Reading Well for Children

Living Magazines reading-well-for-children

Children have had a lot to cope with recently. Reading Well for Children is a collection of books to help children understand their feelings and worries and cope with tough times, and for parents and carers to discuss the difficult issues with their children.

Titles have been chosen by children, carers, health experts and librarians and cover general information and advice about:

  • maintaining good mental health and wellbeing
  • understanding and managing feelings
  • dealing with worries
  • navigating the world, including at school, online and in the news
  • dealing with tough times, including when someone dies, trauma, and when a parent or carer has mental health needs
  • support for living well with specific diagnosed conditions including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and physical disabilities

You can see the full list on the Reading Well website.

Mary said: ‘My 11-year-old daughter has just started Year 7 and is struggling with friendships, old and new, as well as starting a new school! She also keeps her feelings close and finds it difficult to say how she feels or understand her ever-changing emotions. How not to Lose it has been an excellent source of help and advice for her (and me!) – from forming new friendships, to learning how to recognise if you have anxiety or are feeling depressed. Above all it has helped her to realise that her feelings and emotions are normal for a child of her age. I have been recommending this book to all my friends whose children are going through similar things. We are working our way through the Reading Well for Children list and have just reserved Clownfish by Alan Durant, a book about grief, something that should also help my daughter.’

The books, free to borrow from Hertfordshire Libraries, are targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11) and include a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.