Reading can help children’s mental health

The power of reading is amazing! It opens the world in front of your eyes and takes you into a journey of discovery.

This journey can also be of self-discovery. If your child or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues , or perhaps you are not sure how to approach the subject , why not try one of these books?

The list is taken from the Book Trust and all books are widely available from major retailers and libraries.

Me and My Brian author Helen Rutter recommends some excellent stories that explore mental health.

”Here are some great books that have mental health themes running through them:

• When I See Blue by Lily Bailey: This book offers an insight into OCD and sparked some interesting conversations with my daughter.
• See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng: An absorbing and quirky road trip story with a great main character who is dealing with big questions.
• A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll: The story takes you into the mind of Addie, a young autistic girl who finds a connection with the women who were once tried as witches in her village.
• Wonder by R J Palacio: I wept buckets reading Auggie’s story and I wasn’t the only one. Wonder is obviously a huge success around the world and the empathy it builds is a large reason why.
• Skellig by David Almond: A magical and moving story about a boy and an unlikely angel.
• The Rollercoaster Boy by Lisa Thompson: An adventure story with mystery and heart. A sensitive portrayal of a parent with bipolar disorder.
• Me and My Brian by Helen Rutter, illustrated by Claudia Petrazzi, is out now.”

You can access more titles suitable for ages 4-12 yrs by scanning the QR Code below: