issues and more, these two dedicate themselves toward making sure all kids feel seen in the books they read.
Our Guests:
Lauri Hornik is the founding publisher of Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers that focuses on mental health and Jewish content for children and teens. She served as publisher of Dial Books for Young Readers for almost twenty years. Among the books she has edited are National Book Award Finalists A River Between Us by Richard Peck and The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin; New York Times Bestsellers The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak and Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan; and Sydney Taylor Book Award winner Dancing at the Pity Party by Tyler Feder. Lauri is a mother and stepmother to four adult children and lives in Montclair with her husband.

Aubrey Cece is the children’s book and gift buyer as well as the children’s event planner for The Kid’s Room at watchung booksellers. She’s a born creative with the love of everything books and art. Her favorite color is lime green and her creative touch shows all throughout the store. You’ll almost never see her without a pair of Converse on her feet and when you talk to her she’ll welcome you into a story about her family while she finds the perfect book for you and your child. She is passionate about children’s mental health and LGBTQ+ issues.
Books:
A full list of the books and authors mentioned in this episode is available on our website.
Resources:

American Library Association Rainbow List

Rocky Pond Books

Mental Health America

Register for Upcoming Events

Books:
A full list of the books and authors mentioned in this episode is available here.

Register for Upcoming Events.
The Watchung Booksellers Podcast is produced by Kathryn Counsell and Marni Jessup and is recorded at Silver Stream Studio in Montclair, NJ.

The show is edited by Kathryn Counsell and Bree Testa. Special thanks to Timmy Kellenyi and Derek Mattheiss.

Original music is composed and performed by Violet Mujica.

Art & design and social media by Evelyn Moulton. Research and show notes by Caroline Shurtleff.

Thanks to all the staff at Watchung Booksellers and The Kids’ Room!

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1. Episode 4: Mental Health Books for Kids (00:00:00)

2. Introduction: Children's Books on Mental Health (00:00:11)

3. Lauri and Aubrey (00:01:58)

4. Recent Children's Books on Bullying (00:28:49)

5. Book Recommendations and Childhood Favorites (00:35:04)

6. Upcoming Events (00:42:37)

7. Credits (00:43:37)