Reading resources

Books for staying in the hospital and having an operation

Curious George Goes to the Hospital by Rey and Rey (1966) - ages 4-8
Franklin Goes to the Hospital by P. Bourgeois (2000) - ages 4-8
Going Into the Hospital by A. Braithwaite
Going to the Hospital by A. Civardi (2002) - ages 4-7
Let’s Talk About Going to the Hospital by M. Johnston (1998) - ages 6-9
Miffy in the Hospital by D. Bruna (1999) - ages 2-5
One Bear in the Hospital by C. Buchnall (1991) - ages 4-8
Paddington Bear Goes to the Hospital by M. Bond and K. Jankel (2001) - ages 5-8
The Busy World of Richard Scarry: A Big Operation by Richard Scarry (1994) - ages 4-8
Topsy and Tim go to the Hospital by J. and G. Adamson (1998) - ages 3-7

A children’s book about cleft lips and palates

A Special Smile by Julie Graham

Books for pre-K and kindergarten-aged children to help with the transition to school

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
Mouse’s First Day of School by Lauren Thompson and Buket Erdogan
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn

Books about managing feelings

Elizabeth Crary’s Dealing With Feelings book series

I’m Mad
I Want It
I Want to Play
I’m Frustrated
I’m Scared
Mommy, Don’t Go

Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell’s books

Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day
I’m Gonna Like Me: Letting Off a Little Self-Esteem
It’s Hard to be Five: Learning How to Work My Control Panel

Anxiety

For the child: What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner and Bonnie Matthews
For parents: Helping Your Anxious Child by by Ronald Rapee, Susan Spence, Vanessa Cobham, and Ann Wignall

Perfectionism

Ish by Peter Reynolds
Nobody’s Perfect: A Story for Children About Perfectionism by Ellen F. Burns

Behavior problems (acting out) for pre-K — 1st grade

One, Two, Three by Thomas Prelan
No, David! by David Shannon
David Gets in Trouble by David Shannon

Note: These books provide a good platform for parents to discuss behavior with their children, but the books do not contain a lot of words. Asking children questions like "What should David's mother do?", "Why do you think that David got in trouble for that?" "Why is what David did dangerous?" "How would you behave in that situation?" are good for conversing about appropriate behavior without having the conversation center on the child him/herself.

Teasing (for young children)

Adventures at Walnut Grove by Dana Lehman, Imogene Zimmermann, Tina Hall, and Judy Lehman

Having a sibling (for young children)

I Used to Be the Baby by Robin Ballard
I’m a Big Sister by Joanna Cole
My New Baby by Annie Kubler
Waiting for Baby by Annie Kubler

Books on parenting

Raising Resilient Children by Sam Goldstein and Robert B. Brooks