Concepts
Social-emotional learning, often abbreviated as SEL, has become increasingly important in picture books as a way to address the various challenges and pressures that children encounter today. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines SEL as “the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions” (casel.org). The social distancing of the COVID pandemic caused children to lose many opportunities to practice and develop their SEL skills in direct interaction with others. Stories can help make up for this. We can subtly embed SEL as underlying themes in engaging and wonderful stories. CASEL organizes SEL into five interconnected domains: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. A related set of capabilities, Executive Function (EF) refers to competencies underlying self-control and effective planning, focus, and goal achievement. To enhance your writing on SEL themes, it's helpful to delve into these concepts. Take note of relevant research and developmental milestones in order to make your work resonate deeply with readers. In future first-Monday posts I will continue to provide inspiring examples. 
Application
Here's a wonderful example of a picture book wherein the story comes first but the underlying SEL themes are clear if you look for them. Evie's Field Day: More than One Way to Win by Claire Noland (Author), Alicia Teba (Illustrator) Cardinal Rule Press The book is both a plot- and a character-driven story. The opening shows Evie’s mindset and goal. In striving toward her goal, Evie experiences setbacks. She reevaluates her goal and adjusts her mindset. In the discussion below, the quoted descriptions of SEL areas are from CASEL. Outset: At the outset, Evie identifies as a WINNER. She is confident that her athletic abilities are stronger than her peers’. She displays her many trophies in her room. Her goal is to win more trophies on Field Day. Self-Awareness includes “capacities to recognize one’s strengths and limitations with a well- grounded sense of confidence and purpose.” Evie sees herself as a strong athlete, a self-assessment that defines her interests and her goal. Setbacks: Evie loses event after event. After each loss, Evie is the only one who does not cheer the winner. We see that Evie’s Self-Awareness is underdeveloped. Her assessment of her own strengths and weaknesses is incomplete. We also see room for improvement in Evie’s Social Awareness, an area which includes “abilities to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others.” When she loses, her behavior is self-absorbed; she does not appreciate others’ strengths. Crucial Moment and Turning Point: Then, Evie takes the lead in the sack race. She is winning! However, a baby bird has fallen into the race path. Evie evaluates two paths of action. She could jump over the bird and win the race. But the racers behind her might not see the bird and jump over it (she realizes that the bird might get hurt). Evie stops. She succeeds in helping the bird, but she finishes last in the race. Evie demonstrates Responsible Decision-Making and adjusts her Self-Awareness and Social Awareness. She considers the consequences of the actions available to her. She shifts her mindset from a self-absorbed focus on winning trophies to putting the bird’s needs first. She shifts her action from competition to compassion. Resolution: Evie’s peers cheer her for helping the bird. Evie smiles. She recognizes that “some things are better than winning.” Whereas on Amazon, the book description states, “Evie was a sore loser,” this is misleading. In the story itself, the only un-sportsmanlike behavior Evie exhibits is failing to cheer the winners of the events she loses. Evie does not taunt her rivals or act out. Indeed, she gives her competitors a smile or thumbs-up as they get in position for each event. Moreover, Evie does not quit. She perseveres! Evie’s story remains tightly focused on her learning that happiness and positive attention from peers do not depend on winning a competition. She ultimately finds both in her act of compassion. As a bonus, Evie’s Field Day includes back matter with “10 Suggestions to help your child learn good sportsmanship.” I highly recommend this as both a mentor text and a comp title.
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