Suggested Book List

We ask our counselors to read at least one of the titles below in preparation for the summer and thought the list might be of interest to parents as well.

Suggested Reading List

A Sense of Wonder - Rachel Carson (Harper & Row) - a superb book about exploring the natural world of children. 

Mom, They’re Teasing Me: Helping Your Child Solve Social Problems – Michael Thompson (Ballantine Books) - how-to advice to help children navigate the sometimes harsh terrain of social life–which includes name-calling, fighting, esteem-crushing cliques, and malicious exclusion by the popular kids.

Best Friends, Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children – Michael Thompson (Ballantine Books) - discusses childhood relationships and helps guide adults to a deeper understanding of the motives and meanings of social behavior.

Between Parent and Child - Hiam Ginott (Avon) - good basic information concerning talking with children.

Childhood Comes First:  A Crash Course in Childhood for Adults - Ray E. Helfer - an excellent manual for understanding the importance of childhood.

Children: The Challenge - Rudolph Dreikurs (Hawthorne Books) - Based on the philosophy of Alfred Adler; very thought provoking; good ideas on discipline and talking with children.

Helping Children Cope with Separation and Loss - Claudia Jewitt (Harvard Common Press)

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder – Richard Louv (Algonquin Books)

Lights Out!  Kids Talk About Summer Camp (Little, Brown & Company) - Camp from the child’s point of view, excellent.

Self-Esteem - Virginia Satir (Celestial Arts) - a short essay on self esteem, good for reading aloud.

The Hurried Child - David Elkind (Addison-Wesley) - an excellent book on growing up too fast too soon.

The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise Self-Reliant Children - Wendy Mogel – practical strategies from a clinical psychologist on ways to encourage respect and gratitude in children.

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk - Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish  (Avon Books- New York)  Clear, practical, highly useful information on dealing with kids.

Sharing Nature with Children - Joseph Bharat Cornell (dawn Publications 1979) - short, excellent introduction to this topic—a classic.