Books for Children & Adolescents (by topic)

ADHD

• All Dogs Have ADHD by Kathy Hoopmann — A charming, photo-illustrated book that uses dogs to explain ADHD in a way that feels validating and fun for young readers. Great for early elementary age.
• Cory Stories: A Kid’s Book about Living with ADHD by Jeanne Kraus — Follows a relatable boy named Cory through daily life with ADHD, explaining the diagnosis in accessible, child-friendly language.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Blue Bottle Mystery: An Asperger Adventure by Kathy Hoopmann — A graphic novel adventure story featuring a boy with Asperger’s. Engaging and affirming for kids who see themselves in the main character.
• Different Like Me: My Book of Autism Heroes by Jennifer Elder — Profiles famous historical figures who were thought to be on the autism spectrum, helping children see their differences as strengths.
• The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (And Their Parents) by Elizabeth Verdick — A practical, reassuring guide written directly for kids on the spectrum, covering everything from school and friendships to feelings and family.

Body Image

• A Smart Girl’s Guide: Body Image by Mel Hammond — A thoughtful guide helping girls develop a healthy, realistic relationship with their bodies in a world full of unrealistic images and comparisons.
• The Body Image Book for Girls: Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless by Charlotte Markey — Written by a researcher who studies body image, this book gives girls evidence-based tools to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin.

Divorce

• Dinosaurs Divorce by Marc Brown and Laurie Krasny Brown — A classic, warmly illustrated picture book that walks young children through the many feelings and situations that come with family change.
• Ginny Morris and Mom’s House, Dad’s House by Mary Collins Gallagher — Follows a girl navigating life between two homes, exploring common feelings and questions in a reassuring, age-appropriate way.
• Let’s Talk About It: Divorce by Fred Rogers — From the beloved Mr. Rogers, this gentle book reassures children that they are loved and not to blame when families change.

Empathy

• Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning about Empathy by Bob Sornson — A simple, effective story that teaches children to notice and consider the feelings of the people around them.
• Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud — A beloved classic that uses the metaphor of an invisible bucket to teach kindness, empathy, and the ripple effect of our actions on others.

Grief

• Bug in a Vacuum by Melanie Watt — A surprisingly profound picture book about a bug trapped in a vacuum who cycles through denial, bargaining, anger, and acceptance. A gentle, wordless way to open conversations about loss.
• City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems — A beautifully illustrated, quietly powerful story about friendship and loss across seasons. Appropriate for a wide age range.
• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst — Reassures children that love creates an invisible bond that connects us to those we love, even when they are far away or have died.
• Tell Me, Papa by Marvin Johnson and Joy Johnson — A tender, honest book that answers children’s questions about death and dying in simple, comforting language.
• The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia — A classic story about a leaf named Freddie who learns about life, change, and death through the turning of the seasons. Quietly beautiful for all ages.
• When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown — A straightforward, compassionate guide that answers children’s honest questions about death, funerals, and grief.

Learning

• What Smart Students Know: Maximum Grades. Optimum Learning. Minimum Time. by Adam Robinson — A practical, research-informed guide teaching students how to study smarter, retain information more effectively, and take control of their own learning.

Social Skills & Friendship

• A Smart Girl’s Guide: Drama, Rumors & Secrets by Nancy Holyoke — Helps girls navigate the complicated social landscape of middle school, including gossip, rumor mills, and staying true to themselves.
• A Smart Girl’s Guide: Friendship Troubles by Patti Kelley Criswell — Tackles the real challenges of girl friendships — fights, exclusion, and popularity — with warmth and practical advice.
• Growing Friendships: A Kid’s Guide to Making and Keeping Friends by Eileen Kennedy-Moore and Christine McLaughlin — Written by a child psychologist, this friendly guide gives kids concrete, research-based strategies for building and maintaining meaningful friendships.

Books for Parents & Adults

Anxiety

• Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents by Eli R. Lebowitz — Written by the developer of the SPACE program, this book guides parents through reducing their own accommodating behaviors to help their anxious child build genuine independence.

Feeding & Sleep

• Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber — The classic, evidence-based guide to understanding and addressing children’s sleep difficulties. A go-to resource for exhausted parents.
• How to Get Your Kid to Eat But Not Too Much by Ellyn Satter — A foundational book on the Division of Responsibility in feeding — helping parents understand their role versus their child’s role at the table to reduce mealtime battles.

General Parenting

• Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood by Jim Fay and Charles Fay — Practical, warm guidance for parents of young children on building cooperation, responsibility, and a loving relationship from the very beginning.
• NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman — A fascinating, research-driven look at what science actually tells us about raising children — often challenging conventional parenting wisdom in surprising ways.
• Parenting Teens With Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay — Applies the Love and Logic approach to the unique challenges of adolescence, helping parents raise responsible, self-sufficient teens without constant battles.
• Parenting With Love and Logic by Foster Cline and Jim Fay — The foundational Love and Logic book, teaching parents how to set limits with empathy and allow natural consequences to do the teaching.
• Transforming the Difficult Child: The Nurtured Heart Approach by Howard Glasser and Jennifer Easley — A strengths-based approach for parents of intense, challenging children that focuses on building inner wealth rather than managing behavior through consequences alone.

Parenting Girls

• Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour — A warm, clinically grounded guide that helps parents understand what is actually happening developmentally during the teenage years — and how to stay connected through it.

Self-Harming Teens

• You’re on Fire, It’s Fine: Effective Strategies for Parenting Teens with Self-Destructive Behaviors by Katie K. May — A compassionate, practical guide for parents navigating the frightening and confusing experience of a teenager who engages in self-destructive behavior.

Social Skills

• The Science of Making Friends: Helping Socially Challenged Teens and Young Adults by Elizabeth A. Laugeson — Written by the developer of the UCLA PEERS® program, this book translates the research behind social skills into practical guidance for parents and teens.

Trauma

• The Modern Trauma Toolkit by Christy Gibson MD — A personalized, science-based approach to post-traumatic growth that goes beyond traditional trauma narratives and offers practical tools for healing.
• Unspoken Legacy: Addressing the Impact of Trauma and Addiction within the Family by Claudia Black — Explores how trauma and addiction pass through generations within families, and offers a compassionate framework for breaking those cycles.