Our Bookshelf

Books For Parents & Some For Kids

A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

General Pediatrics, a.k.a "the basics"

 

  • Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 by Steven P. Shelov, MD, MS, FAAP and Robert E. Hannemann, MD, FAAP(AAP Press)
  • My Child Is Sick: Expert Advice for Managing Common Illnesses and Injuries by Barton D. Schmitt, MD, FAAP (AAP Press)
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Babies

  • Your Baby’s First Year by Steven P. Shelov, MD, MS (AAP Press)
  • Heading Home with your Newborn: from Birth to Reality by L. Jana, MD and J. Shu, MD (AAP Press)
  • What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, and Sandee Hathaway
  • The Happiest Baby On The Block by Harvey Karp, MD
  • Good Moms have Scary Thoughts by Karen Kleinman. Poignant book about the complex thoughts and feelings of early motherhood, told in really funny cartoon style
  • The Philosophical Baby by Alison Gopnik
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Toddlers

For Parents:
  • Making the Terrible Two's Terrific by John Rosemond
  • The Happiest Toddler On The Block by Harvey Karp, MD and Paula Spencer
  • What To Expect The Toddler Years by Arlene Eisenberg
  • Toddler 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Toddler by Ari Brown and Denise Fields

For Kids:
  • Teeth Are Not for Biting by Elizabeth Verdick
  • No Biting by Karen Katz
  • No Biting, Louise by Margie Palatini
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Kids

  • Caring For Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12 by S. Shelov, MD (AAP Press)
  • Nurturing Boys to Be Better Men by Shelly Vaziri Flais, MD, FAAP (AAP Press) Developmentally appropriate opportunities for growth and awareness of gender equality at every age from before birth through early adulthood.
  • The Curse of the Good Girl: Raising Authentic Girls with Courage and Confidence by Rachel Simmons
  • The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast Too Soon by David Elkind
  • The Whole Brain Child by Daniel Siegel , Tina Payne Bryson
  • Darebone’s Big Break by Gleeson Rebell MD, Mamie Harisiades. Good Book about a kid with a broken bone, by our own Dr Rebello, our MGH Orthopedist
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Teens

  • Congrats--You're Having a Teen! Strengthen Your Family and Raise a Good Person by Kenneth R. Ginsburg, MD, MSEd, FAAP(AAP Press)
  • Caring for Your Teenager by Philip Bashe (AAP Press)
  • Get Out of My Life – But First Could You Drive Me and Cheryl to the Mall, by Anthony Wolf
  • Teenage Body Book, by Kathy McCoy/Charles Wibbelsman, MD
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

ADHD

  • Delivered from Distraction by Edward Hallowell MD and John Ratey MD 2005. More geared toward adults. 
  • Smart but Scattered by Dawson & Guare 2009 (Use teen version, as there is also an adult version.)
  • Taking Charge of ADHD by Russel A Barkley
  • Learning to Slow down and Pay Attention: A book for Kids about ADHD by Nadeau and Dixon contains strategies for improving executive functioning. This is kid friendly Probably best for middle school or under. 
  • Late, Lost and Unprepared: A Parents Guide to Helping Children with Executive Functioning by Cooper-Kahn and Dietzel 2024
  • What your ADHD Child Wishes you Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life by Sharon Saline 2018
  • Getting Ahead of ADHD by Joes Nigg PhD 2017
  • Raising an Organized Child: 5 Steps to Boost Independence, Ease Frustration, and Promote Confidence by Damon Korb, MD, FAAP (AAP Press) 
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Autism

For Parents:
  • Differently Wired: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World by Deborah Reber
  • Quirky Kids: Understanding and Supporting your Child with Developmental Differences by Perry Klass MD, FAAP and Eileen Costello MD, FAAP

For Kids:
  • Everybody Is Different: A Book for Young People Who Have Brothers or Sisters With Autism by Fiona Bleach (ages 4-8)
  • All About My Brother by Sarah Peralta (ages 4-8) 
  • My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete (ages 4-8) 
  • Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism by Laurie Lears (ages 4-8) 
  • Sometimes My Brother: Helping Kids Understand Autism Through a Sibling's Eyes by Angie Healy (ages 9-12) 
  • Rules by Cynthia Lord (ages 9-12) 
  • Autism through a Sister's Eyes by Eve B Band PH.D. (ages 9-12) 
  • Andy and His Yellow Frisbee by Mary Thompson 
  • Playing by the Rules: A Story about Autism by Dena Fox Luchsinger and  Julie Olson
  • See also Podcast from the Lurie Center
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Behavior, Discipline & Communication


  • No More Meltdowns by Jed Baker, Ph.D. This book provides positive strategies for managing and preventing out-of-control behavior 2011
  • 1-2-3 Magic by Thomas Phelan, PhD
  • Positive Discipline Series by Jane Nelson Ed.D (includes titles for every age group, from toddlers to adolescents)
  • The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross W. Greene
  • Setting Limits With Your Strong-Willed Child by Robert J. MacKenzie Ed.D
  • Positive Discipline by Jane Nelsen, Ed.D.
  • Parent Effectiveness Training by Thomas Gordon The Everyday Parenting Tool Kit: The Kazdin Method by Alan Kazdin and Carlo Rotella 2013
  • How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Elaine Mazlish and Adel Faber
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Breastfeeding

  • New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding by Joan Younger Meek, MD, MS, RD, FAAP, FABM (AAP Press) 
  • The Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins, R.N., M.S.
  • Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC 2010
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Development & Temperament

  • Touchpoints from Birth to 3: Your Child’s Emotional and Behavioral Development by Dr. Berry Brazelton and Joshua D Sparrow
  • The Difficult Child by Stanley Turecki and Leslie Tonner
  • Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka
  • The Wonder Years Edited by Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, FAAP (AAP Press)
  • The Magic Years by Selma Freiberg
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Divorce

For Parents:
  • Helping Children Cope with Divorce by Edward Teyber
  • Not in Front of the Children by Lawrence Baiter, Ph.D 


For Kids: 
  • Two Homes by Claire Masurel Alex keeps special items at each home, such as a rocking chair at Daddy’s house and a soft chair at Mommy’s. While the items are slightly different, as are the homes, Alex’s parents love him no matter what.
  • Fred Stays With Me by Nancy Coffelt.  A beautiful story of the incredible bond between a girl and her dog, Fred, who travels with her between her two homes.
  • Living with Mom and Living with Dad by Melanie Walsh. A young girl shares what it is like to live in two different homes, using interactive flaps on each of the pages to show the difference between similar experiences at both her mother’s and father’s homes. 
  • Emily’s Blue Period by Cathleen Daly.  Emily loves the work of Picasso. Like Picasso, Emily enters her own artistic blue period as she processes the emotions she feels at her parent’s separation, moving though grief and acceptance as the family changes. Best suited for middle grades
  • Mom and Dad Glue by Kes Gray. A sweet story to help children understand that their parents’ separation is in no way their fault and help them to understand that they are loved even when their parents are not together.
  • Luna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coelho.  It's Luna's favorite day because she gets to spend the day with her dad. Luna Loves Library Day is a beautiful story showing us how children and families can process, accept, and move forward after divorce 
  • Dinosaurs Divorce by Laurie and Marc Brown.  Children have many questions about their parents separation and divorce. It explains the terminology and talks about the process of a divorce to help children understand what divorce means for the family 
  • It's Not Your Fault, Koko Bear By Vicki Lansky. When Koko Bear's parents get divorced, the cub experiences a range of emotions, including anger, guilt, confusion, and sadness. Each page features advice for parents on how to help children identify and express feelings. Ages 3 to 7
  • When My Parents Forgot How to Be Friends by Jennifer Moore-Mallinos. This is one of the Let's Talk About It books and concentrates on assuring school-age children that they are in no way to blame for their parents' separation and that each parent will still love them even though they don't love each other anymore.
  • What in the World Do You Do When Your Parents Divorce? A Survival Guide for Kids by Kent Winchester and Roberta Beyer. For older children — grade-schoolers and tweens — there's lots of direct information in a Q&A format. 
  • A Smart Girl's Guide to Her Parent's Divorce By Nancy Holyoke. This book, published by American Girl, covers various aspects of divorce, from the initial split-up to a parent's remarriage. It includes quizzes, tips, and advice from children of divorce. Ages 8 and up
  • Divorce Is Not the End of the World By Zoe and Evan Stern. After their parents divorced, siblings Zoe and Evan Stern, then ages 15 and 13, wrote this positive and practical guide for kids (their writer mom helped). The book tackles topics such as managing emotions like guilt, anger, and fear; adjusting to different rules in different houses; dealing with special occasions like birthdays; and adapting to stepparents and blended families. Ages 8 and up
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

  • The Colors of Us by Karen Katz - Celebrates the diversity of skin colors and cultures.
  • All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman - Follows a diverse group of children navigating a day at school, emphasizing inclusivity.
  • It's Okay to Be Different by Todd Parr - Teaches children that it's okay to be different and encourages acceptance of others.
  • Who We Are!: All About Being the Same and Being Different by Robie H. Harris and Nadine Bernard Westcott - Explores diversity in appearance, abilities, and family structures.
  • The Family Book by Todd Parr - Celebrates different types of families, promoting acceptance and understanding.
  • A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory - Helps children understand racism and how to combat it, encouraging conversations about race and diversity.
  • I Am Enough by Grace Byers - Empowers children to embrace their individuality and recognize the value in themselves and others.
  • Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev and Taeeun Yoo - Teaches about inclusivity and friendship, even in the face of exclusion.
  • This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids from around the World by Matt Lamothe - Showcases cultural diversity through the stories of seven real children.
  • We're Different, We're the Same by Bobbi Kates and Joe Mathieu - Highlights similarities and differences in a way that children can understand.
  • Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Education & Learning Differences

For Parents:
  • How Can My Kid Succeed in School: What Parents and Teachers Can Do to Conquer Learning Problems by Craig Pohlman, Ph.D Your child’s learning style. 
  • Motivated Minds: Raising Children to Love Learning by Deborah Stipek, Kathy Seal
  • A Mind at a Time by Mel Levine, MD How do children learn?
  • Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz
  • The Gift of Dyslexia by Ronald Davis 

For Kids:
  • Dyslexia is My Superpower by Margaret Rooke
  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (IS A STORY ABOUT A GIRL WITH DYSLEXIA)
  • Dyslexic Legends Alphabet by Beck Feiner. Part of a whole series of famous people with dyslexia.
  • Niagara Falls, Or Does It? by Henry Winkler, Lin Oliver. This is the first of a whole series of books about a boy with dyslexia based on “The Fonz” childhood
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Grief, Loss & Separation

  • When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death (Dino Tales: Life Guides for Families) by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown. Explains death to children, with beautiful illustrations b y Marc Brown (the Artur series) 
  • The Invisible String by Patrice Karst This is a beautiful story about how an invisible string connects us to our loved ones, even if we cannot see them all the time. This is the perfect book to help children adjust to living in separate homes or seeing a parent less often. 
  • You Weren’t With Me by Chandra Ghosh Ippen Big Rabbit and Little Rabbit are finally back together after a long separation. A wonderful story for sharing whenever a parent and child have had to be apart. 
  • No Matter What by Debi Gliori This powerful and heartwarming picture book about unconditional love is the perfect book to show your loved ones how much you love them, no matter what
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

LGTBQ+

  • This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankl.. This is a charming book about a family with a very young child who know they are trans. 
  • Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting Your LGBTQ Child by: Telaina Eriksen and Eric Rosswood
  • Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Non-Binary People and Their Families by Peggy Gillespie (editor,) Jazz Jennings (foreword) and Jeanette Jennings (forewood) 
  • Parrot Fish by Ellen Wittlinger—speaks from the kids perspective, trying to come out, finding support in unexpected places
  • It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living by Dan Savage and Terry Miller
  • It's Totally Normal by Monica Gupta Mehta and Asha Lily Mehta
  • The Savvy Ally: A Guide to Becoming a Skilled LGTBQ+ Advocate by Jeannie Gainsburg
  • Felix Every After by Kacen Callender
  • The Full Spectum: A New Generation of Writing About Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Other Identities By David Levithan and Billy Merrell


A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Mental Health (Anxiety, Depression, OCD & Sensory Processing

Anxiety:
  • Think Good-Feel Good: A Cognitive Behavior Therapy Workbook for Children and Young People by Paul Stallard
  • The Anxiety Workbook for Kids: Take Charge of Fears and Worries Using the Gift of Imagination by Robin Alter
  • Helping Your Anxious Child by Ronald Rapee, Ph.D. A step-by-step guide for for parents to help their children overcome worries, fears, and anxieties. Chunks ideas to work on into manageable steps. Very readable. Has downloadable activity sheets or you can purchase the workbook as well. 
  • What to Do When You Worry Too Much by Dawn Huebner, Ph.D., An interactive self-help book designed to guide 6–12-year-olds and their parents through techniques used in the treatment of anxiety. Very sweet with good activities to engage your child. Manageable in size. 
  • Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous and Independent Children by Lynn Lyons and Reid Wilson 2013
  • What to Do When You're Scared And Worried by Ph.D. Crist James J. This is a book kids can turn to when they need advice, reassurance, and ideas for overcoming fear and anxiety. They'll find out where fears and worries come from, practice Fear Chasers and Worry Erasers, and learn to seek help for hard-to-handle fears they can't manage on their own.
  • What to Do When You Don't Want to Be Apart. A kid's Guide to Separation Anxiety by Kristen Lavallee, PhD and Silvia Schneider Dr
  • The Anxiety Workbook for Teens by Lisa Schwab
  • The Shyness & Social Anxiety Workbook by Martin Antony 
Depression:
  • Depression: A Teen’s Guide to Survive and Thrive by Jacqueline Toner
  • This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum by Karen R. Kleiman


  OCD:
  • The OCD Workbook for kids: Skills to Help Children Manage Obsessive Thoughts and Compulsive Behaviors by Anthony Puliafico
  • What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kids Guide to OCD by Dawn Huebner

Sensory Processing: 
  • The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder by Carol Stock Kranowitz
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Nutrition

  • It's not about the Broccoli by Dina Rose (Picky Eating) 
  • Broccoli Bootcamp by Keith Williams (Picky Eating)
  • The Picky Eater's Recovery Book: Overcoming Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder by Jennifer Thomas, Kendra Becker, and Kamryn Eddy
  • How to Nourish Your Child through an Eating Disorder by Casey Crosbie and Wendy Sterling
  • Food Fights: Winning the Nutritional Challenges of Parenthood Armed with Insight, Humor and a Bottle of Ketchup by Laura Jana, MD and Jennifer Shu, MD (developmental approach to picky eating, food struggles
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Puberty

  • The Care and Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls by Valorie Schaefer. Also one for Older Girls. Part of the American Girls Library. Has lots of other books about growing up, friendships, "drama", dealing with bullies etc. 
  • Celebrate Your Body (and its Changes Too:) The Ultimate Puberty Book for Girls by Sonya Renee Taylor
  • You-ology: A Puberty Guide for Every Body by Melisa Holmes, MD, FACOG; Trish Hutchison, MD, FAAP; Kathryn Lowe, MD, FAAP (AAP Press) A new kind of puberty guide, You-ology embraces an inclusive approach that normalizes puberty for all kids.
  • The Boys Body Book: Everything You Need to Know for Growing Up You by Kelli Dunham and Steve Bjorkman
  • Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys by Cara Natterson 
  • What’s Happening to My Body – For Boys by L.Madaras
  • The Teenage Body Book by Kathy McCoy and Charles Wibbelsman
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Sibling Rivalry

  • Understanding Sibling Rivalry: The Brazelton Way by Joshua D. Sparrow, T. Berry Brazelton
  • Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Vaccines

  • Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All  by Dr. Paul Offit
  • The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science and Fear by Seth Mnookin
A red book with butterflies on the cover is sitting on top of a white book.

Sleep

  • It's Never too Late to Sleep Train by Craig Canapari 
  • Goodnight Minds for Teens: Skills to Help You Quiet Noisy Thoughts and Get the Sleep You Need by Colleen Carney
  • Sleeping Through the Night by by Jodi Mindell 2005
  • Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber This classic source covers a broad range of sleep problems from a respected expert at Boston Childrens.
  • Good Night Sleep Tight: The Sleep Lady’s Gentle Guide to Help Your Child Sleep Well and Wake Up Happy by Kim West and Joanne Kenen 2006
  • American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child’s Sleep: Birth Through Adolescence – AAP
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