Parenting with Picture Books

I recently had a parent ask for books for a child transitioning to a big kid bed. It was my pleasure to find several books that tackled the subject. Picture books are a great way to help children make transitions.

There is a 2018 study found in Frontiers in Psychology entitled “The Role of Book Features in Young Children’s Transfer of Information from Picture Books to Real-World Contexts”. The study covers a lot of territory but concludes with the very easy-to-understand-and-implement fact that having a conversation during the reading of a book supports learning and that talking and reading together makes any book-reading session fun and educational.

When my kids were little (and before I went to library school), I thought picture books were just for a laugh or for learning to read. I wish I knew at the time that a good picture book could help with easing those common childhood transitions. These are my kids with a treat after the first day of school many years ago. A treat also helps with transitions!

Besides moving to a bid kid bed, there are many changes that can be eased by reading and talking about them: potty training, saying good bye to a pacifier, moving, first day of school worries, new siblings, and fear of the dark. There are also picture books to help with more serious issue such as anxiety, illness, and grief.

Below are a few examples of the many picture books that families with young children might find helpful. There are other materials available in our catalog including eBooks and audiobooks. The librarians at your branch would be delighted to help you find materials for your child’s specific transition concern.

Big Kid Bed

The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan

A young girl tries to persuade her father that he is the one who should sleep in a special, little bed while she shares the big bed with Mommy.

A Big Bed for Little Snow by Grace Lin

When winter comes, Mommy makes a soft bed for Little Snow to sleep on, but each night he cannot resist jumping on the bed, causing tiny feathers to fly down.

Big Kid Bed by Leslie Patricelli

When it is time for bed, a baby marvels at his new big kid bed.

I Sleep in a Big Bed by Maria Van Lieshout

A child who used to sleep in a crib celebrates graduating to sleep in a big kids' bed--even though waking up there in the middle of the night can be a little scary.

My New Big Kid-Bed by Debbie Bertram

When his new dinosaur-themed bed casts scary shadows at night, a child seeks comfort from other family members.

Potty Training

Big Girl Panties by Fran Manushkin

"Features a light, positive approach to motivate toddlers to become toilet trained. What could be more rewarding for a little girl than wearing big girl panties, just like mommy?"--Descriptions from publisher.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood - Daniel's Potty Time

"Do you have to go potty? Maybe yes? Maybe no? Daniel Tiger is so excited for his day that he doesn't want to go to the potty. But then he learns that it's important to sit and try to go"-- Page 4 of cover.

A Potty for Me!: A Lift-the-Flap Instruction Manual by Karen Katz

Mommy got me a brand new potty!
But I'm not ready yet!
I want to run and play.
Uh-oh, I peed in my pants.
But Mommy says, "That's okay!"
Children will love following along and lifting the flaps to see the child play, sit on the potty, eat, sit on the potty, sleep, and then sit on the potty...until finally there is success.
Written from a child's point of view, this new potty-training book will help children join in the final refrain, "I'm so proud of me!"

Sesame Street - P Is for Potty! by Lena Cooper

Elmo babysits for his little cousins and encourages them to learn to use the potty.

Undies Please! by Sumana Seeboruth

"'Undies! For me. Like those, Daddy!' This excited tot can't wait to get a pair of undies. Time to learn to use the potty!"-- Back cover.

Pacifier

Bye-Bye Binky by Maria Van Lieshout

A little girl explains that she does not need a pacifier anymore, because she is a big kid now.

Kiki's Pacifier by Esther van den Berg

"Mommy thinks Kiki is too big for her pacifier. She would like Kiki to keep her teeth nice and strong by gnawing. Are teeth really that important? Kiki goes to visit her animal friends to see what they can do with their teeth"--Page 4 of cover.

No More Pacifier for Piggy! by Bernette G. Ford and Sam Williams

Piggy gradually learns to give up his pacifier.

Pacifiers Are Not Forever by Elizabeth Verdick

Simple text and colorful illustrations designed to help a toddler give up his pacifier. Includes tips for parents and caregivers.

Sesame Street - Bye-Bye Pacifier! Big Kid Stories with Elmo (DVD)

Becoming a big kid can be hard sometimes. For a young child it can be tough to give up a binky, learn to ride a tricycle or get a first haircut. With a story where Elmo remembers giving up his binky as the centerpiece, this release will feature stories that preschoolers can relate to, as well as giving useful suggestions to parents.

Moving

Alexander, Who's Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst

Angry Alexander refuses to move away if it means having to leave his favorite friends and special places.

The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day by Stan Berenstain

The Bear family decides it is time to move to a larger house.

Clare's Goodbye by Libby Gleeson

Three children find a way to say goodbye to their old house before they move.

Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina

Evelyn Del Rey is Daniela's best friend. They do everything together and even live in twin apartments across the street from each other: Daniela with her Mami and hamster, and Evelyn with her Mami, Papi, and cat. But not after today--not after Evelyn moves away. Until then, the girls play amid the moving boxes until it's time to say goodbye, making promises to keep in touch, because they know that their friendship will always be special. The tenderness of Meg Medina's beautifully written story about friendship and change is balanced by Sonia Sánchez's colorful and vibrant depictions of the girls' urban neighborhood.

We are Moving by Mercer Mayer

When Mom and Dad tell Little Critter they have exciting news, he thinks they mean getting a dog--not moving to a new house! Will he be able to bring his sandbox? What if he has to go to a new school full of bullies? What if his new next-door neighbors are monsters? Eventually, Little Critter learns moving is not so bad after all...

Worry

I'm Worried by Michael Ian Black

Potato is worried about what might happen in the future, causing Flamingo to worry, too, but their friend, a little girl, encourages them to focus on enjoying the present, instead.

The Pout-Pout Fish and the Worry-Worry Whale by Deborah Diesen

Mr. Fish and Willa Whale are on their way to a birthday party, but Willa is worried about fitting in so Mr. Fish shows her how to overcome her social anxiety by tackling the worries one at a time.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

A mouse named Wemberly, who worries about everything, finds that she has a whole list of things to worry about when she faces the first day of nursery school.

The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright

Reassuring text and lighthearted illustrations combine in the story of an anxiety-prone little dinosaur whose plans for a special picnic are complicated by fears about what could go wrong, before a little support from a loved one helps him find ways to soothe his butterflies.

The Worry Box by Suzanne Chiew

"Murray Bear has so many worries! Luckily, his sister, Molly, knows just what to do. ‘Sharing worries always makes them feel smaller,’ she says. She also tells him about her worry box. ‘When I'm worried about something,’ she says, ‘I write it down, then put it inside.’ Then Molly offers to help make one for Murray, and he takes it on their journey to the waterfall -- but will it really help?"--Back cover.

For Parents

Ready, Set, Go!: A Gentle Parenting Guide to Calmer, Quicker Potty Training by Sarah Ockwell-Smith

Anxiety Relief for Kids: On-the-Spot Strategies to Help Your Child Overcome Worry, Panic & Avoidance by Bridget Flynn Walker

Provides quick in-the-moment solutions that can be used when anxiety takes hold.

When your child has an anxiety disorder, it hurts to see them afraid or constantly worried. Walker provides quick solutions based in evidence-based CBT and exposure therapy. You'll learn to identify your child's avoidant and safety behaviors, as well as anxiety triggers that set your child off. You'll also discover tailored interventions you can use now to help your child thrive.

Notes

Strouse, Gabrielle A et al. “The Role of Book Features in Young Children's Transfer of Information from Picture Books to Real-World Contexts.” Frontiers in psychology vol. 9 50. 6 Feb. 2018, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00050

- by Connie, Hopewell Branch