Books, Growth, and Healing:
Children's Picture Books That Offer Comfort and Reassurance

Children’s books are recognized as an aid in easing the transition from playtime to bedtime, but picture books can also help children deal with the pressures of growing up in disturbing times. A familiarity with story can give children a necessary background to practice what psychiatrists call “fantasy rehearsal.” A child may strongly identify with a heroic or resourceful character in a book and visualize herself developing similar traits. Then, when faced with difficulty, the child may naturally emulate the beloved storybook character’s behavior.

Here are some books that do an excellent job of addressing concerns common to childhood. Beginning with Books recommends the following titles to help children and their families make sense of their ever-changing lives. The books may help children feel safer by reminding them of their parents' love. Some books on the list help children begin to think about hatred and prejudice. Others may portray dangerous, frightening, or adventurous situations that come to a peaceful and safe end. You will notice several fairy tales listed. Children respond to the common fairy tale themes of goodness conquering hardship and comforting outcomes. Finally, some books are simply well loved classics that provide a feeling of comfort and assurance for all of us. As with all books, please read before sharing with your children and then read them together.

Abiyoyo, text by Pete Seeger, illustrated by Michael Hays
Aladdin, 1994

The Amazing Bone by William Steig
Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1976

Amber was Brave, Essie was Smart by Vera B. Williams
Greenwillow Books, 2001

A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams
Greenwillow, 1983

The Circle of Days by Reeve Lindbergh, illustrated by Cathie Felstead
Candlewick Press, 1998

The Clever Boy and the Terrible, Dangerous Animal by Idries Shah, illustrated by Rose Mary Santiago
Hoopoe Books, 2000

Counting Kisses by Karen Katz
Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2001

Down in the Woods at Sleepytime  by Carole Lexa Schaefer, illustrated by Vanessa Cabban, Candlewick Press, 2000

The Giving Box by Fred Rogers
Running Press, 2000

Girls Together by  Sherley Anne Williams, paintings by Synthia Saint James
Harcourt, 1999

Goin’ Someplace Special by Patricia C. McKissack, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001

Good Night, Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
HarperCollins, 1947

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
Candlewick Press, 1996

Hansel and Gretel

Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel)
Random House, 1954

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, illustrated by Coretta Scott King award winning illustrators, Scholastic, 1997

If You Were My Bunny by Kate McMullan, illustrated by David McPhail
Cartwheel Books, 1998

Jumbo's Lullaby by Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by Henri Soronsen
Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard, 1999

Just the Two of Us by Will Smith, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Scholastic, 2001

Mama Across the Sea by Alex Godard, illustrated by George Wen
Henry Holt & Co., 2000

Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse, illustrated by Barbara Lavallee
Chronicle Books, 1991

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books, 1987

My Baby by Jeanette Winter
Frances Foster Books, 2001

No Mirrors in My Nana’s House by Ysaye M. Barnwell, illustrated by Synthia Saint James, Harcourt Brace, 1998

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco
Philomel Books, 1994

The Rough-Face Girl by Rafe Martin, illustrated by David Shannon
Philomel Books, 1992

The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel)
Random House, 1988

Snow White

So Much by Trish Cooke, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Candlewick Press, 1997

Something's Happening on Calabash Street by Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Jacob Gordon, illustrated by Donna Ingemanson, Chronicle Books, 2000

The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson
Viking Press, 1938

Sweet, Sweet Memory by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
Jump at the Sun, 2000

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
Simon & Schuster, 1969

The Talking Eggs retold by Robert D. San Souci, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
E.P. Dutton, 1989

There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer
Dial Books for Young Readers, 1990

These Hands by Hope Lynne Price, illustrated by Bryan Collier
Hyperion Press, 1999

A Weekend with Wendell by Kevin Henkes
Puffin Books, 1987

We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
Macmillan, 1989

When I Am Old with You by Angela Johnson, illustrated by David Soman
Orchard books, 1990

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Harper and Row, 1963

Whoever You Are by Mem Fox, illustrated by Leslie Staub
Voyager Picture Book, 2001

It's not always easy to find great children's books. To help you find the books that you and your children will love, our staff of literacy experts review books for you each month. Check back for new reviews!

Check out the Best Books for Babies

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Babies Who Said Moo? by Harriet Ziefert and Simms Taback Handprint, March 2002 ISBN#1929766475 First published in 1996, this charming lift-a-flap book has been reissued in board book format and is perfect for small hands. So perfect, in fact, that the new version made it to the 4th Annual Best books for Babies list. Youngsters will delight in traipsing through the barnyard with Rooster as he investigates exactly who it is that says moo. Be prepared for your home to sound like a farm as your child joins in with the other barnyard animals as they moo, oink, woof, hee-haw, meow, and baa. ---t.r.
Toddlers Peek-a-Zoo! by Marie Torres Cimarusti, illustrated by Stephanie Peterson Penguin Putnam Books, 2003 ISBN# 0-525-46971-0 Peek-a-Zoo! is a fun, lift-the-flap book that toddlers will love. It features big, bright illustrations of zoo animals that play peek-a-boo right back with your child. The large sturdy flaps can stand up to many readings and repeating the animal sounds will encourage playful interaction and lots of giggles. The book provides added fun by including some not so ?run-of-the-mill? animals like the macaw, rhino, and sea lion. (Who doesn?t love to clap and make the "ar-ar-ar" sound of the sea lion?!) Stop by your library or bookstore to begin your Peek-a-Zoo adventure. ---j.s.
Preschool Rosie’s Roses by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illustrated by Henry Cole Harper Collins Publishers, 2003 ISBN# 006028997X The author-illustrator pair who tied tongues all around with the ?s? sound in Some Smug Slug demonstrate that they can do it again with ?r? in Rosie?s Roses. Rosie wants to take a bouquet of birthday roses to her Aunt Ruth. Sounds easy enough, but the roses mysteriously disappear, one by one, on her way there. However, in losing the roses, Rosie learns a great lesson about sharing that both you and your child can appreciate. Plus, the authors have hidden the letter ?R? in every picture. What a fun way to learn to recognize letters! If you like alliteration, or are just a fan of the letter ?R? you will enjoy this playful book?and your preschooler will, too! ---j.s.
School Age Honey, I Love by Eloise Greenfield, illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist HarperCollins Publishers, 2003 ISBN# 0-06-009123-1 Yes, this is the same wonderful book you remember from 1978, but this edition has new beautiful watercolor illustrations by Jan Spivey Gilchrist, a Coretta Scott King Award winner. The story/poem is told from the perspective of a young African-American girl who tells about what she loves. The words are melodic and flow from the pages in her descriptions of the things she loves, such as her cousin ?from the South ?cause every word just kind of slides out of his mouth.? You?ll find yourself enjoying reading this book aloud to a preschooler or having your school-ager read it to you. This is an exuberant book to share and celebrate the many simple joys of life. ---j.s.