SAFEchild Staff Reading Picks: Empowering & Inspiring
Books for Families
Take a look at SAFEchild staff’s top picks and explore the books
on our must-read list — curated just for you.
Adults
The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About
By Mel Robbins
“The Let Them Theory is based on the powerful philosophy that you can only control your response- not what others say, think, or do.”
– Stacy Sullivan, MOVE Program Manager
Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships
By Nedra Glover Tawwab
“Drama Free provides a trauma-informed guide to help identify unhealthy family dynamics and learn ways to create safe boundaries for better relationships with our loved ones.”
– Krystal Grady, Moms Supporting Moms Program Coordinator
All That We Ask of You is to Always Be Happy
By Bridget Bell
“All That We Ask of You is an amazing collection of poems, written by a local author to NC, who poetically encapsulated the realness of motherhood from preconception to postpartum. The book uses spicy language (for mature readers) and includes medically accredited research about perinatal mental health.”
– Krystal Grady, Moms Supporting Moms Program Coordinator
Toddler Discipline for Every Age and Stage
By Aubrey Hargis
“Every Age and Stage is a quick read about navigating toddler discipline with confidence and connection! Practical, respectful, and very helpful in the chaos of toddlerhood.”
– Madi Middlebrook, Circle of Security Program Coordinator
How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing
By KC Davis
“How to Keep House While Drowning is a very easy, quick read about ways to take on the everyday care tasks of life and gives a different approach on how to do the everyday tasks. The book was written with great consideration for neurodivergent readers.”
– Krystal Grady, Moms Supporting Moms Program Coordinator
Raising a Secure Child
By Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, Bert Powell
“If you’re done our Circle of Security Parenting group and want MORE, this is for you. This is written by the founders of COSP and goes deeper into the concepts we cover in group.”
– Madi Middlebrook, Circle of Security Program Coordinator
Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids
By Mona Delahooke
“This one is a little science-y but still super relatable. This talks about how our brains and bodies relate and how we can parent our kids in a way that honor both.”
– Madi Middlebrook, Circle of Security Program Coordinator
Kids
The Memory Tree
By Britta Teckentrup
This gentle story about the loss of a loved one is perfect for sharing and will bring comfort to both children and parents.
– Evelyn Hernandez, MOVE en Español & Crianza con Cariño Assistant
Consent (for kids!): boundaries, respect, and being in charge of you
By Rachel Brian
“This entertaining, information-packed, illustrated explanation of boundaries, confidence, respect, and helping others, is perfect for 2nd-3rd grade readers.”
– Elizabeth Clark, Funny Tummy Feelings Coordinator
Who’s The Boss Of This Body?
By Meghan Hurley Backofen
“You are the boss of your body! That’s the direct lesson, taught through understanding human senses and feelings, how to handle secrets, and how to implement body safety, to children in this preschool and early-elementary read.”
– Elizabeth Clark, Funny Tummy Feelings Coordinator
Train Your Angry Dragon
By Steve Herman
“Preschoolers/elementary schooler readers get a front row seat to a pet dragon’s frustrations in anger-inducing situations (bullying, having to wait his turn, being told “no”), along with practical tips for inevitable future encounters with this powerful emotion.”
– Tammy Guthrie, MOVE Program Coordinator
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings
By Jo Witek
“My favorite book for children 2-5 years of age. The book does a great job of explaining what emotions feel like, inside and out. Any book by this author, Jo Witek, is one my best of the best books for toddlers and young school-aged kids. 10 out of 10!!”
– Claudia Cortina-Czap, Volunteer/ Program Prevention Coordinator
Listening to My Body
By Gabi Garcia
“Kids can’t sort through their experiences- especially traumatic ones- until they can put words to what they are feeling. Listening to My Body helps make sense of the crazy things kids may be feeling inside.”
– Tammy Guthrie, MOVE Program Coordinator
The Power of One
By Trudy Ludwig
“A sweet book for children from 3-8 years of age. This book talks about how change and kindness can start with just one person.”
– Claudia Cortina-Czap Volunteer/ Program Prevention Coordinator
Walk With Me
by Jairo Buitrago
A little girl imagines a lion taking the place of her father who no longer lives with her family, an animal that keeps her safe on her travels from school to home. – Abby, SAFEchild Intern
Can I Give You a Squish?
by Emily Neilson
“This adorable storybook tells the tale of fun underwater friends discovering appropriate greetings for one another. If we don’t want our bodies to be hugged, readers are encouraged to think of ways beyond hugs to say hello, or show affection to, people they care about. Things like fin flips and fin bumps might work, read and find out!”
– Elizabeth Clark, Funny Tummy Feelings Coordinator
Teens
A Heart In A Body In The World
by Deb Caletti
A fictional story about a girl who flees and runs across the country recounting her trauma; a book about facing and working through traumas; includes themes about PTSD, trauma, violence, activism, resilience, and some harsh language due to the severity of the events being discussed. – Abby, SAFEchild Intern
Turtles All The Way Down
by John Green
Teen-young adult fictional novel that explores mental illness and how it gets in the way of how you want to live your life. Includes some harsh language due to the severity of the events being discussed. “I have read it and re-read it a million times, also made my family read it, and 100% recommend.” – Abby, SAFEchild Intern
Ghost Boys
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
“A boy is shot and killed by a police officer and comes back to the world as a ghost; explores racism and injustice while also providing hope.” – Abby, SAFEchild Intern
Featured Books from the BABY program
BABY (Birth And Beginning Years) is a nine- to 10-week class designed to encourage connection, attachment and bonding between new moms and their babies through literacy, education, self-care and community-building. In BABY, mothers will learn how to remain mentally and physically healthy as their baby grows. Learn More
In the neighborhood? Visit Our Free Little Library
What is a Little Free Library?
A Little Free Library is a free book-sharing box where anyone may take a book or share a book. They function on the honor system. You do not need to share a book in order to take one. If you take a book or two from a little library, try to bring some to share to that same library, or another in your area, when you can.
Want to donate new or gently used books?
Purchase directly from our wishlist or contact Claudia Cortina-Czap, Safechild Volunteer/ Program Prevention Coordinator, at ccortinaczap@safechildnc.org for more information on donation guidelines.
