<i>Mindful Marcelo</i>: The Process of Writing and Illustrating a Culturally-Specific Children's Book for Early Psychoeducation

Socio-emotional learning (SEL) is imperative for young children to learn prosocial skills and how to identify and regulate their emotions. Most children begin to develop these skills in early childhood and depend on caregivers and teachers to model them. However, caregiver and teacher biases related to child gender and race can limit equitable access to high-quality SEL, placing male students of color at higher risk for maladaptive coping strategies. To address this gap, this thesis documents the creation of a culturally sensitive children's book focused on SEL concepts for young Latino boys. Throughout this thesis, I documented the process of writing and illustrating a book for young Latino boys that focuses on SEL concepts. The completed book was read to 5-6-year-old students at a preschool. Preliminary observations suggest that the book effectively engaged children and facilitated discussions on emotion regulation, indicating its potential as a psychoeducational tool. Further research is recommended to refine its design and assess its impact on SEL outcomes, specifically in home environments.