Annie Mouse Meets a New Friend by Anne M. Slanina

This book should be shared with all children since it can help them develop coping skills and empathy for others, even if they are not faced with the same situation in the book. This is a wonderful book for helping children understand that they are not responsible for an adult’s displaced anger. When a parent is unable to cope effectively as a parent, whether it is due to illness or stress in general, young children can believe that it is their fault. Young children naturally believe that they are responsible for everything that occurs they are developmentally egocentric.

Following is a brief list of some of my personal favorites. Social and emotional development of young children can be enhanced if we carefully choose the books we share with them and allow ample opportunity for them to ask questions and relate the situations to their own feelings. If they have been presented with literature that addresses a variety of difficulties prior to having a crisis, they will be better equipped to cope when the need arises. )Īll children will experience adversity of one kind or another at some point in their lives.

I have since made bibliotherapy, using books for working through difficult situations, my professional focus in order to assist parents and teachers with addressing challenging situations through literature. I realized then that I should have used picture books to help him understand what was about to happen to his brother, prior to the hospitalization of his brother. Years ago, as a young mother, I realized that I did not properly prepare my toddler for his baby brother’s hospitalization and came to learn that he mistakenly believed that I had punished his brother for being “bad.” This was the result of my explanation, “your brother has to be in the hospital until he is better.” To my toddler, “better” was the opposite of “bad” and I had sent the baby away for crying too much! My once-happy toddler became fearful and angry.

Annie Mouse Meets a New Friend by Anne M. Slanina