Book Recs: kid edition
Books are one of my favorite tools to use in therapy with younger kids! Most of the kids I work with enjoy being read to, and reading can be such a great way to normalize experiences, engage in perspective taking, and discuss challenging topics. Here are my top 5 favorite and most read books:
Listening to My Body
by Gabi Garcia
I use this book at least every week! It is one of my favorites, and my “go to” when beginning to talk about the connection between feelings and the body. Throughout the book there are little exercises to try which help practice and strengthen the mind body connection. This book also identifies some coping skills like breathing, and seeking support from others.
2. The Friend I Need
by Gabi Garcia
Here’s another great book by Gabi Garcia! This book does a wonderful job of showing how negative thoughts show up in the lives of little ones. This book introduces the idea of self-compassion and talks about how we help and support our friends- and in turn how we can help and support ourselves. Other great themes in the book relate to taking responsibility for our actions, and acknowledging (rather than ignoring) big emotions.
3. Many Shapes of Clay
by Kenesha Sneed
What a beautiful book about grief!! The first time I read this book I cried. This book taps right into loss and sadness, and how it effects both parents and children. This book also speaks to hope and healing, and the importance of honoring our losses. Also, the art is stunning and truly brings the story to life!
4. Roaring Mad Riley
by Allison Szczecinski, M.Ed.
This book is a great book that talks about anger! I love this book because we can identify a specific trigger, feelings, and body sensations that come along with anger. This book also talks about how feeling angry is okay, and also needing to be safe with our anger as to not hurt ourselves or others. This book also shows wonderful use of coping skills.
5. When Dinosaurs Die
by Laurie Krasny Brown
Talking about death is hard, and talking about death with kids can feel overwhelming and scary. This book does a wonderful job of talking factually about life and death, while also approaching topics such as ways people might die, the various thoughts and feelings we might have when someone dies, and ways different families and cultures honor their loved ones.