Five Children's Books to Support Healthy Families

The research and information about ACES – Adverse Childhood Experiences – is critical in helping us better support children and families who have experienced trauma. But it’s even more critical to focus on what individuals and communities can actually do to help alleviate the negative effects of ACES. In Pierce County, our early learning coalition, Project Child Success, is using the Five Protective Factors as a framework for our efforts.

The Five Protective Factors are the foundation of the Strengthening Families Approach:

1. Parental resilience
2. Social connections
3. Concrete support in times of need
4. Knowledge of parenting and child development
5. Social and emotional competence of children.

Research studies show that when these Protective Factors are well established in a family, the likelihood of child abuse and neglect diminishes. They also build on a family’s strengths and place hardship in context.

We can support the protective factors in our communities and workplaces in large and small ways. One of the small ways the library is supporting them is using picture books to highlight each factor. Here are just a few to illustrate this idea:

Parental Resilience

Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley

Buckley misses his Papa and each day gathers driftwood to make a boat, attaching a note to it and sending it adrift to wherever Papa is now. Bagley effectively uses an animal family in this beautiful story of grief, resilience, and love.

Social Connections

Grandma’s Tiny House: A Counting Story by JaNay Brown-Wood

There are so many wonderful things about this book! It counts beyond 10, is filled with joy and connection, and a child is the one to solve the problem. Celebrating friends and family gatherings is a wonderful way to highlight the importance of social connections.

Concrete Support in Times of Need

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

Every Sunday, CJ and his Nana ride the bus to the same place. CJ complains, but Nana always seems to have a loving way to respond. This lovely book (A Newbury winner!) promotes a place that offers concrete support in times of need. But CJ’s Nana’s approach to life does the same.

Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development

The Boss Baby by Marla Frazee

This hilarious book illustrates all the exhaustion, efforts, and love that is required of all new parents. A must read for every new parent.

Social Emotional Competence of Children

Wild Feelings by David Milgrim

This funny book features many similes that English speakers use to describe feelings. It also delivers a comforting message about big feelings (with many laughs along the way).

Picture books are a creative way to approach difficult feelings, events, and challenges. They are one small way to promote the protective factors and offer gentle support for families. Your local librarian can help you find more wonderful books that your children and families will love.