Dr. Kessler recommends books by Judith Viorst, PhD who has written a number of wonderful books for children that talk about common experiences children deal with like having a bad day or feel neglected. One of Dr. Viorst’s most popular books Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and her recent story Nobody Here But Me illustrates how other children handle their distress when having a crummy day. These books are a great way for parents and their children to talk about what it is like to feel ignored or when things seem like they’re just not going your way. Reading these books together helps children feel very grown up. They learn they are not alone in how they feel and that grown-ups can feel that way too! Reading books together that explore shared experiences also opens up communication between children and parents. It allows children to come up with new ways to handle distressing emotions, like telling their parent or teacher when they feel bad.