Emotional literacy
Emotional literacy
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.
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.
Innovative social and emotional literacy card packs
Card packs with cartoons/photos and words to represent emotions, strengths, relationships, social justice, parenting, etc.
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.
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)
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+
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.
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.
The growing up guide for girls
Topics: puberty, special needs, Autism
Non-fiction
What girls on the Autistic Spectrum need to know about puberty. Covers changes during puberty, menstruation, emotions, crushes, appropriate behaviours, friends, staying safe online.
Age: Parents and teachers.
The sex education answer book
Non-fiction
Age appropriate answers to all of the tough questions children ask parents about sex. Set out in ages 3 - 14.
Age: Parents and teachers of 3 to 14 year olds
The sissy duckling
Topics: emotional literacy, friendships, bullying, stereotypes, gender, families.
Fiction
A funny and touching story of a duckling who embraces his identity. Elmer is not like the other boy ducklings. While they like to build forts, he loves to bake cakes. While they like to play baseball, he wants to put on the halftime show. Elmer is a great big sissy. But when his father is wounded by a hunter’s shot, Elmer proves that the biggest sissy can also be the greatest hero.
Age: 5 to 8 years.
The very cranky bear
Topics: emotional literacy, anger, friendships, strengths, thoughtfulness.
Fiction
In the Jingle Jangle Jungle on a wet and windy day, four little friends meet a very cranky bear. They try to cheer him up by giving the bear each of their strengths (antlers, stripes and a mane) so they can seek shelter from the rain. All the bear wanted was a quiet place to sleep so sheep gave him some wool for a pillow. A rhyming book.
Age: 3+
Things that make you feel good, things that make you feel bad
Topics: emotional literacy, feelings.
Fiction/Non-fiction
An illustrated account with brief text of twelve things that make children feel good, like bubble baths and bedtime stories, and twelve things that don’t feel so good, like chicken pox and mosquito bites.
Ages: 2+.
When I'm feeling scared
Topics: emotional literacy, scared, feelings, early warning signs.
Fiction
Anyone would be scared of some things, like dangerous animals! But lots of other things aren't really as scary as they seem.
Age: 0 to 8 years.
Winnie the Pooh
Topics: feelings, friendships, emotional literacy.
Fiction
The original Winnie the Pooh story book. An introduction to the characters of Pooh Corner, including Piglet, Eeyore, Christopher Robin and Kanga.
Age: 4 - 8 years.