9. Extraordinary People with Disabilities by Kent and Quinlan (Grolier Publishing 1996)
This excellent book tells the stories of over 50 outstanding individuals who overcame their disabilities. It is written so that one can choose to read short segments. However, when I picked it up, I felt energized and needed to read it cover-to-cover.  The people profiled are from a variety of racial and economic backgrounds. Many of these individuals had physical disabilities but some of the stories profile people with learning or emotional disabilities. Through these stories, the book takes an activist stance. It tells of many who not only overcame their own disabilities, but went on to help other disabled people.  The stories make it easier to understand the points of view of disability rights activists. The final chapter gives an overview of  important new technological aids for the disabled. It explains why some of these aids are controversial among the disabled community. A glossary gives succinct definitions of many of the terms used in the book. An appendix at the back of the book list many of the major organizations that advocate for individuals with physical and mental disabilities. There is also a section listing related books and journals. I would recommend this book to high school students and adults. 

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Explaining Psychiatric Medication to Children

1. Otto Learns About His Medicine by Galvin (1988)
This illustrated book talks about a young car who visits a special engine mechanic and receives an engine treatment to help him run at the right speed. The author uses this metaphor to explain the nature of ADHD, the process of getting a psychiatric evaluation and good questions to ask about medication. The book is aimed at some elementary school children and some pre-schoolers.

2. Please Don’t Cry, Mom by DenBoer (1994)
This is an illustrated book, written for elementary school aged children. However, its description of recurrent major depression is so good that the book would be valuable for adolescents and some adults. It describes a boy’s feelings about his mother’s depression and her resistance to treatment. Her husband sets limits, and she does accept treatment and begin to improve. The book describes the importance of family participation in the mother’s treatment and the importance of taking one’s medication regularly. Ultimately, the boy is able to gain knowledge and a sense of mastery.

Straight Talk About Psychiatric Medication for Kids 
by Timothy E. Wilens, 1998.
When parents want to know more about medications for their child's disorder, I often refer them to this book. The book is organized by type of disorder (such as AD/HD, depression or anxiety) and by type of medication. This is good because some people want to know about a specific class of medications, while others want an overview of medication strategies for a particular disorder.  particularly liked his suggestions on communication between parent and psychiatrist. This should help parents formulate their questions and feel comfortable asking them. This book is also an excellent overview for medical residents and non-medical mental health professionals.

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Adoption

Many good books have been written on this topic.

1. The Day We Met You by Koehler (1990)
A beautiful, illustrated book for parents to read to a very young child. It would also be a nice gift for new adoptive parents.

2. Adoption Stories for Young Children by R. Hicks (1995 WordSlinger Press)
This book describes several types of adoption, including an open adoption. The book is illustrated with photographs and is told from the perspective of a 5 year old boy who meets a number of people who were adopted.

3. We Adopted You, Benjamin Koo! by L W Girard (1989)
This illustrated story deals with international and inter-racial adoption. It is an affirming book aimed at elementary school children.

4. Adoption is for Always by Linda Girard (1986)
This illustrated book, published 12 years ago, is something of a classic. Celia talks to her parents and teacher about her feelings about being adopted. She first comes to understand that adoption is permanent and that her adoptive parents are her "real" parents and will never send her back. She then wonders about her birthparents and why they gave her up. Her teacher tells her how much she loves her own child and how hard it would be to give a child up for adoption. She tells Celia that her birthmother must have loved her very much in order to send her to parents who could make a home for her.

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Divorce

1. The Boys and Girls Book about Divorce by Richard Gardner, MD (1970)
   This is a classic book written to be read by older elementary school aged children. There are some illustrations. Because of the time it was written, it is dated in some places. If a parent reads it with a child, he or she can discuss how situations may sometimes differ in the late 90s.
   
   
2. How it Feels When Parents Divorce. by Jill Krementz (1996)
   Children and adolescents with different divorce experiences tell their stories.
   
   
3. When We Married Gary
   Illustrated, aimed at elementary school aged children. This book focuses on the children's feelings about their mother's remarriage. Although they are initially apprehensive about the addition to their family, they come to love their new step-father as he becomes integrated into their family. (The biological father is not involved with the family)
   
   
4. My Dad is Getting Married Again by Lisa Schab (1996)
   I like the interactive decision-making books. However, I felt that this book is considerable weaker than the "Decision is Yours" series. In this book, most of the decisions seem to end up with a similar happy ending. The daughter always seems to quickly come to accept her father's remarriage. I think that this sort of book works better if there are some options of unhappy endings. Children may benefit from trying out several different scenarios and different types of endings. This book does not give the child this option. I found myself getting frustrated when each time I chose a different path, I ended up in the same type of place.
   
   

5. Parent vs. Parent: How You and Your Child Can Survive the Custody Battle by Stephen Herman, M.D. (1990)
   Dr. Herman discusses the process of a custody battle and gives advice on how to deal with this difficult situation while doing one’s best to look out for the best interests of one’s child. He covers many topics including dealing with expert witnesses, your day in court, joint custody, visitation, and handling one’s feelings after losing a custody battle. Dr. Herman clearly cares for the well-being of the family members and tries to be complete and even-handed. 
   
   

6. Healing Hearts: Helping Children and Adults Recover After Divorce by E. Hickey, MSW. and E. Dalton, J.D. (1994)
   This book written by a lawyer and a social worker who have themselves experienced divorce, cover topics relevant to the healing processes of both the parent and the child. It discusses how a parent, despite her own pain and anger, can listen to her children. It is fairly easy for adults to read and can be read in selected chunks. 
   
   

7. Growing Up With Divorce: Helping Your Child Avoid Immediate and Later Emotional Problems by Neil Kalter (1990)
   The author discusses how children at different developmental levels experience divorce. After discussing the child’s experience, he looks at ways to minimize emotional damage in children at that developmental level. The book is fairly long and dense for the casual reader, but one can selectively read chapters relevant to the ages of one’s children.
   

8. The Spider and the Bee by Shen (2002) 
   A book to help the very young child understand divorce. On first glance, this looks like another cute picture book for preschoolers. If I had randomly run across it on some children’s bookshelf, I might not have even opened it. That would have been my loss. There is a simple, but compelling drawing with a sentence of text on the facing page. A spider and a bee fall in love and marry. For the first year, they get along well. As time goes on, their inborn differences become problematic. The bee tries to please the spider with things that might please another bee. They disagree about where they should live. Sadly, they realize that they must live apart. After their sad parting, each is able to live happily in his or her own natural setting. Many books about separation and divorce may be too complex or threatening for the preschool child. This book goes right to the heart of the matter in a way that a young child can understand. Sometimes it is no one’s fault. Two people may simply be incompatible and may need to build separate lives.

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Explaining Psychotherapy to a Child or Adolescent

1.The Secret Worry by Elise Benedict
This book is out of print but if you can find it, you will read one of the best illustrated books explaining play therapy so that a young child will understand.

2. Ignatius Finds Help (A Story about Psychotherapy for Children) by Galvin (1987)
This illustrated book is a good introduction for young children to help them understand why they are going to see a child psychiatrist and what they might expect. It describes a bear cub who has behavioral difficulties while his bear family is experiencing a period of stress. Dr. Pelican uses a combination of individual play therapy and some family therapy to help Ignatius and his parents resolve their difficulties.

Ignatius Finds Help by Matthew Galvin: 
Review by Nicole, age 10

The book Ignatius Finds Help by Matthew Galvin, MD, and illustrated by Sandra Ferraro is a great story for children ages three to seven. This book tells the story of a young bear who is too "hugnatious" (hugs other bears too much), and goes to see a psychiatrist named Dr. Pelican. Ignatius has some family problems too. This is also a good book for children who have had one or both parents leave, or have had a divorce. This may help many children come to terms with a divorce, or a problem like ADHD or depression. I would recommend psychiatrists to have this book handy in their office for children to read. Parents should have this book too, just in case something comes up. This is a really wonderful book.

3. Robbie Really Transforms by Galvin and Ferraro
This illustrated book tells about a child in foster care who is obsessed by images of violence. He receives help and guidance from his social services worker, his foster parents and other professionals. This book could be a useful tool to help children in foster care or other out-of-home placements to begin to discuss their feelings and to accept help.

4. My Doctor Does Hypnosis by Gary Elkins, PhD, illustrated by Jeffrey Trompeter (1997)
This illustrate book explains the process of hypnosis to elementary school-aged children. It explains the fear and misconceptions that a child might have about hypnosis. It discusses the ways that a child might use hypnosis to help himself with physical pain and emotional distress. The illustrations are by a 15-year-old who used hypnotherapy to deal with the effects of a chronic disease. The illustrator does a good job of showing hypnotic imagery from a child's perspective.

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Sibling Issues

1. My Brother’s a World Class Pain: A Sibling’s Guide to ADHD/Hyperactivity by Gordon (1992)
This would be a much better book if the author would change the title. While the title may accurately reflect the feelings of some siblings, the book might get left around and generate some hurt feelings. Because of this, I do not keep it in my waiting room. Once past the title, the book has wonderful, amusing illustrations and the text keeps elementary school siblings interested. The sister eventually does come to appreciate her brother, but kids keep coming back to that title…

2. I’m Somebody Too by Gehret (1992)
Those who have read Eagle Eyes by the same author will recognize Emily, Ben’s older sister. This book, aimed at an older elementary school or middle school child, deals with Emily’s feeling that her parents are ignoring her and expecting her to always be perfect so that they can deal with Ben. Emily and the family work with Ben’s therapist to help them see that Emily has her own needs. This book may also be useful for other girls who feel that their families expect them to be too perfect.

3. When Molly Was in the Hospital
This sensitive book describes the feelings of an older sibling and a family when a young child is hospitalized for a severe medical problem.  It helps normalize the feelings that a sibling might have, and indicates that adults are available for support. The black and white drawings do a good job of showing emotion yet conveying warmth.

When Molly was in the Hospital by Debbie Duncan (Review by Nicole, age 10)

The book "When Molly was in the Hospital" by Debbie Duncan, and illustrated by Nina Ollikainen, MD is a wonderful book for young children who are siblings of children in the hospital. This book is specifically aimed at children who are about four to eight years old. I have had a younger brother who was in the hospital recently, and this book is just the sort of book to help a sibling get through the pain. This book tells the story of a young girl, whose baby sister is admitted into a hospital. The baby sister needs surgery, and her sister is very unhappy and goes through a phase where she thinks that she did it to her little sister. This is a phase most young children go through when a sibling needs medical attention.
     This book portrays before and after Molly, the baby sister, gets sick. At both the beginning and the end, Molly is feeling well, and she is having a great time with her older sister. This was a great book.
     One interesting thing about the book is that the author says that she has gone through a similar situation with her one year old child Molly.
     The illustrator is a doctor like my mother. After Dr. Ollikainen had trained to be a doctor for a very long period of time,  she changed her mind and now spends most of her time taking care of her children and also writing and illustrating children’s books.
    

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Substance Abuse

1. Daddy Doesn't Have to be a Giant Anymore by J R Thomas (1996) Clarion Books
This illustrated book is told from the elementary school aged daughter's point of view. It describes her reactions to her alcoholic father's mood swings and erratic behavior. She is present when family and friends arrange a supportive confrontation to break down the father's denial and get him into residential treatment. When he returns from the treatment, he is on the road to sobriety and is able to talk to his daughter about his past behavior. (Confrontations should only be done under the supervision of a licensed professional. Parents or professionals should read this book in advance to determine whether it is appropriate for a particular child)

2. Under Whose Influence? by J Laik (1994, Parenting Press)
This book is part of a series "The Decision is Yours" It uses an interactive approach to help children and adolescents think about how to deal with drinking and peer pressure. There are several other interactive books from the same publisher.  The others in the series would appeal to a slightly younger audience.

Under Whose Influence"?
Review by Nicole, age 10
This book is very appropriate for pre-teens or adolescents. It can help a child understand how important choices can be. This book lets you choose the consequences of your own actions. When you and your friends, Nicole and Katherine, are at Nicole's house, Nicole suggests drinking some whiskey and vodka from her mother's cupboard. Katherine goes along with it, but you must make a lot of choices. You must choose whether or not to drink. If you do decide to drink, how much will you drink? It is your choice whether to call your mother, to drink lots and lots get drunk and break Nicole's mother's vase and statue, or to allow your friend to get so drunk that she nearly dies. Even some of the good choices have tricky outcomes, like in the real world. It is all up to you as the story unfurls, but you must make a choice: to drink or not to drink; that is the question.

3. Smoking Stinks by Kim Gosselin (1998) JayJo Books
This illustrated book should be interesting and accessible to elementary school and middle school-aged children and adolescents. It tells about smoking from the points of view of a girl and her grandfather. The information from the grandfather is particularly compelling. He explains to his granddaughter that he still smokes because he is addicted and has tried many times to stop. He expresses anger that he is addicted. and uses this to explain why his granddaughter should never start. The granddaughter observes people smoking and chewing tobacco. Her observations and the illustrations convey the "yuckiness" of tobacco.
Between the girl's observations and the grandfather's discussion, children are graphically shown both the short and long term effects of smoking. I highly recommend this book.

4. Getting Your Children Sober: A No Fault Guide For Parents and Professionals by Toby Rice Drews (1987)
The author discusses how parents, with the help of school personnel and clinical professionals, can intervene to help their children become motivated to free themselves from drugs and alcohol. She discusses personal responsibility as well as biological tendencies to drug abuse.

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Death and Bereavement

1. Dusty was My Friend by Clardy (1984)
This illustrated book aimed at elementary school children, tells the story of a boy whose friend is killed in an accident. The boy learns about the permanence of death and eventually comes to terms with the loss.

Dusty Was My Friend: Coming to Terms With Loss
Review by Nicole, age 10

     This book tells the heart-rending tale of eight-year-old Benjamin who is friends with 10-year-old Dusty. When Dusty dies in a car crash, Benjamin feels terrible. With moral support from his mother and classmates, Benjamin gets over it gradually. He still thinks about Dusty, and writes letters to him, but Benjamin doesn’t feel upset or sorrowful when he thinks about it.

     This was one of my favorite books when I was younger, and it would be appropriate for children nine and under who have lost friends or family members. The author, Andrea Fleck Clardy, is very descriptive, but not enough to make it boring. She tells a simple tale, with a sophisticated plot. This is a wonderful book, and it is still a favorite of mine.

2. When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers
Many children have experienced the death of a pet. This can be their first experience with grief and can help shape how they deal with later experiences with loss. This illustrated book deals with a child's feelings about the loss of a beloved pet. This book can also be used to initiate a conversation about the death of a relative in a less threatening way.

When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers (Review by Nicole, age 10)

The book When a Pet Dies by Fred (Mr.) Rogers is a good book for all young children who are going through the death of a pet that they have loved. This book has many colorful pictures that show how children cope with a pet’s death, and how to feel better. It helps explain what has happened in a gentle and easy to understand way. Fred Rogers explains what death is in a way that a very young child could understand. The parent may want to read the book as well to help explain it to the child. This is a wonderful book and I hope you enjoy it.

3. The Saddest Time by Norma Simon (1986)
This book, aimed at elementary school aged children tells three separate stories about children's feelings about a death. The first tells how a boy deals with the death of his uncle. The second, how students deal with the sudden death of a classmate. The third tells of a girl who is at the bedside with her family when her grandmother dies. Each one deals with the sad feelings surrounding death, but also celebrates the life of the deceased individual. Each story ends with how the children cope and come to terms with loss. Before and after each story are poems that connect death with the celebration of life. These explain that endings and beginnings are all connected. I was particularly impressed with the sensitive way that the author deals with a child's sadness and gently shows ways of coping. She notes that the sadness may never completely go away, but that eventually it is outweighed by understanding and new forms of mastery.

4. Grandad’s  Prayers of the Earth by Douglas Wood, 1999 Candlewick Press    A boy spends time with his grandfather walking in the out of doors. As he grows, he asks his grandfather about the nature of prayer. The grandfather explains prayer in terms of  the way nature reaches upward. Later he talks to his grandson about the prayer of humans, and how prayers are answered. When the boy becomes an adolescent, his grandfather dies and no amount of prayer will bring him back to life. For a time, the adolescent abandons prayer. Eventually he again experiences prayerfulness out in nature. Families of different religious and humanistic backgrounds can use this story to explain man’s experience of the infinite. The book and its illustrations deal sensitively with nature, love and death. This illustrated book is appropriate for children and adolescents.

 5. Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley, 1984 Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books  This picture book helps young children deal with the death and memories of an aged friend or relative. Badger, a beloved elderly friend of the woodland creatures, is aware that he will soon die. He does not fear death, but has concerns for those he will leave behind. His friends gather and remember how he taught them valuable lessons. They celebrate his life by teaching these lessons to younger creatures.

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

1. Brain Lock: Free Yourself from Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior: A Four-Step Self-Treatment Method to Change Your Brain Chemistry
by Jeffrey M. Schwartz and Beverly Beyette, 1997

This book, written by a psychiatrist experienced in treatment and research on OCD, presents a fairly simple but effective approach to dealing with troubling symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He demystifies the nature and symptoms of the disorder and explains the interaction of the biological and behavioral elements of OCD. His program focuses on empowering the individual with OCD so that he or she can take an active role in decreasing or eliminating obsessions and compulsions. I often recommend this book to adults and adolescents who have OCD. When a person with OCD is engaged in cognitive-behavioral therapy, treatment is more successful if the individual feels empowered and does "homework" outside of the therapy session. This book reinforces this process.

It is also available in abridged form as an audiocassette. I find that many individuals who do not have the time or inclination to read an entire book can benefit from the tape.

2. Blink, Blink, Clop, Clop: Why Do We Do Things We Can't Stop?
By Moritz and Jablonsky, (1998)
A picture book for young children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  This book would be excellent for an adult to read to or with a child or younger adolescent.  It tells of farm animals tormented by "O.C. Flea" who urges them to think or do repetitive things. The animals (and in one case an animal's mother) learn to change their behavior so that they can banish "O.C. Flea." A pig makes up a sign to help himself and the other animals guard against the return of "O.C. Flea." Near the end of the story, the owl explains how O.C. D. works and how it is treated. Some of the vocabulary and concepts are fairly advanced, so an adult should read this with the child to make sure that he or she understands. Although the book is aimed at children, it might be useful for an OCD adult with a sense of humor.

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Depression

1. Kid Power Tactics for Dealing with Depression
By Nicholas & Susan Dubuqe (1996)
This is a unique and powerful book for adolescents and older elementary school aged students. It was written by an eleven year old boy who has suffered from major depression and ADHD. It is co-authored by his mother. (She has written a companion book for parents of depressed children)
The first part of the book explains, from a kid's point of view, how it feels to be depressed. He talks about "turtle" (lethargic) depression and "dragon" (irritable) depression. He briefly lists possible causes of depression, including both biological and interpersonal causes.
The bulk of the book discusses pragmatic tactics that a child or adolescent might take to help himself or herself feel better. He includes a discussion of his experiences with medication and therapy. The tactics pages contain blank lines so that the book can be used as a workbook.
Finally, he includes his address and encourages other depressed kids to write to him.
This book contains many of the practical things that I like to suggest to my depressed child and adolescent patients. However, it is often so much more effective when they hear it from another kid who has been there himself.

2. A Parent's Survival Guide to Childhood Depression
By Susan Dubuqe (1996)
This book is the companion volume to Kid Power: Tactics for Dealing with Depression. Ms. Dubuqe is the mother of a boy who has experienced major depression and ADHD. She discusses her long experience with different clinicians and different approaches. However, the bulk of the book deals with pragmatic information on many aspects of depression. Although she is not herself a mental health clinician, she has clearly done a lot of reading and has consulted a number of experts. Her discussion on the diagnosis and treatment of depression is straightforward and is not particularly dogmatic. While I did not completely agree with everything in the book, I found it an excellent accessible source of information for parents. It is easy and quick to read, but covers a lot of territory. I would recommend this book for parents struggling to deal with a depressed child or adolescent.

3. When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens by Bev Cobain (Free Spirit Press, 1998)
The author, a cousin of singer Curt Cobain, wrote this book to help make sense of her cousin's suicide. It is readable, knowledgeable and thorough. It helps adolescents understand what they might be feeling when they are depressed and discusses how to interrupt the downward spiral and find a way out. It covers both social and biological aspects of depression. It talks about ways to reach out and find resources for help.

4. The Power to Prevent Suicide: A Guide for Teens Helping Teens
By Nelson and Galas (Free Spirit Press 1994)
This book helps teens recognize the signs of depression and suicidal thoughts in their peers, and suggests ways to help. It also talks about taking care of oneself after a friend has committed suicide. It does discuss the importance of going to a responsible adult if a friend is really in trouble.

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Autism, PDD and Asperger's

1. Russell is Extra Special by C A Amenta, MD (1992, Magination Press)
This book is illustrated with black and white photos, showing a family with an autistic child. It describes a boy affected by autism and uses this as a jumping off point to describe some other aspects of autism. The family clearly cares for their autistic son and his siblings.

2. Andy and his Yellow Frisbee by Thompson (Woodbine Press, 1996)
This illustrated book is aimed at elementary school aged children. It describes a playground situation in which Andy, an autistic boy, his sister and a new student interact. The author draws some parallels between Andy's autistic self absorption and the new girl's anxiety about a new school. Andy's older sister observes the new girl trying to interact with Andy. (When a child reads this book, an adult should be available to discuss the points it illustrates.

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Alzheimer's Disease

1. The Green-Field Library of the Alzheimer's Association has a number of well-organized reading lists. Their list for children and adolescents includes sensitive picture books for elementary-school aged children and informative books and pamphlets for adolescents. There is also a list of videos appropriate for children and adolescents. The other Alzheimer's-related reading lists are also quite good.

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Interactive Decision-Making Books

     Parenting Press publishes "The Decision is Yours" series of books. Each book deals with common dilemmas faced by elementary or middle school students. At the end of each page, the reader is asked to make an ethical choice. Based on the choice, the story takes a different branching path. Positive, negative and intermediate outcomes are available. The potential outcomes are not sugar-coated. Sometimes even the "right" choice may not have an entirely happy result. 
     First Day Blues deals with different ways of making friends in a new school.  Bully on the Bus deals with different options of dealing with intimidation.  Making the Grade deals with setting priorities and dealing with the temptation to cheat in school. Finders, Keepers discusses how one deals with finding a wallet and with peer pressure to steal. Under Whose Influence?, a book for slightly older students deals with a variety of different choices related to teen drinking.
     The first four books would be appropriate for elementary school aged children and possibly some middle school students. A bright seven-year-old found them enjoyable, but benefited from some adult discussion.  Under Whose Influence? would be more appropriate for fifth grade (with supervision and discussion) and up.

1. Under Whose Influence"? (Decision is Yours Series)
Review by Nicole, age 10
This book is very appropriate for pre-teens or adolescents. It can help a child understand how important choices can be. This book lets you choose the consequences of your own actions. When you and your friends, Nicole and Katherine, are at Nicole's house, Nicole suggests drinking some whiskey and vodka from her mother's cupboard. Katherine goes along with it, but you must make a lot of choices. You must choose whether or not to drink. If you do decide to drink, how much will you drink? It is your choice whether to call your mother, to drink lots and lots get drunk and break Nicole's mother's vase and statue, or to allow your friend to get so drunk that she nearly dies. Even some of the good choices have tricky outcomes, like in the real world. It is all up to you as the story unfurls, but you must make a choice: to drink or not to drink; that is the question.

2. Bully on the Bus (Decision is Yours Series) By Carl W. Bosch
Review by Nicole, age 10

Bully on the Bus by Carl W. Bosch is about you, who are getting pestered by a bully named Nick Jones. He is about to pulverize you at the beginning of the story. You can choose to do many different things. Depending on what you choose, the story can end up with you never getting bothered by him again, or your mother getting a bit angry because you fought Nick.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

"You wait at the bus stop and chew on he end of your glove. A few flakes of snow begin to fall lightly from the gray sky. You are hoping for a big snow storm and a day off from school, but you're out of luck.

Nick Jones is waiting for you on the bus. He is the biggest, meanest kid in the fifth grade. You had an argument with him last week. You like one pro football team and Nick likes another. You gave a lot of good reasons why you think your team is better, but Nick called you a jerk. Now he wants to settle the argument with a fight. He picks on you every he sees you. He said he was going to punch your face in today.

You don't like to fight, but you don't want the other kids to think you're a coward either. You're not sure what to do.

Just then, Bus # 42 comes around the corner. It stops and the door swings open. You wait for a minute and grab your book bag. Mrs. Geller, the bus driver, calls out to you.

"Well, Jack, are you going to school today or not?"

If you decide to get on the bus, turn to page 3.

If you decide not to get on the bus, turn to page 14."

     When a child has been bullied by someone, they keep going over the event and thinking about the different ways that they could have done it "better". This book lets the child relive it constructively. It can be somewhat "sugar-coated", because no matter what there is a fairly good ending. This may help a child some, but every situation doesn't turn out perfect like it may seem in this book. This may be a good book for some children as a novel, but not really as a helping-out device after an incident.

3. Finders, Keepers; (Decision is Yours Series)
By Elizabeth Crary
Report by Nicole age ten

     Finders, Keepers by Elizabeth Crary is a book about you and Jerry, your friend. You find a wallet with some money in it. Jerry wants to buy an ice cream cone, but you need to choose what to do. If you choose the right choices you will end up getting a dollar for you and a dollar for Jerry, so you end up being able to buy an ice cream cone after all. If you choose the wrong choices, you will end up having to pay Mr. French a dollar because you took one dollar from the wallet.

     This book shows that it doesn't pay off to steal money from someone else. When your child has found someone else's money or possession, this will be a helpful lesson to you and your child. You really should add this book to your collection soon.

4. My Dad is Getting Married Again by Lisa Schab (1966)
I like the interactive decision-making books. However, I felt that this book is considerable weaker than the "Decision is Yours" series. In this book, most of the decisions seem to end up with a similar happy ending. The daughter always seems to quickly come to accept her father's remarriage. I think that this sort of book works better if there are some options of unhappy endings. Children may benefit from trying out several different scenarios and different types of endings. This book does not give the child this option. I found myself getting frustrated when each time I chose a different path, I ended up in the same type of place.

Social Skills

Other Books for Children and Parents

1. Children’s Psychological Testing: A Guide for Non-Psychologists by Wodrich (1984)
Because of the publication date, some of the tests have been changed or updated. Still, this may be a good book for mental health professionals and parents to read to help them understand the range of tests available. It should help them formulate questions for the psychologist before and after the child is tested.

2. How to Mom by Boswell, Barrett and Burg (1995)
This book is an illustrated humorous attempt to teach mothers some basic concrete skills which are considered to be part of a mother’s role. These include short chapters on "How to plait a braid" "How to write a thank-you note" "How to pack a lunch box" The book is actually better than I’ve made it sound. Some of these tips can come in handy at the right time. There is a companion volume How to Dad

3. How Rude! The Teenagers' Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out by Alex Packer, PhD Free Spirit Publishing 1997
This is actually an etiquette manual for adolescents. In a humorous tone, it justifies proper behavior. It interweaves problem solving and communication skills. It explains the "why" of certain social conventions. It encourages positive respectful assertiveness and shows how this approach can ultimately get the adolescent more of what he or she wants.

How Rude! By A. Packer, 1997 (Review by Nicole, age 10)

I think that How Rude!, written by Parker, is a very good book. It tells adolescents how to act in many different situations. These include: Movies, Funerals, On the Internet, On the Telephone, What Should Be In Letters For All Occasions, and The 40 Most Annoying Things Grown-ups Say To Their Children And Vice-Versa. It has all sorts of neat pictures and true stories about things that are what the author is trying to teach kids not to do. This may help some children and adolescence to understand what the author is talking about. But for some children and adolescence this may distract them.

I personally thought that this book was one of the best books I ever have read. It can teach kids how they can make their parents trust them enough to actually touch a car. This book is a useful guide for almost any day of the year. You also learn how to use the Internet safely and wisely.

This book also has some "Chapter Quizzes" at the end of each chapter, which use all of the information learned during that chapter. The author also put in funny stories once in a while just to keep teenagers awake while reading the book. There are the "Ten Commandments of Phone Courtesy" in a chapter about talking on the phone (What Else?).

I really liked how each chapter had a part where kids would present a problem to the author and he would go into a discussion of what to do in that situation, or similar ones. One adolescent said," I am adopted. I don’t look at all like my parents so people who see me ask me about where I come from. Sometimes even waiters ask questions like ‘Why didn’t your parents want you?’ or ‘Why were you adopted?’. It is really annoying, what can I do?". The author replied "You could say to the person ‘Isn’t it funny to question why some parents do what they do. Like for instance, were YOU on purpose, or were you an accident?’. Then the person will probably catch the hint not to ask you that in the future.". This is another instance of the author’s genius in witty, comical answers to problems that really do solve the problems.

Another example is when an adolescent wrote "My parents make me give them ten cents every time I swear. Is this fair of them?". The author wrote back "Certainly not. Your parents deserve at least twenty five cents.".

He makes a good answer to the problem, but he uses comical and witty answers. This makes the readers of the book appreciate the author as someone who actually understands them, unlike most adults. All in all I think that there is nothing that the author should change. I really liked this book, and I hope that you will enjoy it too.

4. On My Own: Helping Kids Help Themselves by Navarra (1993)
This book, aimed at older elementary and middle school aged children, is best read by parent and child together. It gives children advice about how to handle large and small emergencies when the child is alone. The advice is useful even for children who are not left at home alone.

5. Choosing is Confusing by Wirths and Bowman-Kruhm (1994)
This book is most appropriate for middle or high school students. It is more theoretical than On My Own. The book asks the questions, what is a choice? And what are the implications of my choices? This book could be read individually by a student, used as part of a small discussion group or read together by parent and adolescent.

6. No Time for Me by Barrett (1979)
Illustrated book aimed at elementary school children. A boy feels neglected and the family experiences stress when the mother returns to work. The boy is able to express his anger and hurt. The family acknowledges the stress and resolves to set aside time for family activities. The role of the grandparents is important.

No Time for Me by John Barrett  Review by Nicole, age 10.

This was a delightful children’s book, which I think should win some award. I would award it "The-Best-Book About-An-Unlisted-Disorder of the Year Award".
     No Time For Me by John M. Barrett, is a great book for a parent to read and discuss with his/her children. This book explains the common (yet mostly un-dealt with) "disease" of Neglect-itis. This is a common feeling for most children of busy professionals. Since all people may need to re-arrange dates sometime, the parents may have to go somewhere un-expectedly.
     This un-expected turn of events may mean canceling an event that they are going to with their children. Doing this frequently with the flow of business may cause children to feel neglected.
     If this is so, then this book is the exactly fitted key to that lock. The book, unfortunately, since it is a storybook, has only one solution to the problem. This does not really matter though, since it gives plenty other ideas on solving conflicts like these when they get out of hand.

7. Promise Not To Tell by Polese (1985)
Illustrated, aimed at upper elementary school age and beyond. This is the story of a girl who begins to receive special attention from a riding instructor. When he attempts sexual contact, she escapes but he pressures her not to tell. When she eventually does tell, she receives support from her family. This book is best read by both parent and child. Then it can be used as a springboard for discussion.

8. Into the Great Forest: A Story for Children Away from Parents for the First Time by Marcus and Marcus (1992)
This illustrated children’s book uses the metaphor of a prince on a quest to deal with separation anxiety. The prince achieves a sense of mastery and discovers that the forest is not as threatening as he had expected.

9. Robbie Really Transforms by Galvin and Ferraro
This illustrated book tells about a child in foster care who is obsessed by images of violence. He receives help and guidance from his social services worker, his foster parents and other professionals. This book could be a useful tool to help children in foster care or other out-of-home placements to begin to discuss their feelings and to accept help.

10. The Safe Zone by D. Chaiet and F. Russell (1998)
This excellent book could either be used as a vehicle for parent-child discussion, or as a part of a school curriculum. It would be good for older elementary school and for middle school students. It covers a wide variety of safety and personal boundary issues. In this regard, it is superior to many books on personal safety. It presents stories of children and adolescents who are each faced with a dilemma which might put them in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation. It then discusses the options and the possible outcomes.

11. The Pop-up Book of Phobias by Gary Greenberg
For adolescents and adults who find that humor helps them step back and laugh at their anxiety, phobia or obsessive ness. This book consists of paper pop-up depictions of phobias including fear of dentists, fear of heights and fear of snakes. Not for young children or those who are especially sensitive.

12. Extraordinary People with Disabilities by Kent and Quinlan (Grolier Publishing 1996)
This excellent book tells the stories of over 50 outstanding individuals who overcame their disabilities. It is written so that one can choose to read short segments. However, when I picked it up, I felt energized and needed to read it cover-to-cover.  The people profiled are from a variety of racial and economic backgrounds. Many of these individuals had physical disabilities but some of the stories profile people with learning or emotional disabilities. Through these stories, the book takes an activist stance. It tells of many who not only overcame their own disabilities, but went on to help other disabled people.  The stories make it easier to understand the points of view of disability rights activists. The final chapter gives an overview of  important new technological aids for the disabled. It explains why some of these aids are controversial among the disabled community. A glossary gives succinct definitions of many of the terms used in the book. An appendix at the back of the book list many of the major organizations that advocate for individuals with physical and mental disabilities. There is also a section listing related books and journals. I would recommend this book to high school students and adults. 

Northern County Psychiatric Associates
Offices in Lutherville and Monkton, Baltimore County, Maryland
Phone: 410-329-2028, 410-357-4448
Fax: 410-343-1272
Glenn Brynes, MD; Carol Watkins, MD and associates.

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