Building knowledge and understanding surrounding a diagnosis can be difficult for children and parents! Books are great tools to teach children about their feelings and behaviours in a fun, relatable way. Here are 10 of my favourite books related to A-D/HD in children:

1. Hank Zipzer series, by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver – Hank is a young boy growing up with ADHD and dyslexia who constantly finds himself in outrageous situations — like the time his report card ended up in a salami! The books are full of humor for adults and children alike, and any kid who learns differently will really identify with Hank.
2. This Morning Sam Went to Mars: A Book About Paying Attention, by Nancy Carlson – Though ADHD is never mentioned in This Morning Sam Went to Mars, 8-year-old Sam often struggles to pay attention or follow instructions. The book focuses on lifestyle changes that should be considered before a formal diagnosis or a decision to medicate is made. It’s a fun, engaging story that young children will love, and a note at the end has strategies parents can use to help kids improve their attention.
3. Pay Attention, Emily Brown, by Linda Burton – Author Linda Burton approaches the subject of inattention with grace, humor, and love. The narrator’s over-the-top (and rhyming!) efforts to get her daughter’s attention will have any family smiling and laughing. Pay Attention, Emily Brown! ends on a reassuring note, setting the perfect tone for a non-threatening discussion about paying attention.
4. Baxter Turns Down His Buzz: A Story for Little Kids About ADHD, by James M. Foley – Written for children ages 4 to 8 with ADHD and impulsiveness, Baxter Turns Down His Buzz is the story of a high-energy rabbit who learns to control his activity level. His uncle Barnaby guides Baxter through the steps necessary to “turn down his buzz” through behavioral strategies like mindfulness, progressive relaxation, and visualization, rather than medication. Also includes a “Note to Parents and Caregivers.”
5. Terrific Teddy’s Excessive Energy Jim Forgan (K-2nd) – This is an ideal choice for a parent/guardian who is trying to explain ADHD to a child who has been recently diagnosed.  It has two optional endings for parents who want to use the terms ADHD or speak generally about traits such as excessive energy.
6. What Were You Thinking? Bryan Smith (2nd-4th grade) – A great read about a third-grader Braden, whose impulsivity leads to poor choices.  Whether Braden makes jokes in class at the wrong time or blurts something out and hurts his classmate’s feelings, kids with ADHD will relate to this story.
7. I Can Do That: A Book on Self-Regulation (Can-Do Kids Series) (Volume 2), by Kayla J. W. Marnach – I Can Do That! helps children learn self-regulating techniques. Told through rhyme from a child’s point of view, strategies are shared empowering the child to effectively learn and practice ways they can control their emotions and actions when they feel themselves becoming dysregulated. The discussion questions at the end of the book provide an easy transition for counselors and parents to open a discussion, assisting the child in exploring ways they can learn to manage themselves.
8. My Warp Speed Mind, Donalisa Helsley (K-3rd grade) – Written by a clinical social worker, it is one of the few books that address the thoughts at “warp speed” in a kid with ADHD.  Offers tools to deal with impulsivity and how to slow down.
9. Journal of an ADHD Kid: The Good, the Bad, and the Useful – Kids can benefit from a stronger understanding of what it means to have ADHD just as much as adults but getting a child to read an extensive tome on the topic is just unrealistic. This one breaks it down just for kids, with the help of narrator Toby. Throughout the book, Toby shares his own experiences dealing with his ADHD, designed to help readers recognize themselves in his stories. Strewn into the mix are questions, fast facts, and tips to help kids navigate their diagnosis. This book was a ForeWord Review INDIEFAB Book of the Year Finalist.
10. Cory Stories: A Kid’s Book About Living with ADHD, by Jeanne Kraus – Cory has ADHD. In short stories and poems, he describes how it affects his day-to-day life, his relationships, and his schoolwork. Cory Stories covers age-appropriate introductions to ADHD treatments like medication, counseling, and behavior modifications. If your child has difficulty coming to terms with his ADHD or his treatment plan, this is a great book to help him understand he isn’t alone.

Written by Ashley Carlson, M.Ed., Registered Psychologist (provisional) with Wildflowers