Children's Books for Wellbeing - PDST

Exploring wellbeing through PictureBooks and Novels

Research suggests that although many adults instinctively may wish to shelter children from the harsh realities of life, realistically written literature on tough topics can help children by providing comfort and support for children who are experiencing these difficult issues first-hand (Bowen & Schutt, 2007).  When children find a book that features a character whose  situation  they  identify  with,  there  is  a  release  which  enables  them  to  take  control  and  find  a solution to their own problem. Books on sensitive topics are useful for children who aren't coping with difficult situations. On an individual level, Lewison, Hint, Leland & Moller (2002, p.217) assert that reading such  literature  promotes  understanding  and  empathy  with  others,  as  children  "make  personal connections to characters that are different from themselves and events that are different from those in their lives." Stories can humanise abstract issues and encourage children to think and talk about how they might feel and what they might do in a particular situation. Books about sensitive issues can be used in the classroom to promote discussion and complex thinking among children. Many examples of different books are provided in this PDST booklet with an explanation of content and subject matter for each, which is followed by a number of lesson plans with specific books in mind.

- PDST, Children's Books for Wellbeing,Dublin, 2020