Discussing Sensitive Subjects with Children
Dr. Debra Crouse with
Lauren Brohammer, John Hardin, Matthew Loudon, and Lean Maconochie
Westminster College
[Note: the following document was distributed to parents during a children’s event on March 4th, 2007. A reader’s workshop, entitled Aslan’s Return (Chronicles of Narnia), was presented by Dr. Crouse and students from Westminster College, Mo.]
Be very careful when approaching sensitive subjects with children. Be aware that reading about death may be extremely upsetting for many younger readers and they will need to be able to talk about their feelings and ask questions. My recommendation is that you only suggest books about death after a child has indicated an interest in the subject. If the reader selects such a book on their own, be willing to read the book and help the reader process the information. Note: If a younger person does not want to attend a funeral or viewing, I would personally advise against “forcing” them to go. Also, if you do take a child to a viewing, please respect the thoughts, feelings, and wishes of the family of the deceased. A person in a casket is not a time for “show and tell” about death.
Kenneth Goodman and Frank Smith remind us that “readability” is primarily determined by the background of experience, prior knowledge, and motivation of the reader. I wholeheartedly agree and am very nervous about putting grade levels of suggested reading levels on books, but to help you know which books you might want to investigate for a specific child, I have indicated possible ages of readers who might appreciate these books. Books with no designation would be appropriate for children in early elementary and mid-elementary school. Remember that reading books together and discussing them creates a special bond between adults and younger readers. Also, if it’s a great book, even if it is usually selected by younger readers, older readers will probably enjoy it, too.
I – indicates intermediate (upper elementary and middle school)
A – adolescent (junior high school and high school)
Should you wish to contact me, please feel free to call (573)592-5193 or email at
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Issues Addressed:
Divorce: Beverly Cleary Dear Mr. Henshaw
Sexism: Jerry Spinelli There’s a Girl In My Hammerlock - I
Defying Convention: Clyde Robert Bulla The Chalk Box Kid
Louise Fitzhugh Harriet the Spy - I
Audrey Wood Weird Parents
Avi S.O.R. Losers
Sexuality: Judy Blume Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret - A
Violence: Walter Dean Myers Scorpions - A
Family Problems: Sharon Creech Bloomability - A
Norma Fox Mazer Mrs. Fish, Ape, and Me, the Dump Queen-A
Betsy Byers The Night Swimmers – I/A
Caroline B. Cooney The Face On the Milk Carton - A
Whatever Happened to Janie? - A
The Voice On the Radio - A
Paula Fox One-Eyed Cat – I/A
Karen Hesse Just Juice – A
Kimberly Willis Holt Where Zachary Beaver Came to Town – A
David Patneaude Framed in Fire - A
Foster Homes: Caroline B. Cooney What Child Is This? A Christmas Story - A
Katherine Patterson The Great Gilly Hopkins – I/A
Physical Changes: Tomie de Paola Now One Foot, Now the Other
Katherine Patterson Jacob, Have I Loved - A
Emotional Changes: Virginia Hamilton Plain City - A
Karen Hesse Sable - I
Wilson Rawls Where the Red Fern Grows – I/A
Jane Yolen All Those Secrets of the World
Lucy Frank Oy, Joy! – I/A
Abandonment: Angela Johnson Heaven - A
Patricia MacLachlan Journey – I/A
Susie Morgenstern Secret Letters From 0 to 10 - A
Cynthia Voigt Homecoming – I/A
Peer Relationships: Barbara Parks The Kid in the Red Jacket - I
Kevin Henke Jessica
Louis Sachar Dogs Don’t Tell Jokes - I
There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom – I
Jerry Spinelli Crash - A
Sibling Rivalry: Barbara Parks Operation: Dump the Chump - I
Betsy Byers Summer of the Swans – I/A
Ezra Jack Keats Peter’s Chair
Survival: Jean George My Side of the Mountain – I/A
Julie of the Wolves – I/A
Gary Pausen Hatchet – I/A
Life in the City: Paul Fleischman Seedfolks – I/A
Virginia Hamilton The Planet of Junior Brown - A/M
Paula Fox Monkey Island – I/A
Death: Judy Blume Tiger Eyes – A
Lucille Clifton Everett Anderson’s Goodbye
Robert Cormier Bumblebee Flies Anyway – A
Tomie de Paola Nanna Upstairs & Nanna Downstairs
Rita Geller Victoria’s Smile
Miska Miles Anne and the Old One - I
Barbara Park Mick Harte Was Here – I/A
Katherine Patterson Bridge to Terebithia – I/A
Cynthia Rylant Missing May – I/A
Judith Viorst The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
Avoiding Bias: Beverly Cleary Ramona the Pest
E.L. Koingsburg From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiler - I
Mary Hoffman Amazing Grace
Boundless Grace
Iain Lawrence Ghost Boy - A
Kate Salley Palmer A Gracious Plenty
Thomas Rockwell How to Fight A Girl - I
Alfred Slote Finding Buck McHenry – I
Physical Differences: Judy Blume Blubber - A
Deenie – A
Down’s Syndrome: Paula Fox Radiance Descending – I
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder:
Terry Spencer Hesser Kissing Doorknobs - A
Schizophrenia: Angela Johnson Humming Whispers – A
Elderly: Eloise Greenfield Grandpa’s Face
Wendy Kesselman Emma
Sharon Bell Mathis Hundred Penny Box
Mysteries: Kate Chester Death in the Afternoon – I/A
Missing - A
Playing with Fire - A
Virginia Hamilton The House of Dies Drear – I/A
The Mystery of Drear House – I/A
E.L. Konigsburg Silent to the Bone - A
Joan Lowery Nixon The Name of the Game was Murder - A
The Other Side of Dark - A
Ellen Raskin The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon
(I Mean Noel) – I/A
The Tattooed Potato and Other Clues – I/A
The Westing Game – I/A
Donald Sobel Encyclopedia Brown Boy Detective - I
Wendelin Van Draanen Sammy Keyes and the Hotel Thief – I/A
Humor: Judy Blume Fudge - I
Beverly Cleary Otis Spofford - I
Molly Cone Mishmash and the Substitute Teacher
John D. Fitzgerald The Great Brain – I
Barbara Park Skinnybones - I
Almost Starring Skinnybones - I
Keith Robertson Henry Reed’s Babysitting Service – I/A
Henry Reed’s Journey – I/A
Henry Reed’s Think Tank – I/A
Barbara Robinson The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - I
Thomas Rockwell How to Eat Fried Worms - I
Barbara Samuels Duncan and Dolores