Issues – Page 2

Picture books about Issues from the Little Parachutes reviews library

Picture books that help young children cope with big issues and situations such as bullying, divorce, adoption and serious illness.

Adoption & Fostering

Books that explain adoption and fostering to young children, and support, inform and reassure adopted children who are struggling with transition, new concepts and feelings.

Bullying, Violence & Abuse

Picture books for children who have been affected by bullying or other violent/abusive behaviour.

Caring for the Environment

Books that cover environmental issues and explains them in a simple way that children can understand.

Death & Bereavement

Books which tackle the difficult subjects of bereavement and loss. Grieving children may find comfort or answers to challenging questions in the pages of these books.

Depression in Family

Books which inform and comfort children who have parents (or other family members/loved ones) suffering from depression.

Divorce / Separation

Picture books that gently explain the issues surrounding divorce and separation to young children, to help them get a sense of what’s happening.

Facts of Life

Age-appropiate picture books aimed at young children who are curious about where babies come from.

Non-traditional Families

Many children’s picture books still feature the traditional ‘nuclear family’. Our book library contains non-traditional family stories, including blended, single-sex and single-parent families.

Parent In Prison

Books for children who have a parent or other loved one in prison; which explain prison life and help children deal with the absence of a parent.

Safety and Protection

Books that inform children about the importance of personal safety and protection. Subjects include road and home safety and ‘stranger danger’.

Serious Illness

Books which inform or comfort children who are seriously ill, or have family members or other loved ones suffering from a serious physical or mental illness.

The Great Big Book of Feelings

A child struggling with negative emotions may find great comfort in this sympathetic, entertaining and reassuring book which explores many different feelings: happy, sad, excited, bored, interested, angry, upset, calm, silly, lonely, scared, safe, embarrassed, shy, confident, worried, jealous and satisfied.

Rabbityness

Celebrates individuality, encourages creativity in everyone and positively introduces children to dealing with loss of any kind

A Day With Dad

Shows how the love between a child and an estranged parent can remain strong regardless of how far apart they are. Reinforcing the pride a father and son can have for each other.

Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine (Winstons Wish)

This activity book was devised to help bereaved children by offering a structure and an outlet for the many difficult feelings that inevitably follow the death of a loved one.

My Green Day

A lovely simple way to encourage very young children to protect the environment and save resources.

Sophie’s Masterpiece

May encourage a child who is frightened of spiders to look more favourably upon these fascinating creatures. The book also reflects the ageing process, and may strike a chord with a child who has lost an elderly relative. Additionally, it has underlying themes of tolerance and acceptance.

Mum and Dad Glue

Acknowledges the emotional challenges children may feel when parents divorce or separate. Reinforces the view that the child is not to blame and will continued to be loved as before, and sometimes it is not possible to 'fix' a problem. Explains that parents can sometimes live happily apart.

No Matter What

May provide reassurance for an insecure or anxious child that their parents' love for them is unconditional and constant, despite the circumstances. It sensitively reinforces the message that love carries on, even after someone dies.

Lunchbox: The Story of Your Food

This fun and informative book about food and its production may stimulate a child's interest in good nutrition and food provenance. Knowing more about the process and effort that have gone into farming and producing the food may also discourage a child from wasting food.

This is Our House

Promoting tolerance, co-operation and acceptance. Celebrating diversity.

The Happy Book

A great starting point for talking about both positive and negative feelings with very young children. This book may gently encourage co-operation and good behaviour.

Badger’s Parting Gifts

Providing comfort to children who have been bereaved. Explaining that grief can eventually give way to happy memories.

Harry and Hopper

To comfort a child who has lost a loved one. It may be a good starting point for a discussion about bereavement and grief.

Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept

This is a skilfully written and beautifully illustrated book which covers the subject of keeping young children safe from sexual abuse. Written as a tool to help parents, caregivers and teachers broach the subject in a non-threatening way, it sensitively weaves the important facts into a story that young children will find accessible.

Peas!

This book may encourage a child who is reluctant to eat vegetables to give them a try. It's also a good introduction to the 'green' issue of food miles, and may make children appreciate the effort and resources that go into getting food onto their plates.

Critters Cry Too

This clever and sensitively written and illustrated book should be a great comfort for children who are dealing with parents or other loved ones battling a drug addiction.

The Scar

This supportive and compassionate book would be an ideal tool to explain grief and loss to young children. A child who has lost a parent or other loved one may identify with the emotions felt by the boy in the story.

How Are Babies Made? (Flip Flap)

A good choice for a child who is curious about how babies are made, how they grow inside their mother, and what happens when they are born. It is factually accurate but also simple enough for very young children and is not sexually explicit.

Daddy’s Time Out

Having a loved one in prison can be bewildering and distressing for a young child. They may feel shame, guilt, separation anxiety, and a host of other challenging emotions, or feel that they are no longer loved by (or feel that it is no longer appropriate for them to love) the estranged person. This simple, age-appropriate story helps to reassure, educate and comfort.

The Girl With Two Dads

This story does a brilliant job of normalising the non-traditional family. It is a great book for all children to read, so that they have acceptance and understanding, and fewer preconceptions about what a "normal" family looks like.

I Said No!

This 'kid-to-kid guide to keeping private parts private' teaches children to recognise the threat of sexual abuse, and to tell a trusted adult about it. For children who have been victims of abuse in the past, it will acknowledge their feelings and help them to realise they are not alone.

A Kid’s Guide to Coronavirus

A free e-book packed full of information for children about Coronavirus, with additional notes to help parents.

As We Grow

A comforting story with beautiful illustrations discusses how life may change as we grow older.

The Night Dad Went to Prison: What to Expect When Someone You Love Goes to Prison

A story which details the practical and emotional impact of a parent going to prison.

Insults Aren’t Funny: What to Do About Verbal Bullying

When Charlie is verbally bullied by his team mate, his thinks about quitting football all together. Luckily, with some help from a friend, Charlie learns what to do to get help when he is being bullied.

Love Makes a Family

This fun, inclusive board book for very young children celebrates the one thing that makes every family a family: LOVE.

Worried (Dealing with Feeling…)

Helps to identify what worries are and provides tips and advice on how best to express and deal with them.

Lula and the Sea Monster

This quirky and empowering story of the friendship between a girl and a rapidly-growing sea creature contains lots of helpful messages about the importance of kindness and perseverance, standing up for your beliefs and protecting the environment. It also acknowledges how difficult it is for children to leave their family home.