Books Recommended for Children and Adolescents Working on Mental Health Issues.

The following books have a solid reputation as being incredibly helpful for a child or adolescent dealing with mental health issues, especially in talking with their parents. They have proven themselves over time and with experience. These publications are recommended for consideration for the use of therapists or parents looking for practical resources that are useful with their children.

Links are offered to make purchase of these publications easy. Barnes and Noble is the vendor selected for these links. They offer lists of books with related topics, as well as books that are purchased by people buying the recommended one. Many other vendors are available for purchase, but Barnes and Noble has the recommended volumes available, and is a reliable, well known source.

Tanya & The Tobo Man: A Story for Children Entering Therapy by Lesley Koplow, Eric Velasquez (Illustrator)

Publisher: American Psychological Association

Tanya's continuing fear of the Tobo Man leads her mother to start her in therapy at a children's mental health center, where she discovers how to express her feelings and eventually loses her fear.

A great book to help children understand what being in therapy is all about and how it can help. In English and Spanish.

Putting on the Brakes: Young People's Guide to Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by Patricia O. Quinn, Judith M. Stern

From the Publisher:
Patricia O. Quinn, MD, is a developmental pediatrician in the Washington, DC, area. Judith M. Stern, MA, is a certified classroom and special education teacher and reading specialist in private practice in Rockville, MD.

Synopsis:
This book is a guide for 8-13 year olds with attention deficit disorder. Written from a pediatric and educational perspective. Addresses questions and needs. The latest advances in treatment programs and medications to help children manage their ADD.

50 Activities and Games for Kids with ADHD by Patricia O. Quinn (Editor), Judith M. Stern (Editor), Kate Sternberg (Illustrator)

For ages 12 and up. The games, puzzles, activities, articles and resources in this collection offer more that 50 ways for kids to handle the challenges of ADHD. Along with practical tips for solving problms and getting organized, boys and girls can also read about real kids like themselves. And they can discover a wealth of ideas that make life more manageable.

Incredible You: 10 Ways to Let Your Greatness Shine Through by Wayne W. Dyer, Melanie Siegel (Illustrator), Kristina Tracy

Internationally renowned author and speaker in the field of self-development, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer has written a book just for kids. Beautifully illustrated, Incredible You uses simple, uplifting rhymes to give kids their own tools for creating happiness. He has written numerous bestselling books and has created a number of audios and videos. He has appeared on thousands of television and radio programs, including the Today show and Oprah.

Kristina Tracy is the former Director of Publicity at Hay House publishing. She is currently a stay at home Mom, caring for her 2 small children. This is her first book.

Unstoppable Me: 10 Ways to Soar Through Life by Wayne W. Dyer, Stacy Heller Budnick (Illustrator), Stacy Heller Budnick (Illustrator), Kristina Tracy

Following in the footsteps of Dr. Wayne Dyer's first children's book, the bestseller Incredible You! this work goes even further toward expressing Wayne's positive message for children. In Unstoppable Me! Dr. Dyer teaches children how to hold on to the no-limit thinking he believes they were born with, rather than just trying to "fit in." In doing so, they can learn to truly enjoy life and become unstoppable as they strive to attain their dreams.

The 10 important lessons in this book include the value of taking risks, dealing with stress and anxiety, and learning to enjoy each moment. Each point includes an example showing how a child might apply the concept in his or her everyday life. Similar to Incredible You! there are questions at the end of the book to help spark discussion and to further reinforce Wayne's message.

Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner, Bonnie &. Candace (Illustrator)

What to Do When You Worry Too Much is an interactive self-help book designed to guide 6-12 year olds and their parents through the techniques most often used in the treatment of generalized anxiety. Metaphors and humorous illustrations make difficult concepts easy to understand, while prompts to draw and write help children to master new skills related to reducing anxiety. Engaging, encouraging, and easy to follow, this book educates, motivates, and empowers children to work towards change. Includes a note to parents by psychologist and author Dawn Huebner, Ph.D.

This interesting workbook is one of two "What to Do" guides to help children recognize feelings of anxiety and practice new ways of handling their worries. Designed to be used with an adult—a parent, preferably—it begins by explaining to adults that worry is a pattern of behavior that can be changed through practice and that they can help facilitate that change by helping their child identify ways of coping with stress. The book's 12 short chapters are interactive and progress from defining worry and anxious behavior to recognizing it in oneself to offering alternatives. Illustrated with cartoon-like drawings, the book offers plenty of exercises to engage the child and uses an understanding tone that is all positive reinforcement. The suggestions and exercises are ones that can be revisited as needed. For more serious issues, the author suggests that the book be used in conjunction with professional counseling. Reviewer: Meredith Kiger, Ph.D.

Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide for Changing Families (Dino Life Guides for Families Series) by Laurene Krasny Brown, Marc Tolon Brown (Illustrator)

Annotation:
Text and illustrations of dinosaur characters introduce aspects of divorce such as its causes and effects, living with a single parent, spending holidays in two separate households, and adjusting to a stepparent.

From the Publisher:
Dinosaurs Divorce will help you understand:
Divorce Words and What They Mean
Why Parents Divorce
What About Divorce?
After the Divorce
Living with One Parent
Visiting Your Parent
Having Two Homes
Celebrating Holidays and Special Occasions
Telling Your Friends
Meeting Parents' New Friends
Living with Stepparents
Having Stepsisters and Stepbrothers

Changing Families: A Guide for Kids and Grown-Ups by David G. Fassler, Michele Lash, Sara B. Ives

Annotation:
This book provides advice on coping with such family changes as separation, divorce, remarriage, new family members, and new schools.

From the Publisher:
Remarriage, stepsisters and stepbrothers, moving to a new home: for children, changing families can be happy and upsetting. This interactive guide, meant to be used by children and adults together, can help everyone cope and communicate more effectively. As family members talk about the feelings it elicits, they begin the important work of healing. Includes illustrations by children.

My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease: A Child's View: Living with Addiction by Claudia Black

Synopsis:
The basic premise of this book is that chemical dependency is a disease - the alcoholic/addict is a sick person not a bad person. This disease affects not only the addicted person but those who love that person as well. This is a book that will help the "others" affected by chemical dependency to become well. The book was originally written as a result of Claudia Black's work with young people who had a parent in treatment for their alcoholism. These children were learning at a very young age that it was not safe for them to openly talk about their family experiences. Art therapy was a wonderful medium for them to find the words and a voice in which to talk honestly. It was also a wonderful tool in which to share feelings, problem solve, lessen denial, and to put words to that which was so confusing.

The original pictures were all drawn and the stories written by children age five through fourteen that had one or two alcoholic parents. After many years and thousands of children using this workbook, it has been revised to address the fact that today, if a child lives with addiction, it may not be alcohol addiction. The family member may be addicted to other drugs as well. Words have been rewritten, some pictures changed and new pictures added making it possible for more children of addiction to experience their own recovery process.

Many years ago when Claudia Black was a counselor in an alcohol and drug treatment program, she asked a six-year-old daughter of a man in treatment for his addiction if she knew why her father was in this program. The girl paused and with confidence said, "My Dad Loves Me, but My Dad Has a Disease". In spite of her father's addiction she knew her father loved her. That is a message Claudia would like all young people to be able to believe. Unfortunately when people are addicted they often lose the ability to act in loving ways toward those they love. Growing up in an addicted family usually means living by the rule: it is not alright to talk about the drinking or using in your family. Having been raised in an alcoholic family herself, by the age of six Claudia shared the feelings of loneliness, fear and frustration of her family.

Working through the loneliness, fear and frustration by expressing feelings is what this book is all about. This workbook gives children the opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings and to better understand addiction.

Although this workbook was designed for and the illustrations created by young children, it may also hold insights for the now adult age person raised in an addictive home.

It Will Never Happen To Me: Growing up with Addiction as Youngsters, Adolescents, Adults by Claudia A. Black

From the Publisher:
First published 20 years ago, It Will Never Happen to Me is the definitive book/workbook for adult children of alcoholics. With her reassuring and informative approach, Claudia Black expertly identifies common issues faced by children who grew up in alcoholic families-shame, neglect, unreasonable role expectations, and physical abuse. Using narratives and profiles, she describes survival techniques characteristic of children raised in alcoholic families, including the unspoken laws of don't talk, don't trust, and don't feel. First explaining how such learned responses cause difficulties in adulthood, Black carefully guides readers in identifying self-defeating, destructive behaviors and finding a healthier, happier way to live.

An excellent resource for books and CD's to help children, adolescents, and adults understand and learn coping strategies like relaxation. Skills help promote calming, peaceful sleep, and creativity.

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