All Stories - Menderist

Health · Relationships

Winter Reading: 10 Children’s Books with Mental Health Themes
ByAnne Elliott December 9, 2025January 16, 2026 Updated onJanuary 16, 2026

Menderist is pleased to introduce its preliminary list of 10 mental-health themed books that children aged 4+ and their parents can read and discuss together. The titles are in the running for our final list of 20 books, to be released for summer 2026.

We chose these books in recognition that an estimated 13 to 20 percent of mental health problems begin by the early adolescent years of 11 to 14.

“Finn Connelly is nothing like his dad, a star athlete and firefighter hero who always ran toward danger….” (from a review of ‘The Trouble With Heroes’)

Read More Winter Reading: 10 Children’s Books with Mental Health Themes
Health · Relationships

Trees as Teachers: Lessons in Hope
ByBrinton Culp December 28, 2025January 11, 2026 Updated onJanuary 11, 2026

The strength of trees can teach us many lessons about overcoming challenges, a writer explains. She shares how features of a local forest have increased her sense of hope.

“Where no growth would seem possible, this tree took root and now grows strong….”

Read More Trees as Teachers: Lessons in Hope
Health · Relationships

Holding Onto Hope After Illness
ByLinda Peters December 28, 2025January 5, 2026 Updated onJanuary 5, 2026

How can you build hope after navigating serious health issues related to Covid? Teacher Linda Peters shares a personal story about working through health challenges and regaining hope for the future.

“I learned to look beyond my current situation so I could hold on to life’s joys instead of just surviving fog-filled days.”

Read More Holding Onto Hope After Illness
Health · Relationships

Hopeful Moments of Helping Teens Soar
ByAbbie Werner James December 28, 2025December 30, 2025 Updated onDecember 30, 2025

An educator shares positive findings about monarch butterflies, and explains the parallels she has seen in teen readers at the public library where she works.

“Butterflies in groups remind me of teenagers in groups. They move in ways that seem both joyful and chaotic, with sudden bursts of energy.”

Read More Hopeful Moments of Helping Teens Soar
Health · Relationships

Inspiring Hope in Students
ByKern Carter December 28, 2025December 30, 2025 Updated onDecember 30, 2025

Parents can ask a simple question to discover what their children value, and changes they would like to make, suggests author Kern Carter. He shares a tip from his experience in leading creative camps.

“When they tell you what they would change, it’s important to let them know that change is possible.”

Read More Inspiring Hope in Students
Health · Relationships

How Keeping a Reading Log Increased My Hope
ByCathy Carr December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

Author Cathy Carr explains how a small change helped her regain hope and make better use of her time after a difficult year.

“There were moments we thought (the problems) would never let up. These were times when it was difficult to keep our hope alive.”

Read More How Keeping a Reading Log Increased My Hope
Health · Relationships

Hope from a School’s Larger Purpose
ByRolland Chidiac December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

An educator explains how he gains hope by reflecting on the collective effort of his school’s staff, student, and parent community.

“Every nook and cranny of my school is filled with students carrying dreams of who they want to become.”

Read More Hope from a School’s Larger Purpose
Health · Outside & Around · Relationships

Building Hope Through Community
ByAmanda Doherty-Kirby December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

A researcher explains how her family’s involvement with a community theatre pageant has increased her sense of hope and connection.

“Somehow, everything comes together into a spectacular event that people come back to see, year after year.”

Read More Building Hope Through Community
Health · Relationships

Growing Hope Through Family
ByDave Sacher December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

A grandfather shares how he maintains a sense of hope while experiencing ongoing health challenges.

“Although I’m currently navigating a health downside, I am also enjoying the upside of seeing my granddaughter’s accomplishments.”

Read More Growing Hope Through Family
Health · Relationships

Teenagers Share Messages of Hope and Empathy
ByFallon Farokhi December 28, 2025December 28, 2025

Empathy and community are living on in young people, explains a school librarian. She shares an example of teens supporting each other through messages in a popular book.

“I left the words of real teens where it was – to keep their feeling of connection through story and life alive.”

Read More Teenagers Share Messages of Hope and Empathy