"We are honoured to be championing this initiative after having worked with Clare over the years on her own range of picture books that help families through tough times. As booksellers, we are advocates for books that can provide support during those moments when the right words can be difficult to find.  The 'Books That Help' site will be a place that families, teachers and healthcare professionals can find the books that can help, all in one place." (Sam Carr, Snug Bookshop)

Dream it

"We are honoured to be championing this initiative after having worked with Clare over the years on her own range of picture books that help families through tough times. As booksellers, we are advocates for books that can provide support during those moments when the right words can be difficult to find.  The 'Books That Help' site will be a place that families, teachers and healthcare professionals can find the books that can help, all in one place." (Sam Carr, Snug Bookshop) Dream it

“Books can be so helpful for you and your child at difficult times. It’s great to have one central place to find them.” (Jo Thomas, author)

“Books can be so helpful for you and your child at difficult times. It’s great to have one central place to find them.” (Jo Thomas, author)

“What a wonderful initiative. Clare Helen Welsh writes the most beautiful books herself, so any collection she curates is sure to be very valuable.” (Bob Stone, Write Blend Bookshop)

“What a wonderful initiative. Clare Helen Welsh writes the most beautiful books herself, so any collection she curates is sure to be very valuable.” (Bob Stone, Write Blend Bookshop)

ABOUT ‘BOOKS THAT HELP’

Books that help when the words are hard to find.

Clare Helen Welsh

(Founder of Books That Help)

As a former primary school teacher and mental health champion, Clare knows firsthand the impact books can have on well-being. Indeed, some of Clare’s own books have arisen from difficult personal situations where the perfect story didn’t yet exist. Clare is an advocate of sharing picture books to help families through hard times, using them to open conversations about the topics that challenge us. Creating emotionally honest spaces, where children feel able to express their feelings and are supported to navigate them, is essential in today’s world.

This site is a place for grownups to find picture books that offer support through life’s ups and downs, covering subjects that include family separations, illness, grief, anxiety, well-being, moving house and more. This is also an opportunity to celebrate a carefully curated list of outstanding picture books and the teams behind them.

Whilst these books have been written with children in mind, #BooksThatHelp firmly believes that picture books are for EVERYONE, written for an audience that includes children, but excludes no-one. Older children - and indeed grown-ups - are very much invited encouraged to read them too!

Click here for an interview about Books That Help with SCBWI Words&Pictures Magazine.

TIPS FOR USING A 'BOOK THAT HELPS' WITH A CHILD:

  • Read the book alone before sharing it with a child. This will give you time to process the themes and ensure you are prepared to use the story therapeutically.

  • Pick a moment that feels right and get comfortable. Try to be as relaxed as possible, like you would during any story.

  • Show you are interested by making positive comments about what the child sees and hears, and to keep the conversation going. “I see it too!” “And then?” “She does look sad.”

  • Reflect and use emotional labelling; “You seem worried/ anxious/ upset…” “This feels important to you.”

  • Encourage your child’s independence and problem-solving skills by responding to their questions with open-ended questions. For example, “That’s a good question.” “Why do you think the child is crying?” How, which, what, where and who questions are good, also.

  • Always comment positively and value a child's responses, even if you don’t necessarily agree. This validates their feelings and will encourage them to share other things with you.

  • Be led by the child, at their own pace and time, so that they have the control. If they aren’t particularly talkative, don’t push it. If they don't want to talk, just enjoy the story.

  • Not every reader resonates with every book. Hopefully the #BooksThatHelps site will help get the right books into the right readers' hands.