Essex County Council launches new children’s book collection
We Care, You Share is a collection of children’s books which provide gentle reassurance about difficult journeys and encourage children to talk about difficult things.
Kind and friendly characters take young readers on different journeys to explore difficult subjects. The books:
- Help young children with lived experience of social care support feel less isolated in their experiences
- Encourage children to have honest conversations with adults and care givers building stronger and more stable relationships
- Educate children more broadly in educational settings to help them better understand the diversity in families and encourage them to be more accepting of difference.
The books have been co-developed with children and young people. James Henry, the children’s television writer, worked closely with the children and young people to explore their experiences and the books have been beautifully illustrated by Valeria Valenza. The five book collection explores the following topics:
- Having a social worker (Koala and Panda)
- Living with family members who are not parents (Little Robot’s School Play)
- Coming into care (A New House for Little Mouse)
- Reunification and sibling separation (Looking after Little)
- Adoption and living with a new family (Dino and Bun)
To find out more about how the collection is being used by practitioners as a direct work tool and how it is being delivered in Essex schools with curriculum resources, please email bookenquiries@essex.gov.uk