Amber Was Brave, Essie Was Smart: The Story of Amber and Essie Told Here in Poems and Pictures
A series of poems tells how two sisters help each other deal with life while their mother is working and their father has been sent to jail.
Here to Help: Books about Incarceration
By sharing stories together and having conversations about the books you read, you can help young children understand the world around them. Seeing diverse experiences represented in books helps children to explore their own identities and develop empathy for others.
When someone is incarcerated, a child may feel angry, sad, or confused. These books for young children encourage discussion and talk about what to expect.
Not every book is available at all locations, but any title can be requested. The children’s librarian at your neighborhood library is also here to help, with suggestions for additional titles on topics of interest–or feel free to suggest some titles to us. New books are always being added to the collection. You can find more Here to Help booklists on different topics by clicking here.
Dad Bakes
Dad rises before the sun, goes to work at the bakery where he kneads, rolls, and bakes bread, and as the world starts its day, Dad heads home to his young daughter where they play, read, and bake together.
Far Apart, Close in Heart: Being a Family when a Loved One Is Incarcerated
Illustrates a range of situations children may experience with a parent behind bars and reassures them that they are not alone. Includes tips for speaking with children about an incarcerated loved one and suggestions to help them cope.
Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me
A boy wakes up one morning to find his father gone. At first, he feels lost. But his father has left him a letter filled with advice to guide him through the times he cannot be there.
Milo Imagines the World
While Milo and his sister travel to a detention center to visit their incarcerated mother, he observes strangers on the subway and draws what he imagines their lives to be. You can also check out this title as eBook on OverDrive/Libby or as eAudio on OverDrive/Libby.
Missing Daddy
A little girl who misses her father because he’s away in prison shares how his absence affects different parts of her life. Her greatest excitement is the days when she gets to visit her beloved father.
My Brother is Away
In this moving picture book, a young girl reflects on the emotions and challenges of growing up with a brother who is incarcerated. This touching story is filled with vivid illustrations and is based on the author’s childhood experiences.
Visiting Day
A young girl and her grandmother visit the girl’s father in prison.