Presents a five-step process for creating therapeutic stories to help young children facing psychological problems. Includes sample story vignettes and a story appropriate for children going through the grieving process. (KB)

Gay and lesbian youth encounter most of the typical biological and cognitive changes of adolescence. However, cultural circumstances create differences in the social and emotional development of many gay and lesbian teens. In the United States, these teens often live within social environments characterized by a hostile fear and an active…

Twelve adolescent novels with the theme of obesity were selected for critical analysis. The novels were assessed for readability and to determine the approach to overweight portrayed by writers. The books were also examined in light of the concept of lookism prejudice. Recommendations were offered to teachers and counselors for use of these books…

Extensive attention has been put on same-gender bullying. Yet, very little emphasis has been placed on an issue of growing concern, girls who bully boys. This article reviews characteristics of bullying; highlights the issue of female bullies who target males; and discusses anti-bullying strategies and practices for home, school, and community…

Use of bibliotherapy to address childhood teasing and bullying is an innovative approach school nurses should consider as they work to promote a healthy school environment. Children's books serve as a unique conduit of exchange between parents, teachers, and children. Bibliotherapy, using books to help people solve problems, involves three stages:…

Rich with case material and artwork samples, this volume demonstrates a range of creative approaches for facilitating children's emotional reparation and recovery from trauma. Contributors include experienced practitioners of play, art, music, movement and drama therapies, bibliotherapy, and integrative therapies, who describe step-by-step…

Addressing the effects of rapidly escalating divorce rates on children, this 86-item annotated bibliography looks at using bibliotherapy individually, in designated groups, or for whole classes as a means of providing support and growth for preadolescents. Topics and specific problems addressed by the entries in the annotated bibliography include:…

This critical review examines 18 books available to the general public about learning disabilities (LD) and offers guidelines for use of these books by professionals. Books are grouped into three categories: those written from the perspective of parents and individuals with learning disabilities, those written from an LD professional's…

This handbook was designed to provide a basic introduction to and understanding of stress and its impact upon children. Several coping techniques for children are presented along with the methods with which to teach them. These techniques are intended to provide a resource for school psychologists working with children and adolescents who are…

Bibliotherapy can change children's attitudes toward reading and can help children solve the developmental problems they face. Research suggests that there is a significant correlation between self-concept and reading achievement. The middle school teacher must be aware of the correlation and use a variety of materials and techniques to develop…

Bibliotherapy, the use of reading materials to examine one's personality, contributes to adjustment, growth, development, and remediation. Accordingly, social studies reading materials at both elementary and secondary levels have the potential for changing human behavior while transmitting knowledge, creating further interest among children in the…

As a reference guide to selection of children's books, this book considers the appropriateness of such books for bibliotherapy as well as issues of a societal and developmental nature. Each of the book's chapters contains an introduction to an issue, a section relating particular books to the topic, suggestions for activities that teachers or…

This paper explores the impact of books on young readers, and briefly examines several titles that can help children and adolescents understand the world around them. Following a brief review of research studies that have shown that reading literature affects the values that children hold, the paper discusses titles dealing with death, personal…

To improve the quality of life of institutionalized individuals, libraries can serve as a constructive escape mechanism for dealing with stress, a representation of external reality, and a therapeutic agent, in addition to offering bibliotherapy. Ideally, the library should be an integral part of the institution and provide a user-appropriate…

The effectiveness of a self help book on assertiveness training was assessed by comparing two bibliotherapy conditions with group therapy and a waiting list control condition. One group of bibliotherapy subjects read a popular paperback with no therapist contact, while the other group additionally participated in informal discussion sessions.…