Social and emotional learning (SEL) provides a necessary foundation for children as they grow. This is why NYC-author, Julie Anne Penn, launched Team Supercrew, a new SEL book series for kids about feelings and emotions.
Each book in the series is rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy and centers on how thoughts, feelings and behavior are all linked together.
“The books incorporate imaginary play and emotional and social growth all in one,” explained Penn, who created the book series with her husband Darren.
Team Supercrew books are designed to help kids understand their emotions. Fear, bravery and kindness are just a few of the themes covered in the series. Key messages throughout the books introduce kids to the concept that “our thoughts create our feelings.” While this idea can be tricky for kids to understand, the books minimize its complexity through engaging storylines and colorful illustrations (by artist Sergio De Giorgi) designed to grab a child’s attention.
“Our books work to help kids recognize their emotions and help them know it’s OK to feel these emotions,” Penn, a former teacher, said. “We really make sure that it’s acknowledged in each story. It’s OK to feel sad. It’s OK to feel scared. And everyone feels scared, even adults. It’s normal.”
Team Supercrew SEL Book Series: A Partnership with NYC Schools
Recently, Penn partnered with teachers at two NYC public schools—P.S. 183, Manhattan, and P.S. 303, Queens— to incorporate Team Supercrew as part of the schools’ SEL lessons. The partnership features several lesson plans for grades K-2 that are designed specifically with NYS Department of Education SEL benchmarks in mind, Penn said. Each plan was created in conjunction with the Team Supercrew superhero books: Benny the Brave, Keisha the Kind, Chloe the Calm, and Gen the Grit.
Each book stars a lovable protagonist who talks about different emotions in a way kids can understand. The cute cast includes:
Benny the Brave: An ice cream-loving kid who shows young readers what it means to be brave while they recognize the bravery inside of them.
Keisha the Kind: A poetry writer and music fan, Keisha talks about helping others and why kindness is a really cool superpower.
Chloe the Calm: Anxiety, nervousness, sadness and anger are emotions that everyone feels, regardless of age. Chloe shows kids how she turns those feelings around through patience and practice.
Gen the Grit: Gen has grit and so does his pet goldfish. This superhero shows kids the importance of resiliency, being strong and never quitting.
Team Supercrew is making a difference in students’ lives, according to teachers who use the books in their classrooms.
“Team Supercrew is a great way to engage students in learning how to be confident and navigate through the different feelings they face everyday,” Rachel Amber, a teacher at PS 303 in TOWN, said. “Students are able to connect easily with the characters and the situations they have to overcome. Therefore, incorporating Team Supercrew into my SEL curriculum, allows my students to make personal connections with the characters and have conversations with each other. These books should be in every teacher’s library and in every child’s home.”
Parents can purchase Team Supercrew books for their kids to enjoy reading over the summer, or any time of year. They can be ordered online.
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