A Therapist’s Library
Below is a list of children’s books I have in my library that I use as tools to help build skills and increase awareness for my kiddo clients. These summaries and prompts can be helpful for parents, teachers, counselors, grandparents, and more - if you impact children’s lives and hope to help them grow in their socio-emotional health, this is for you!
The Color Monster
"The Color Monster" is a fantastic introductory book for children to understand different emotions. It's especially useful for elementary school kids or those who are beginning to learn about the variety of feelings. The book covers basic emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and feeling calm. …
There’s NO Such Thing as a Dragon
"There's No Such Thing as a Dragon" is a delightful book that was introduced to me during grad school. It tells a whimsical story about a small dragon that enters Billy Bixbee's life and gradually grows into a much larger dragon as the story progresses. This book can be used therapeutically to teach and discuss with children the importance of acknowledging feelings, thoughts, or behaviors before they become unmanageable….
The Boy Who Built a Wall Around Himself
The Boy Who Built a Wall Around Himself, written by Ali Redford, is a gentle, powerful story designed for children who have experienced trauma. It uses the metaphor of a wall to represent emotional self-protection — something many children and adults can relate to when navigating the impact of abuse, neglect, or other painful experiences…
