Abuse and Trauma
Featured Books
Do You Have a Secret?
Do You Have a Secret? helps children understand the difference between fun secrets and those that should be shared with a trusted adult. Gentle and reassuring, this book encourages open communication and emotional safety. Foster parents can use it to help children feel more comfortable discussing difficult or traumatic experiences, including physical or sexual abuse. A simple but powerful tool for building trust, security, and healing conversations within foster and adoptive families.
Once I Was Very Very Scared
This gentle and reassuring story helps children understand fear and learn healthy ways to cope after frightening experiences. When Squirrel shares that he was once very, very scared, he discovers that his animal friends—Dog, Turtle, Rabbit, Monkey, and Elephant—have all faced scary situations too, each reacting in their own way. With the help of caring adults, they learn that their feelings are normal and that safety and comfort can be found again. Designed to explain common trauma and stress responses (like fight, flight, freeze, and cling) in child-friendly language, this book helps parents, teachers, and therapists guide children in naming emotions, building resilience, and finding healing through supportive relationships. Available in multiple languages.
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The Rabbit Listened
The Rabbit Listened is a tender story about empathy, healing, and the power of simply being present. When something sad happens, everyone around Taylor tries to fix it—by talking, shouting, or cheering up—but nothing feels right. Then the rabbit comes along and quietly listens, offering comfort through gentle presence instead of words. With its simple text and warm illustrations, this beautiful picture book teaches children—and adults alike—the importance of patience, compassion, and truly listening when someone is hurting.
A Terrible Thing Happened
This tender and compassionate story follows Sherman Smith, a young boy who witnesses something truly terrible. At first, he tries to forget it, but soon the memories and emotions begin to surface. With gentle words and warm illustrations, the book helps children who have seen or experienced violence or trauma understand that what happened is not their fault, that their feelings are normal, and that it’s okay to talk to a trusted adult. An afterword for parents, caregivers, and professionals offers practical guidance and additional resources for supporting children as they begin to heal.
Featured Books
Help Your Dragon Cope With Trauma
This gentle, beautifully illustrated story uses the fun concept of having a pet dragon to help children understand and recover from trauma. When the dragon experiences something terrible and struggles with fear, bad dreams, and sadness, his young friend helps him process his feelings, find comfort, and rediscover joy. Without ever being scary or specific, this book offers practical ways for parents, teachers, and caregivers to talk with children about big emotions, healing, and hope after difficult experiences.
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Healing Days: A Guide For Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma
Healing Days is a gentle, compassionate story designed for children who have experienced trauma. It helps kids understand the confusing emotions and behaviors that can follow something scary while reassuring them that the trauma was not their fault. Best read with a parent or therapist, this book provides comfort and introduces simple strategies for feeling safe, calm, and confident again. An online guide offers additional resources for parents and caregivers, making Healing Days a valuable tool for families and professionals supporting a child’s healing journey.
When I Was Little… A Child’s Journey in Overcoming Abuse & Trauma
Written for children who have experienced abuse or trauma, this gentle story follows a child learning to understand and share difficult emotions. With the support of caring adults, the child discovers that talking about painful experiences can lead to comfort, safety, and healing. This book provides a reassuring way to open conversations about hard topics and is an excellent tool for foster parents and caregivers helping young children process their feelings in a safe and loving environment.
A Foster-Adoption Story: Angela and Michael’s Journey—A Therapeutic Workbook for Traumatized Children
A Foster-Adoption Story follows siblings Angela and Michael as they journey from an abusive home through the foster care system to their eventual adoption. Along the way, they face neglect, multiple placements, and painful sibling separation before finding safety and stability in their new family. This thoughtful workbook helps children process similar experiences, encouraging open discussions about moves, loss, loyalty, and healing. Designed as a therapeutic tool, it supports foster and adopted children in understanding their stories and building hope for the future.
My Safe and Cozy Space
My Safe and Cozy Space is a beautifully illustrated picture book that helps children explore what safety and comfort feel like from their own perspective. Written with young foster and adoptive children in mind, its gentle message is universal—every child deserves a space where they feel secure, cared for, and heard. The story opens the door for meaningful conversations between children and caregivers about feelings, fears, and comfort. Perfect for reading aloud or for early readers, this book helps children feel empowered to share their stories and know they are safe and loved.
Trauma Recovery Workbook for Teens
The Trauma Recovery Workbook for Teens helps young people ages 12–16 navigate the emotional aftermath of trauma and rediscover hope for the future. Winner of the 2022 Best Book Award in Young Adult Nonfiction, this compassionate guide offers practical, trauma-informed tools that empower teens to identify emotions, manage triggers, and build resilience. Through relatable stories, reflective questions, and activities like journaling and mindfulness, teens learn that healing is possible and that they are not alone. A valuable resource for youth coping with grief, abuse, or other life-altering experiences.
Hope’s Boy: A Memoir
This powerful true story follows Andrew, who was taken from his mother at age seven after she was hospitalized for mental illness. Sent first to a notorious child welfare institution and later to a foster home where he faced neglect and isolation, Andrew held tightly to two things—his love for his mother and his determination to learn. Through the compassion of a few caring teachers and his own resilience, he rose above years of hardship to build a successful life and career. Today, he dedicates his work to serving children affected by poverty and the foster care system, offering the same hope and support that once helped him survive.
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