In my clinical work as a pediatric psychologist, I noticed something powerful: when I spoke directly about fear, children often shut down. But when I told a story, they leaned in.

Bibliotherapy allows children to explore overwhelming experiences at a safe distance. Through characters, metaphor, and narrative, children can practice coping skills, build emotional language, and develop psychological flexibility before they need to use it in real life. In stories, children find themselves, safely. They see their worries reflected in characters who are brave, scared, frustrated, and hopeful. And in watching those characters cope, they begin to believe they can cope too. I believe every child deserves tools for resilience and sometimes the gentlest way to teach those tools is through a story.