1.0ALSC Bloghttps://www.alsc.ala.org/blogChristina Carpinohttps://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/author/christina-carpino/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="59klBtauxu"><a href="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2020/01/alamw20-books-make-a-difference/">#ALAmw20 – Books Make a Difference</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2020/01/alamw20-books-make-a-difference/embed/#?secret=59klBtauxu" width="600" height="338" title="“#ALAmw20 – Books Make a Difference” — ALSC Blog" data-secret="59klBtauxu" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> So frequently throughout this conference, I have heard first-hand accounts about the difference a particular book, books in general, or libraries have impacted their lives. This morning I attended a panel on anxiety and how literature can help children and teens to navigate mental health issues. It’s important for us as librarians to remember the power that stories can have to help us feel less alone. Children may lack the language needed to express themselves when they are experiencing anxiety or depression, but picture books and hearing stories may help them to identify and explain what they are going through. It gives caregivers and children a common language and a set of tools to deal with these complex emotions in a positive way. Older children and teens often feel isolated by these feelings. Reading about characters who are in a similar boat helps banish this isolation and perhaps give them...