Emotional literacy
Emotional literacy
A secret safe to tell
A picture book that tells the author's personal story of child sexual abuse. The story is told gently without specifically mentioning sexual touch specifically. It encourages conversations about body safety, the importance of not keeping secrets and confiding in trusted adults if something is making you uncomfortable.
Changes
Topics: changes, families, new baby.
Fiction
When Joseph's mother comes home, says his father, things are going to change. And so they do, in the most extraordinary ways. This book explores the changes to Joseph's life when his parents bring home his baby sister.
Ages: 4 to 11 years.
Don't let the pigeon drive the bus
Topics: peer pressure, emotional literacy, positive coping strategies.
Fiction
When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place - a pigeon! The pigeon pleads and begs his way through the book offering lots of opportunity for audience participation.
Age: 2 to 6 years.
Emily's blue period
Topics: emotional literacy, sadness, change, families, divorce
Fiction
Emily wants to be an artist. She likes painting and loves the way artists like Pablo Picasso mixed things up. Emily's life is a little mixed up right now. Her dad doesn't live at home anymore, and it feels like everything around her is changing. She is going through her 'blue period'. A book about a young child dealing with her parent's divorce.
Ages: 4 to 8 years.
Horton hears a who!
Topics: friendships, kindness, trustworthiness, emotional literacy, perseverance, resilience.
Fiction
Horton, the loveable elephant, represents kindness, trustworthiness, and perseverance in his quest to protect tiny creatures on a speck of dust.
Ages 4 to 8.
How to be a friend: A guide to making friends and keeping them
Topics: friendships, conflict resolution, emotional literacy.
Fiction
This picture book contains many examples of how to be a friend and offers kids practical suggestions about resolving arguments, getting over being shy, handling bossy children and bullies, and more.
Agers 4 to 8 years.
How to take the grrr out of anger
Topics: emotional literacy, anger, coping strategies.
Non-fiction
This book combines information, jokes and funny cartoons to help children understand that anger is normal and can be expressed in many ways—some healthy, some not. It teaches them how to recognise anger in themselves and others, how to handle situations and emotions (loneliness, guilt, frustration, fear) that lead to anger, and how to deal with the anger they feel.
Ages: 8 to 11 years.
King of the playground
Topics: friendship, bullying, emotional literacy.
Fiction
Kevin loves to go to the playground, but not when Sammy is there. Sammy, who boasts that he is King of the Playground, is there most of the time. If he catches Kevin on the swings or the slide or the monkey bars, Sammy says, he will do awful, terrible things to him. A book about friendship and bullying.
Ages: 4 to 8 years.
Little Monkey's one safe place
Topics: emotional literacy, safety, families.
Fiction
When Little Monkey is frightened by the storm he runs to his mother's side. "Don't worry," she says. "There is always one safe place." But Little Monkey doesn't know where to find his one safe place.
Ages: 3 to 6 years.
Little Mouse's big book of fears
Topics: emotional literacy, fears.
Fiction
A little mouse talks about all of his fears - creepy crawlies, what's under the bed, sharp knives, being sucked down the drain, having toilet accidents, loud noises, being alone, the dark, getting lost, dogs and cats, everything! But the human is afraid of me.
Age: 5 to 8 years.
Lucy and the bully
Topics: friendships, bullying, emotional literacy
Fiction
Lucy loves everything about school - except for Tommy, who is a big bully. This book not only deals with school bullying, but also addresses the bully's feelings.
Age: 3 to 6 years.
YouTube version 5min 17sec + author discussion at end (external link)
Monster Chef
Topic: strengths, emotional literacy
Fiction
Marcel was a monster of medium size with crotchety horns and googly eyes. He was lumpy and grumpy and suitably hairy. But Marcel had a problem ... he just wasn't scary. But one day, Marcel discovers that his cooking can give kids a real fright. Has he finally found the perfect job...as a Monster Chef?
Age: 3 to 8 years.
More secret girls' business
Topics: puberty, menstruation.
Non-fiction
Uses simple text and colour illustrations to explain how to manage periods. It includes notes for parents, teachers and carers.
Age: 8+
No more teasing!
Topics: friendships, families, teasing, emotional literacy
Fiction
Mimi loves her cousin Momo but he teases her all the time and she doesn't like it. Grandma helps to make a cunning plan so that Momo soon realises that teasing isn't such a good idea.
Age: 4+ years.
Secret boys' business (2nd Ed.)
Topics: puberty
Non-fiction
A puberty resource for boys, families, schools and community groups to explain the physical and emotional changes of puberty.
Age: 9 to 13 years.
Secret girls' business
Topics: puberty, menstruation.
Non-fiction
Uses simple text and colour illustrations to explain how to manage periods. It includes notes for parents, teachers and carers.
Age: 8+
Silly baby
Topics: new baby, families, coping strategies, changes
Fiction
Beth has a new baby brother. He cries, he poos, he gets all the attention. Silly, silly Baby! But grandma shows Beth that he is small and soft and can smile at his big sister – and Beth thinks that maybe he isn't so silly after all. This story is about a child learning to cope with a new baby in the family.
Age: 4 to 7 years.
Standing on my own two feet: A child's affirmation of love in the midst of divorce
Topics: change, emotional literacy, divorce, families
Fiction
Addison is a regular kid whose parents are going through a divorce, but he knows that no matter what happens, his parents will always love him.
Age: 3 to 7 years.
Talk Soon. Talk Often: a guide for parents talking to their kids about sex
A WA Department of Health booklet developed to support parents to initiate regular and relaxed conversations with their children about relationships and sexuality. Age and stage appropriate information for parents with children birth to teens. First published 2011, updated in 2019.
The growing up book for boys
Topics: puberty, Autism.
Non-fiction
What boys on the Autistic Spectrum need to know about puberty. Covers topics: changes during puberty, shaving, erections, wet dreams, crushes, friendships, internet safety, body safety, emotions.
Ages: Parents and teachers.