Reading anything at all (except perhaps social media posts) can be highly beneficial to mental health and wellbeing.
Reading Well for Children
We have sets of Reading Well for Children for loan. The books were selected by The Reading Agency and are all recommended by health experts, as well as people with lived experience of the conditions and topics covered and their relatives and carers.
Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families.
The booklist is targeted at children in Key Stage 2 (aged 7-11), but includes titles aimed at a wide range of reading levels to support less confident readers, and to encourage children to read together with their siblings and carers.
To request a set, please use the request form. Request for Resources Form
We’ve also compiled some suggestions of books that specifically promote wellbeing and have put links to our library catalogue.
Catalogue links
- Search the library catalogue for books about the coronavirus
- Search the library catalogue for ‘Wellbeing’ and ‘Mental health’
- Search the library catalogue for books about mindfulness
Feel-Good Books
A selection of funny or just life-affirming books to help bring a smile to your storytime.
feel-good-books-July-2020Coping with loss and bereavement
A selection of books to share with children dealing with loss.
Bereavement-books-July-2020Reading well for children
Reading Well for children The Reading Agency have published a list of books to promote mental wellbeing for children. All these titles are available to borrow from the Schools Library Service. If your school subscribes, use the request form to order.
Free books about the Coronavirus
| Farmer Falgu stays at home | A story in the Farmer Falgu series by Chitra Soundar | Covid |
| New York City School Library System | A selection of books from a range of publishers compiled by the New York City School Library system | Covid |
Lenny and Lilly Books
(Text from Books Beyond Words)
With UK schools reopening in the coming weeks, supporting children’s wellbeing is paramount as they adjust to new routines, reconnect with peers and teachers, and reengage with their learning in the classroom.
Our Lenny and Lily stories, created by teaching professionals, will help children make sense of their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic, communicate their feelings and prepare for more change as they return to school.
The stories can be freely downloaded from the Books Beyond Words website and copies will be available from the Schools Library Services: www.booksbeyondwords.co.uk/lenny-and-lily-childrens-stories