Spanish-language Children's Books About Feelings, Trauma, and Grief
This week, I am continuing my mission to increase the number of Spanish titles on the Hospital Book List. Again, I do not speak Spanish. So I have only been able to review books that have English editions.
I want to be very clear in saying that even though I can not offer reviews of these books in Spanish, I am excited to offer English-speaking staff (child life specialists, social workers, nurses, doctors, counselors, funeral directors, etc) an opportunity to become familiar with Spanish resources. As the world becomes a melting pot and cultures mix, we have an obligation in our roles to provide support to all families. Translators can be an important piece of that puzzle, but these simple well-written children's books can be another piece that enables to find support in each other.
If you have other favorite Spanish titles to recommend, please don't hesitate to reach out. I have discovered that some of my other favorite tiltles will be published in Spanish this year, and so I hope to do another update on Spanish books in a few months when there are more available.
In some situations, I do make money from purchases through the links below. This allows me to continue putting time into this important list, AND I hope it makes it easier for you all to find these important titles. Keep doing amazing work everyone!
Trauma and Separation
Una Vez Tuve Mucho Mucho Miedo (Spanish Translation of Once I Was Very Very Scared) by Chandra Ghosh Ippen
This book is about a group of woodland animals who have all experienced something scary or bad. They all react in their own ways - some want to hide, some want to run, some want to be angry,etc. A porcupine then tells them that they are in a safe place and that he understands that it might take them a while to trust him and feel that. The animals learn new and different ways to cope. This book is for any kid struggling with stress after something hard. The book shows a variety of reactions helping them feel less alone and a variety of coping mechanisms that might give them opportunities to try different skills and see what works best for them. Good for young children through middle elementary.
https://amzn.to/4qPsBYH
Argo y Yo (Spanish Translation of Argo and Me) by Chandra Ghosh Ippen
This is a book about a boy and a dog. The boy points out all of the things that the boy and the dog have in common. One of these things is that they have both in a lot of different places, and sometimes the people taking care of them had a lot going on and didn’t take good care of them. Throughout the book, the boy talks about struggles the dog has and how he has worked through them. It is easy to see that many of these things apply to the boy as well. This is a very well-written, well-thought out book about foster care and potentially adoption. I highly recommend it for young children through upper elementary. Even kids, not directly affected by foster care, could learn empathy and understanding by reading this book.
https://amzn.to/49yHlnD
El hilo invisible (Spanish translation of The Invisible String) by Patrice Karst
This book tells the story of two kids who are scared at bedtime. They run downstairs to their mom who explains that even though they can’t see their loved ones, they are never alone. She uses the metaphor of an invisible string that connects everyone that cares about each other, no matter where they are. The book mentions a loved one who has died, and the mother explains that the invisible string connects them to them as well. This is another great book for kids in the hospital who have to be separated from their parents or loved ones. Could also be used in grief and loss situations. Good for preschool through upper elementary. (In the NICU, I used to sometimes make bracelets for the kids and the adults that matched - a clear piece of bracelet elastic with one heart bead on it.)
https://amzn.to/3NrCAVz
Feelings
El Monstruo de Colores (Spanish translation of The Color Monster) by Anna Llenas
This book introduces someone who is confused because he is feeling lots of different things at once. Each feeling is represented by a color. The book talks through all the things that the monster is feeling and when the monster is able to understand, he feels less confused and more at peace. The book uses color and a scribbling visual to help the reader understand. The book would be good for young children and could be great to partner with a color scribbling activity that kids could use to represent how they are feeling.
Available in easy to wash board book: https://amzn.to/4pEfwAv
El Conejo Escucho (Spanish translation ofThe Rabbit Listened) by Cori Doerrfeld
This simple book uses the story of a child who builds a block tower. The block tower falls down and the child is grieving. Multiple animals come along to suggest ways to handle the child’s grief including things like shout, talk, hide, rebuild, ruin someone else’s, etc. None of things feel good to the child until the rabbit comes along and listens. When the rabbit listens, the child processes all the possibilities, and the rabbit continues to listen, even when the child is quiet. In the end, the child finds his way through and the rabbit continues to support with a hug and listening. This book is obviously a metaphor for how we can support our people when they are grieving, but it can also model ways that a child might cope. I love the idea of following up with having a child identify who are the people in their life that are there to listen and support with a hug. This book can be a great suggestion for families, as it can also reinforce the concept of support through listening and acceptance to caregivers/parents. In this way, the book is good for all ages.
https://amzn.to/4qQfeY8
Grief
El Libro del AdiósSpanish translation of The Goodbye Book) by Todd Parr
Looking for something simple? This is your book. It is a great starting place for young children walking through loss for the first time. It acknowledges things they might feel - emotions, but also lack of appetite or ability to find fun. It then acknowledges that there will be days that they feel good again. This can be reassuring, but it also could come across as dismissive. Make sure to let children know that they can feel however they feel and that they don’t have to be happy, sad, or “better” for you or for anyone.
Paperback: https://amzn.to/3LFz2P4
Hardcover: https://amzn.to/4qUAtIz
Habia un bebe (Spanish translation of There Was a Baby…) by Laura Camerona
This book gives caregivers the words to talk to their children about a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. The book acknowledges common feelings and supports the entire family unit with simple explanations and colorful images. This book is appropriate for a large variety of situations, no matter their culture, religion, or family dynamics.
https://amzn.to/4pDvtH0
Más que triste (Spanish translation of More Than Sad) by Laura Camerona
This is one of my books (written by a child life specialist) that was commissioned by a local non-profit who wanted there to be more support for adults who wanted to “walk with” their children and all the things their child might be feeling. The book talks about many possible feelings children might have and how they might feel in their bodies. The end of the book then digs deeper into ways to process each of these feelings when they are “big”. The illustrations were created to be inclusive and representative of many people. They use color to represent feelings which easily connect to activities following. (Free coloring sheets available on www.wordsworthrepeating.com) Good for ages preschool through elementary.
https://amzn.to/49BB4b6
Por siempre conectados (Spanish Translation of Forever Connected) by Jessica Correnti
This book focuses on the connection siblings have that reach beyond death. The book uses simple language that is gentle and easy to understand. The story shows several different children that have experienced the death of a sibling. Each family finds connection through different items and actions. At the end, it shows the children at a grief support group. They share these connections with each other through art projects. This book, written by a child life specialist, is such a easy way to talk to kids about how they feel connected to their loved one. It could be great for a grief group or one-on-one. One thing to keep in mind - this book may bring up some new questions about the death of a child if the reader has only experienced the death of an older person. This book is appropriate for young children-elementary.
https://amzn.to/4pCqVAU
¿Por qué no vivimos para siempre? By Katie Daynes This book takes a younger reader (and their caregiver) through various common questions. Each lift the flap has various answers and comments that are relevant to how young children think. The questions include: Why do things die? Is it okay to talk about dying? What happens when someone dies? Can I shout and cry and hide away? How can I stop being sad? …and then lastly a chance to focus on the happy memories of someone who has died. This book would be great for young children who ask questions about death or have a loved one who has died. Good for very young through young elementary. For some kids you might pick and choose some flaps.
https://amzn.to/3NgWiU1
