Sharing a book is a unique experience because adult and child have a shared focus. If the adult follows what the child is interested in on the page, by responding to a finger point or to what the child is gazing at, this provides emotional validation and support to the child. For older children, an adult responding positively when they talk about the book means they feel listened to. This in turn builds trust. We’ve chosen these books because they encourage playful interaction between adult and child, which can strengthen growing bonds.
Books for building trust and bonding
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Pick a Story: A pirate + alien + jungle adventure
by Sarah Coyle, illustrated by Adam Walker-Parker
2022 4 to 6 years
How can these books support my work?
We’ve suggested the following scenarios in which the books recommended above might be used to support your work with children and families, but you can use them in any way you see fit.
Scenario 1: the child has a new carer and hasn’t yet bonded with them
Booklist use: Reading Would you rather? together is a way of getting to know each other through choosing options in different scenarios. Even if the child doesn’t want to participate, the adult can volunteer their own choices aloud, allowing the child to get to know them.
Scenario 2: the child needs to feel listened to
Booklist use: Playing with the book Press Here, where the coloured dots seem to respond to the child (if they follow the instructions as read by an adult), gives the child autonomy. This sense of power in their own lives, however temporary, can give their wellbeing a boost, especially when it occurs in the presence of a familiar, friendly adult.
Scenario 3: the child and carer need a moment to relax and laugh together
Booklist use: Reading Oi Frog, or simply looking at the pages, will bring much laughter, as the animals look very uncomfortable being forced to sit on rhyming objects. This repeated rhyming structure allows both child and carer to anticipate what comes next – what might a stork fit on?, for example – which might lead to a relaxed chat, and so bonding.
Scenario 4: the child and carer need to establish a routine
Booklist use: Pick a Story could be used to establish a routine of the child choosing a story to read with the adult at a regular moment in the day. This book allows the child to determine the adventure, with different results each time, and from that the adult might suggest broadening the adventures using other books. Assuming this is a positive encounter with a book (due to the autonomy and fun!), the child might be receptive to having a regular, similar experience with the carer, which would lead to further bonding.