This episode explores the various reading stages and how to select relevant literature for your child. 

USEFUL LINKS: 

The Jai Jais

TLC Speech Therapy

Book Therapy (Bibliotherapy)

Stages of Reading – Recommended Reading

Babies (Up to 1 year old)

First 100 Words by Roger Priddy 

 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

 Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell 

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See? By Bill Martin and Eric Carle 

Toddlers (Age 1 to 3)

Good Night Moon

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

Aliens Wear Underpants

Rosie’s Walk

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt

How to Catch A Star

Late Pre-school (Ages 3 - 4)

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson

The Book of Moomin, Mymble and Little My by Tove Jansson

The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff

The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers

Why the Animals Came to Town by Michael Foreman

Foundation/Reception (Age 5)

The Last Wolf by Mini Grey

The Crocodile Who Didn’t Like Water by Gemma Merino

Supertato by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet

The Bumblebear by Nadia Shireen

How to be a Lion by Ed Vere

Key stage 1 (Ages 6–7)

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

Slime by David Walliams

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

The Magic Tree House Series (40+ books) by Mary Pope Osborne

The Secret Seven Series (15 books) by Enid Blyton

The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton 

Key stage 2 Juniors (Ages 7–8)

A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Treasure Island by R L Stevenson

Secondary (Ages 9–13)

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

Northern Lights - The Graphic Novel Volume I by Philip Pullman

This episode explores how reading and writing can benefit children’s mental well-being and how bibliotherapy can have a profound impact on children’s mental wellbeing. 

 

USEFUL LINKS: 

National Literacy Trust’s Mental well-being, reading and writing UCL study

Reading Stages proposed by Maryanne Wolf (2008) in her book Proust and the squid: the story and science of the reading brain

The Magical Healing Quality of Bibliotherapy

Bibliotherapy, Literature & Mental Health online course

Reading Affirmation Cards for Raising A Reader

Children’s A – Z of Book Recommendations

Help Your Child Become a Lifelong Reader

Book Recommendations for Different issues for Children (0-5 years)

A: Attachment and Growth

First Day of School: Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Moving: Amelia’s Notebook by Marissa Moss

The Anxious Child: Wemberley Worried by Kevin Henkes

Missing Parents: The Kissing Hand

B: Creativity and Critical Thinking 

Seeing Yourself As Creative - The Dot by Peter H Reynolds

Imagination - Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Confidence in Creativity - Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae

Emotional Intelligence - My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss

C: Childhood Challenges

Telling the Truth - Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto

Losing a Tooth - Little Rabbit’s Loose Tooth by Lucy Bate

Dyslexia - Thank You, My Falker by Patricia Polacco

Everyone Has Bad Days - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Moving to a New Country - Angel Child, Dragon Child by Michele Maria Surat

D: Bullying and Bullying Friendships

Being Yourself - The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Letting Go of Pride - The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

Bullying - Wonder by R J Palacio

Cultural Differences and Friendship - Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

E: Family Matters

Divorce - Dinosaurs Divorce by Marc Brown

Adoption and Sibling Rivalry - Jin Woo by Eve Bunting

Illness in the Family - Punk Wig by Lori Ries

Dementia - My New Granny by Elisabeth Steinkellner

In this episode, we discuss why Imagination is essential to a child’s development and how you can develop and cultivate this important, creative ability.

USEFUL LINKS: 

Book Therapy (Bibliotherapy)
The Jai Jais
TLC Speech Therapy
Dr Stephanie Carlson’s Study on Executive Function, Pretend Play and Imagination