Favorite Category: For Parents

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A Little SPOT of Feelings Collection

By Diane Alber
Why we recommend this book:
  • A fun way to help kids learn about their feelings and reactions
  • Bright, colorful illustrations help make the books fun to read
  • Great for younger kids up through early/middle elementary age
Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

Bubble Gum Brain Activity and Idea Book (workbook)

Written by Julia Cook, Illustrated by Allison Valentine
Why we recommend this book:
  • This workbook builds on the lessons taught In the Bubble Gum Brain book
  • Offers fun ways for parents and kids to learn more about and work on cognitive flexibility (flexible thinking)
Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

Bubble Gum Brain

Written by Julia Cook, Illustrated by Allison Valentine
Why we recommend this book:
  • Provides a fun way to discuss “cognitive flexibility” in kid-friendly language
  • Helps parents and kids find non-shaming ways to think about and handle mistakes and fears
  • Even though some adults (like this therapist) find the bubble gum brain illustrations a little gross, kids love them!
Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7

By Joanna Faber and Julie King
Why we recommend this book:
  • Clearly written for parents and caregivers
  • The authors sympathize with parents’ difficulties communicating with their little kids, and in a supportive, no-blame way offer strategies for parents to improve that communication.
  • An updated take on the How to Talk… strategies, written by a new generation of authors
  • I read this as a parent because I needed it, and I found it helpful
Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

How to Talk So Teens Will Listen & Listen So Teens Will Talk

By Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
Why we recommend this book:
  • Clearly written for parents and caregivers
  • The authors sympathize with parents’ difficulties communicating with their teens (and you thought talking with your younger kids was hard?!), and in a supportive, no-blame way offer strategies for parents to improve that communication.
Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

Working with Worry: A Workbook for Parents on How to Support Anxious Children

By Melissa L. Kilbride, LICSW and Samantha C. Sweeney, PhD
Why we recommend this book:
  • A couple members of our team used to work with Dr. Sweeney, and she’s awesome!
  • This workbook was written during the height of COVID-19, so addresses a deeper than average experience of child and parent worry
  • Intelligent, accessible, with lots of tips parents can start to use right away
Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender, and Sexual Health [for age 10 and up]

By Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley
Why we recommend this book:
  • This book is clearly written and illustrated
  • While discussing human sexuality and sexual development with a child is never easy, this book provides accurate terms, clear illustrations, and matter-of-fact descriptions about the body and its sexual development and functioning
  • This book can be read front-to-back over time, or individual sections can be jumped to as needed

 

Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

Beneath the Mask: For Teen Adoptees: Teens and Young Adults Share Their Stories [a workbook for teens]

By The Center for Adoption Support & Education
Why we recommend this book:
  • A companion workbook for Beneath the Mask, created to help adopted teens and young adults reflect on and process their journeys and feelings
  • Helpful for teens/young adults, parents, and clinicians who might be supporting them
  • Has been strongly recommended to us by other professionals who work extensively with adopted teens

 

Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens: Case Studies & Treatment Considerations for Therapists & Parents

By Debbie Riley, LCMFT, with John Meeks, M.D.
Why we recommend this book:
  • From the Center for Adoption Support & Education, this book is the rare resource that discusses the experiences of adopted teens
  • Provides information about common challenges in raising the adopted teen, and what parents might expect at their child’s new life stage 
  • Information and assistance for clinicians working with adopted teens
  • Has been strongly recommended by parents of adopted teens

 

Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel

The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years (The ParentData Series)

By Emily Oster
Why we recommend this book:
  • Written by the economist who gave us “Expecting Better” and “Cribsheet”

 

Recommended by: Megan Adair Casteel