Bibliotherapy
Bibliotherapy is the sharing of carefully selected literature with a child
for the purpose of helping the child work through a tough situation.
Children will be able to identify with the problems of the characters
and can work through those problems by connecting to the text.
They can then see how they are not alone and work towards
understanding and resolving the problem or situation.
Sources can be any form of text including books, magazines, and
poetry.
Bibliotherapy can
help a child achieve
Self-Actualization by
assisting with issues
dealing with safety,
love and belonging,
and esteem.
Literature can be shared with
children when dealing with
concerns about safety
homelessness; love and
belonging, like bullying or family
dynamics; or about esteem, for
example, being the best you can
be.
Image retrieved from Bing Images
When should I use BIBLIOTHERAPY?
Anytime a child is dealing with a tough situation!
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Divorce
Death
Moving
Bullying
Special health needs
Feeling different
Prejudice/Understanding different cultures
Ways to use bibliotherapy
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Large or small group read aloud
Given to a child for independent reading
Story on CD in the listening center
Recommend to parent to read and discuss
with child
• Literature circles (group according to content
for discussion)
Many series deal with situations
appropriate for bibliotherapy.
Many authors have books useful in bibliotherapy such as Patricia
Polacco.
Patricia Palocco’s own story about
struggling with dyslexia.
A grandmother helps her
granddaughter deal with her fear of a
thunderstorm approaching.
Bibliotherapy can be used by any adult who
is concerned about a child’s well being.
- Teachers
- Parents or other relative
- Librarians
- Friends
- Counselors/Therapists
It helps to be comfortable with the book
and subject matter you are addressing.
How do I pick the right book?
•Identify the problem.
•Select literature relevant to the problem.
•Have a main character that the child can identify with
(similar age, gender, situation)
•The text should be age appropriate and culturally sensitive.
•Text and pictures should be free of prejudice and
stereotypes.
Book Suggestions
Being different from the rest of your
class makes you unique.
A good book for explaining that
everyone has a bad day.
Books to help a child deal with moving.
A story made to help a child who is
moving.
A little girl is angry about moving
and leaving her best friend.
Books to help children understand
divorce.
Losing a loved one
or a pet can be hard
to deal with for any
child. These books
can help.
It’s OK to be scared.
Making new friends…
How to deal with bullies.
Bibliotherapy can be used to help
change unacceptable behaviors such
as teasing or lying.
Literature can help children understand that all
families are special including their own.
Sugar loves her Mama, who is
incarcerated.
A two mother household is full of
love.
Literature can help children learn
to understand a medical diagnosis
by reading about another person
who shares that disease or
disorder. It is helpful to know that
they are not the only one with a
special need or condition.
Some suggestions…
Tourette Syndrome
Sensory Processing Disorder
Overcoming physical limitations…
Life threatening food allergies can be scary for a child. These books help
explain food allergies, as well as provide ways to keep a child safe. They also
provide support by showing that the child is not alone.
Bibliotherapy can be humorous!
Understanding cultures…
Its hard to be the only child without a
Christmas tree in December.
A little Spanish speaking girl visits relatives in
Ohio and is frustrated that no one
understands her. Great for ELL children!
Books can give children ideas on how
to support others in their life battles.
A class shows support for a girl with
leukemia by shaving their heads while
she undergoes chemotherapy.
A town combats prejudice by placing
menorahs in windows of non-Jewish
families to support a Jewish family during
the holidays.
A book for children who have a loved one
with cancer .
A book about growing up with a
brother or sister with special needs.
If you are concerned about reading a book with controversial subject
matter, consider recommending it to a parent or relative to read at
home. As an educator, you may find books that would be helpful to a
child but, unfortunately, are dealing with topics that are not able to be
discussed in a school setting.
Follow up activities
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Many activities can enhance the effectiveness of the text.
Draw a picture related to the text.
Write what happens to the characters next.
Perform a puppet show.
Write a song about how the character feels.
Write a poem about the subject matter.
Rewrite the story from another character’s viewpoint.
Discuss other ways the characters could have handled the
situation. What could they have done better? How would you
have handled the situation.
Keep in mind…
• Use caution when dealing with controversial
subject matter. (drugs, sexuality, incarceration)
You might meet some resistance.
• Become familiar with the text before sharing it
with a child.
• Learn about the child and what they need.
More suggestions…
• In a school setting, read to a small group of
children as to not single an individual child
out.
• Bibliotherapy is meant to be therapeutic!
• Good luck helping our children overcome their
problems!
Bibliography
• All book cover pictures were retrieved from
barnesandnoble.com
• www.best-childrens-books.com/bibliotherapy.html
• www.childrens-behavior-book.html (provides a place to write your own personalized
bibliotherapy story)
• www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d82.html
• http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/pub/eres/EDSPC715_MCINTYRE/Biblio.
html
Created by:
Barbara R. Dripps-Wilson
Graduate Student
Slippery Rock University
Teacher/Family Educator
Beaver County Head Start