This episode explores how reading and writing can benefit children’s mental well-being and how bibliotherapy can have a profound impact on children’s mental wellbeing. 

 

USEFUL LINKS: 

National Literacy Trust’s Mental well-being, reading and writing UCL study

Reading Stages proposed by Maryanne Wolf (2008) in her book Proust and the squid: the story and science of the reading brain

The Magical Healing Quality of Bibliotherapy

Bibliotherapy, Literature & Mental Health online course

Reading Affirmation Cards for Raising A Reader

Children’s A – Z of Book Recommendations

Help Your Child Become a Lifelong Reader

Book Recommendations for Different issues for Children (0-5 years)

A: Attachment and Growth

First Day of School: Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Moving: Amelia’s Notebook by Marissa Moss

The Anxious Child: Wemberley Worried by Kevin Henkes

Missing Parents: The Kissing Hand

B: Creativity and Critical Thinking 

Seeing Yourself As Creative - The Dot by Peter H Reynolds

Imagination - Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Confidence in Creativity - Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Emotional Intelligence - My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss

C: Childhood Challenges

Telling the Truth - Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto

Losing a Tooth - Little Rabbit’s Loose Tooth by Lucy Bate

Dyslexia - Thank You, My Falker by Patricia Polacco

Everyone Has Bad Days - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Moving to a New Country - Angel Child, Dragon Child by Michele Maria Surat

D: Bullying and Bullying Friendships

Being Yourself - The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Letting Go of Pride - The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Bullying - Wonder by R J Palacio

Cultural Differences and Friendship - Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

E: Family Matters

Divorce - Dinosaurs Divorce by Marc Brown

Adoption and Sibling Rivalry - Jin Woo by Eve Bunting

Illness in the Family - Punk Wig by Lori Ries

Dementia - My New Granny by Elisabeth Steinkellner