Abstract
Stories can play important roles in helping children cope with problems and overcome challenges. When young children make connections between themselves and story characters, they can use those connections to learn that other people face similar problems and gain inspiration for overcoming difficulties. Bibliotherapy, the therapeutic use of stories in children’s lives, is an approach used by counselors and health practitioners, librarians, educators, and families. In bibliotherapy, stories are used in supporting discussions between children and caring adults of children’s concerns, and as promoters for studying diverse issues that are meaningful for children’s mental health and moral development. While stories are often used in a therapeutic way, educators and families may be unaware of bibliotherapy and the strategies that can be implemented to make the therapeutic use of books, poems, films, and other forms of children’s literature more intentional and successful. This chapter presents developmental bibliotherapy as a tool to support young children’s social and emotional growth and provides suggestions for educators and families.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alemagna, B. (2014). A lion in Paris (R. Walter, Trans.). London: Tate Publishing.
Amer, K. (1999). Bibliotherapy: Using fiction to help children in two populations discuss feelings. Journal of Paediatric Nursing, 25(1), 91–95.
Andreae, G. (2012). There’s a house inside my mummy. London: Orchard Books.
Bang, M. (2004). When Sophie gets angry – Really, really angry. New York: Blue Sky Press.
Berenstain, S., & Berenstain, J. (1981). The Berenstain bears’ moving day. New York: Random House.
Bergström, G. (2006). Alfons och soldatpappan (Alfie Atkins and a Gutsy Ant). Helsinki: Tammi.
Brinton, B., & Fujiki, M. (2017). The power of stories: Facilitating social communication in children with limited language abilities. School Psychology International, 38(5), 523–540. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034317713348.
Cacciatore, R., Penna, O., Hyvärinen, K., & Komsi, N. (2008). Ihanat ipanat [Wonderful babies]. Helsinki: Wsoy.
Catalano, A. (2008). Making a place for bibliotherapy on the shelves of a curriculum materials center: The case for helping pre-service teachers use developmental bibliotherapy in the classroom. Education Libraries: Children’s Resources, 31(1), 17–22.
Child, L. (2000). I will never not ever eat a tomato. Somerville: Candlewick.
Child, L. (2005). I am absolutely too small for school. Somerville: Candlewick.
Cohen, L. J. (1993). Discover the healing power of books. The American Journal of Nursing, 93(10), 70. 72-4, 76-80. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000446-199310000-00026.
Cuyler, M. (2000). 100th day worries. New York: Simon & Schuster.
De Vries, D., Brennan, Z., Lankin, M., Morse, R., Rix, B., & Beck, T. (2017). Healing with books. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 51(1), 48–74. https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2017-V51-I1-7652.
Eisenman, G., & Harper, R. (2016). Bibliotherapy for classroom management. Dimensions of Early Childhood, 44(1), 11–17.
Elgar, F. J., & McGrath, P. J. (2003). Self-administered psychosocial treatments for children and families. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(3), 321–339.
Emberley, E. (1992). Go away, big green monster. New York: Little Brown and Company.
Favazza, P., Phillipsen, L., & Kumar, P. (2000). Measuring and promoting acceptance of young children with disabilities. Exceptional Children, 66, 491–508.
Flanagan, K. S., Vanden Hoek, K. K., Shelton, A., Kelly, S. L., Morrison, C. A., & Young, A. M. (2013). Coping with bullying: What answers does children’s literature provide? School Psychology International, 34(6), 691–706.
Fuller, R. (2009). Waiting for baby. Wiltshire: Child’s Play International.
Gerlach, H., & Subramanian, A. (2016). Qualitative analysis of bibliotherapy as a tool for adults who stutter and graduate students. Journal of Fluency Disorders, 471–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfludis.2015.12.001.
Goddard, A. T. (2011). Children’s books for use in bibliotherapy. Pediatric Health Care, 25(1), 57–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2010.08.006.
Green, A. (2009). The monster in the bubble. Jersey City: The Monsters in My Head, LLC.
Heath, M. A., Sheen, D., Leavy, D., Young, E. L., & Money, K. (2005). Bibliotherapy: A resource to facilitate emotional healing and growth. School Psychology International, 26, 563–580. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034305060792.
Heath, M. A., Smith, K., & Young, E. L. (2017). Using children’s literature to strengthen social and emotional learning. School Psychology International, 38(5), 541–561. https://doi.org/10.1177/014303431771070.
Hellard, S. (1999). Baby tiger. London: Piccadilly Press Ltd.
Hoffman, M. (2017). The great big book of feelings. London: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books.
Holmes, M. M. (2004) Writing bibliotherapy books for young children. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 17(1), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.1080/08893670410001698532
Honig, A. S. (2009). Understanding and working with non-compliant and aggressive young children. Early Child Development and Care, 179(8), 1007–1023.
Jackson, M. M., & Heath, M. A. (2017). Preserving Guam’s culture with culturally responsive children’s stories. School Psychology International, 38(5), 458–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034317719944.
Jansson, T. (1945). Moomins and the great flood. Helsinkik: WSOY.
Joiner, L. (2012). The big book of therapeutic activity ideas for children and teens: Inspiring arts-based activities and character education curricula. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Korolainen, T., & Rönns, C. (2007). Kissa Killin kiukkupussi. [Killi the Cat’s anger bag]. Helsinki: Tammi.
Kramer, P. A., & Smith, G. G. (1998). Easing the pain of divorce through children’s literature. Early Childhood Education, 26, 89–94.
Lemish, D. (2015). Children and media. A global perspective. East Sussex: John Wiley & Sons.
Lewis, K. M., Amatya, K., Coffman, M. F., & Ollendick, T. H. (2015). Treating nighttime fears in young children with bibliotherapy: Evaluating anxiety symptoms and monitoring behavior change. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 30, 103–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.12.004.
London, J. (1995). Froggy learns to swim. New York: Puffin.
Long, N., Rickert, V. I., & Aschcraft, E. W. (1993). Bibliotherapy as an adjunct to stimulant medication in the trestment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 7, 82–88.
Louhi, K. (2015). Tomppa ja piimänakki. Helsinki: Tammi.
Lovrin, M. (1995). Interpersonal support among children among 8-year-old girls who have lost their parents or siblings to AIDS. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 9(2), 92–98.
Ludwig, T. (2013). The invisible boy. New York: Knopf Books for Young Readers.
MacDonald, A. (2006). Wilfred to the rescue. Helsinki: Wsoy.
Mäki, S., & Arvola, P. (2009). Satu kantaa lasta. Opas lasten ja nuorten kirjallisuusterapiaan 1 (Story as a support for a child. A guide to literature therapy for children and young people). Helsinki: Duodecim.
Manguel, A. (2010). A reader on reading. New Haven/London: Yale University Press. Yalebooks co. uk.
Mankiw, S., & Strasser, J. (2013). Tender topics: Exploring sensitive issues with pre-K through first grade children through read-Alouds. Young Children, 68(1), 84–89.
Mantchev, L., & Yoo, T. (2015). Strictly no elephants. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Manworren, R. C., & Woodring, B. (1998). Evaluating children’ s literature as a source for patient education. Pediatric Nursing, 24(6), 548–553.
Mazza, N. (2012). Poetry/creative writing for an arts and athletics community outreach program for at-risk youth. Journal of Poetry Therapy: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Practice, Theory, Research and Education, 25(4), 225–231. https://doi.org/10.1080/08893675.2012.738491.
Mazza, N. (2017). Theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.
Mazza, N., & Hayton, C. J. (2013). Poetry therapy: An investigation of a multidimensional clinical model. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 40, 53–60.
McCarty Hynes, A. & Hynes-Berry, M. (1994/1986). Biblio/poetry therapy. The interactive process: A handbook. St Cloud: The North Star Press of St Cloud
McCulliss, D. (2012). Bibliotherapy: Historical and research perspectives. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 25(1), 23–38. https://doi.org/10.1080/08893675.2012.654944.
McDaniel, C. (2001). Children’s literature as prevention of child sexual abuse. Children’s Literature in Education, 32(3), 203–224.
McMillen & Pehrsson. (2004). Bibliotherapy for hospital patients. Journal of Hospital Librarianship, 4(1), 73–81.
Monk, L. (2017). Mouse’s big day. London: Macmillan Children’s Books.
Montgomery, P., & Maunders, K. (2015). The effectiveness of creative bibliotherapy for internalizing, externalizing, and prosocial behaviors in children: A systematic review. Children and Youth Services Review, 55, 37–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2015.05.010.
Moonspur, H. (2012). In Kindle (Ed.), Maggie mouse gets lost. Katy: Katy Internet Marketing LLC.
Moy, J. D. (2017). Reading and writing one’s way to wellness: The history of bibliotherapy and scriptotherapy. In S. M. Hilger (Ed.), New directions in literature and medicine studies (pp. 15–30). London: Springer Nature.
Munson, D. (2000). Enemy pie. San Francisco: Chronicle Books LLC.
Nasatir, D., & Horn, E. (2003). Addressing disability as a part of diversity through classroom children’s literature. Young Exceptional Children, 6(4), 2–10.
Nilsson, U. (2006). Alla döda små djur (Let us play funeral, again). Stockholm: Bonnier Carlsen.
Pardeck, J., & Pardeck, J. A. (1993). Bibliotherapy: A clinical approach for helping children (Special Aspects of Education 16). New York: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers.
Pardeck, J., & Pardeck, J. A. (1998). Children in foster care and adoption: A guide to bibliotherapy. Westport: Greenwood Press.
Parker, K. (2017). Saved by the book: A brief introduction to bibliotherapy. Retrieved 1st of January 2019 from https://www.windhorseimh.org/mental-health-arts/saved-by-the-book-introduction-bibliotherapy/.
Parr, T. (2014). It’s okay to make mistakes. New York: Little Brown and Company.
Pennebaker, J. W. (2004). Writing to heal: A guided journal for recovering from trauma and emotional upheaval. Oakland: New Harbinger Press.
Pennebaker, J. W. (2010). Expressive writing in a clinical setting. Independent Practitioner, 2010, 23–25.
Pierce, L. M. (2015). The use of bibliotherapy among adolescents and their family. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 26(4), 323–330.
Pola, A., & Nelson, R. (2014). The impact of bibliotherapy on positive coping in children who have experienced disaster. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 48(4), 341–344.
Polacco, P. (1997). Thundercake. New York: PaperStar.
Prater, M. A., Johnstun, M. L., Dyches, T. T., & Johnstun, M. R. (2006). Using Children’s books as Bibliotherapy for at-risk students: A guide for teachers. Journal Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 50(4), 5–10. https://doi.org/10.3200/PSFL.50.4.5-10.
Rubin, R. J. (1978). Using bibliotherapy: A guide to theory and practice. London: Oryx Press.
Schumacher, R. B., & Wantz, R. A. (1995). Constructing and using interactive workbooks to promote therapeutic goals. Elementary School Guidance and Counselling, 29, 303–311.
Seuss. (1960). Green eggs and ham. New York: Beginner Books.
Siegel, M. (2011). Moving house. New York: MacMillan’s publishers, Roaring Brook Press.
Smith, M. C., Vartanian, L. R., DeFrates-Densch, N., van Loon, P. C., & Locke, S. (2003). Self-help books for parents of adolescents, 1980–1993. Family Relations, 52, 174–179.
Snicket, L. (2013). The dark. New York: Little Brown and Co.
Stamps, L. S. (2003). Bibliotherapy: How books can help students cope with concerns and conflicts. The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 70, 25–29.
Suvilehto, P. (2008). Lasten luova kirjoittaminen psyykkisen tulpan avaajana. Tapaustutkimus pohjoissuomalaisen sairaalakoulun ja Päätalo-instituutin 8–13-vuotiaiden lasten kirjoituksista [Creative writing as an opener of children’s emotional blocks. A case study of the writings of children aged 8–13 attending a Northern Finnish hospital school and Päätalo Institute]. Publications of the University of Oulu B:83.
Suvilehto, P. (2011). Otso ja soiton salaisuus (A Bear and the secret of music). Illustration K. Pertamo. Ranua: Mäntykustannus. Finnish Association of Poetry Therapy (2017): http://poetrytherapy.org/ Read 27.6.2017. NAPT 2017. National Association of Poetry Therapy. https://poetrytherapy.org/index.php/about-napt/history-of-napt/
Suvilehto, P. (2016). Horror and aggression in children’s creative writing: Implications for bibliotherapy and child development. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 29(2), 105–115.
Suvilehto, P. (2019a). A study of animal characters as representations of humans: The animality/bibliotherapy test. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 32(2), 95–108. https://doi.org/10.1080/08893675.2019.1583414.
Suvilehto, P. (2019b). Human-animal interaction at the stable: Observations of an Infant’s pony and bunny contacts and literary arts in a case study. The international journal of arts education, 14(1), 15–33. https://doi.org/10.18848/2326-9944/CGP/v14i01/15-33.
Suvilehto, P., & Ebeling, H. (2008). Kirjallisuusterapia lasten ja nuorten kehityksen tukena. [Literature therapy to support the development of children and young people]. Duodecim, 124(5), 27–33.
Suvilehto, P., & Latomaa, T. (2018). Writing with horses: Poetry with therapeutic art activities supporting self-expression in a case study. Journal of Poetry Therapy, 31(4), 224–243. https://doi.org/10.1080/08893675.2018.1505250.
Swanson, S. M. (2008). The house in the night. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Sweeney, L. G., & L’Abate, L. (2011). Research on writing approaches in mental health. West Yorkshire: Emerald Group Publishing Limited Bingley.
The Valve School of Literary Arts for Children. Retrieved 3rd July in 2017 from http://www.kulttuurivalve.fi/sivu/en/children_young_people/
Theron, L., Cockcroft, K., & Wood, L. (2017). The resilience-enabling value of African folktales: The read-me-to-resilience intervention. School Psychology International, 38(5), 491–506. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034317719941.
Tolin, D. F. (2001). Case study: Bibliotherapy and extinction treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in a 5-year-old boy. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 40, 1111–1114.
Viorst, J. (1972). Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Waddel, M. (2001). Owl babies. London: Walker Books.
Words that heal –webpages. Retrieved 1st of January 2019 from https://wordsthatheal.com.au/about/brief-history-of-bibliotherapy/
Yuan, S., Zhou, X., Zhang, Y., Zhang, H., Pu, J., Yang, L., & Xie, P. (2018). Comparative efficacy and acceptability of bibliotherapy for depression and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 14, 353–365. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S152747.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Suvilehto, P., Kerry-Moran, K.J., Aerila, JA. (2019). Supporting Children’s Social and Emotional Growth Through Developmental Bibliotherapy. In: Kerry-Moran, K.J., Aerila, JA. (eds) Story in Children’s Lives: Contributions of the Narrative Mode to Early Childhood Development, Literacy, and Learning. Educating the Young Child, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19266-2_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19266-2_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-19265-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-19266-2
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)