Kid’s Books Found in the 100s

With a new month, it’s time to start a new series of blog posts! This time we’re going to take a closer look at the Dewey Decimal System. For each class of numbers, I’ll share twelve specific titles for kids that you might find in that class. Before we get started, let me share a little information about the Dewey Decimal System and then we can dig in!

The Dewey Decimal System, created by Melvil Dewey in 1876 was created to organize books based on discipline and subject. The system is broken down into ten classes, each divided into ten divisions, and each of those divided into ten sections. Each subject matter has a three-digit that explains where it belongs with the option to include decimal places to further divide the section. For example, a cookbook is found in:

• 600 – Technology
  • 640 – Home economics and family management
    • 641 – Food and drink
      • 641.5 – Cooking and cookbooks

While the system has been updated through the years, criticism remains as the Dewey Decimal System is extremely Eurocentric and treatment of women, people of color, and other minorities continues to need updates (which can take years). Some public libraries have even abandoned the Dewey Decimal System in favor of other systems that either make more sense for their communities or systems that are better balanced.

Let’s move on to the 100s! And if you missed the 000s post, please take a moment to check it out! The 100s are for philosophy and psychology – not the typical subjects for kids, but you’ll find some valuable and fun books in this section. While there are books about philosophy and psychology, there are also books about haunted mansions and ghosts, and books about feelings and emotions. Plus, you’ll even find some really great books full of inspirational quotations and great life advice!

The next time you stop at your local public library, swing by the nonfiction section and take a look at what you might find in the 100s! And at home, you can check out LibraryThing’s MDS – you can click on each class and see how things are organized at each level.

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Kid’s Books Found in the 100s

Big Thinkers and Big Ideas: An Introduction to Eastern and Western Philosophy for Kids by Sharon Kaye

Philosophy is both fun and good for kids’ brains, as it encourages them to think deeply and develop their own solutions to complex problems. With this colorful book about philosophy for kids, they’ll learn all about introductory concepts and important thinkers in a way that’s fun and approachable, but still in-depth and substantial.

Your child will explore questions like: “What is real?”, “How do I know something is true?”, “How can I be a good person?”, and “If this is true, what else is true?” A detailed glossary offers easy-to-understand definitions for the more advanced words and ideas in the book.

Breathe with Art! : Activities to Manage Emotions by Lauren Kukla

This title makes social-emotional learning approachable and easy! The book profiles the emotional dimension of wellness. Informative, thought-provoking text examines the core elements and the practices that support emotional wellness, including emoji pins, glitter emotion jars, and more. Woven throughout the main text are activities and projects encouraging readers to explore wellness in a creative way.

Feeling Your Feelings: The Head-to-Toe Science of Emotions by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, illustrated by Phil Nicholls

Why does nervousness make us feel like we have butterflies in our belly and embarrassment cause a deep blush to spread across our face? While we know our brains are directly connected to our emotions, scientists are now discovering more about how other parts of our bodies are involved in feeling our feelings. How does all the information flow back and forth through our bodies? And how does it turn into the things we call emotions? Here’s a fascinating, toe-to-head tour through the human body that answers these questions and more.

Award-winning author Tanya Lloyd Kyi offers a unique mix of science, history and cultural studies to empower readers by helping them understand their emotions and how to practice self-regulation. Kyi’s signature funny, frank tone paired with amusing cartoon illustrations by Phil Nicholls make this an approachable book for adolescents who are becoming more aware of their bodies and their suddenly out-of-control feelings. Readers will learn the latest scientific theories about where our emotions “happen,” how our brains guide us as we experience and process these emotions and even some traditional cultural beliefs about soothing those big feelings. An excellent resource for life science lessons on the human body and human organ systems, the book includes a glossary, index, sources and resources.

The Ghostly Guide to The Queen Mary by Theresa Emminizer

The RMS Queen Mary was once a luxury ocean liner. At over 1,000 feet long and built to carry more than 2,000 passengers, it was massive. When it embarked on its maiden voyage in May 1936, the Queen Mary was famous for its extravagant amenities. During World War II, the ocean liner was converted to a troopship nicknamed the “Grey Ghost” for its speed. It’s said that ghosts of dead passengers and World War II crewmen still walk onboard! In this spine-chilling book, readers will learn all about the Queen Mary’s fascinating history and paranormal claims.

The Great Big Book of Feelings by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Ros Asquith

The book opens with the question: “How are you feeling today?” And this leads on to a spread by spread presentation of a wide range of feelings, taken from the following:

• Happy * Sad * Excited * Bored * Interested * Embarrassed
• Lonely * In need of solitude * Looking forward to something
• Confused * Hurt * Scared * Relieved * Angry * Calm
• Shy * Confident * Jealous * Worried * Amazed/Surprised

How to Talk So People Will Listen: And Sound Confident (Even When You’re Not) by Lizzie Waterworth

Professional cartoon voice artist Lizzie Waterworth tells you all about her strategies for confident speaking, from breathing exercises to what to do with your hands, and how to conquer that pesky inner voice that whispers “what if…?”.

Human Kindness: True Stories of Compassion and Generosity that Changed the World by John Francis, illustrated by Josy Bloggs

Over the whole history of humankind, kindness has been key to the survival of our species, and to making our world a better place. Learn about Harriet Tubman, who risked her life to help others escape from slavery, the Nomads Clinic, which sends doctors trekking into the Himalayas to tend to patients, The Linda Lindas, a group of young musicians who use their talent to speak up for the rights of others, Joshua Coombes, a hairdresser who gives free haircuts to the homeless, and many others. The joyous and awe-inspiring stories in this book will encourage young readers to be kind to others. And being kind, even in small ways, turns out to be healthy for you, yet another reason to practice kindness every day. It’s our planet to share together—let’s be kind.

Just Be You: Ask Questions, Set Intentions, Be Your Special Self, and More by Mallika Chopra, illustrated by Brenna Vaughan

Just Be You will help kids become focused on growth mindset by self-reflection, setting intentions for their lives, and being of service to themselves, their families, and the global community. Designed specifically with kids ages 8-12 in mind and with full-color illustrations throughout, Mallika’s book offers mindful exercises to help young people explore and find their voice. Mallika believes that if children learn early on to reflect, to be comfortable with uncertainty, to contribute in a way that’s unique to them, and to feel good about the journey, they will lead healthier, more adjusted, and happier lives.

Let’s Experiment: Optical Illusions by Mattia Crivellini, illustrated by Rossella Trionfetti

Optical illusions happen when we perceive something that’s not there or that appears to differ from reality. Scientists divide them into three different categories: optical, perceptual, and cognitive. Readers will be delighted to learn how all kinds of optical illusions work and how they can amaze their friends with the experiments in this entertaining volume. They’ll learn how to make a sequence of drawings seem to come to life, how to make a drawing appear 3D, how to draw the “impossible” Penrose triangle, and much, much more. All activities and experiments are explained step by step through comprehensible and accessible text.

The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander, illustrated by Thai Neave

What can we imagine for our lives? What if we were the star players, moving and grooving through the game of life? What if we had our own rules of the game to help us get what we want, what we aspire to, what will enrich our lives?

Illustrated with photographs by Thai Neave, The Playbook is intended to provide inspiration on the court of life. Each rule contains wisdom from inspiring athletes and role models such as Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Carli Lloyd, Steph Curry, and Michelle Obama. Kwame Alexander also shares his own stories of overcoming obstacles and winning games in this motivational and inspirational book for readers of any age and for anyone needing a little bit of encouragement.

Step Back from Frustration by Gill Hasson, illustrated by Sarah Jennings

When children can’t do something or can’t have something they want, they often feel frustrated. And feeling frustrated can make them feel wound up or angry, tense and hot, or helpless. They might get discouraged, and feel stuck, like it’s not worth trying anymore. Kids need effective strategies to work through their frustration.

This picture book on how to deal with frustration provides practical tools to help kids, such as:

• Spot the warning signs of frustration
• Try to calm down
• Step back from frustration
• Break a frustrating task down into smaller parts

Children will learn how to look for a different way, ask for help, or let go of their frustration. At the back of the book, kids will find a special section with additional activities to manage their frustration. Also included is a note to adults with advice on helping children recognize frustration and find positive ways to deal with their feelings.

What’s the Point of Philosophy?

Why is philosophy important? What’s so great about it? Leap into the world of philosophy and discover questions about life, the universe, and human behavior that great thinkers have pondered throughout history, and which are still being asked today.

Philosophical ideas affect our day-to-day lives in ways that you might not expect. But understanding these ideas can be daunting – even for adults! If you want to learn how to argue the case for animal rights, why the concept of equality has many sides, or even what the theories are about why humans exist at all, What’s the Point of Philosophy? is the perfect place to start.