Tender Topics

Have you ever had a difficult subject to discuss with your child? Most parents have or will, and sensitive picture books can often help jumpstart the conversation. Here at the Watertown Free Public Library, we have a special collection of books for just this purpose. We call it the Parent/Teacher Collection, and it contains books that discuss a wide variety of tender topics.

These helpful picture books are kept on a special bookshelf in the early literacy play area. They are organized by topics. Each book has a sticker with a picture of a baby on it, along with a color-coded label indicating the topic.

We intend for parents (or teachers and caregivers) to share these books with children and spark thoughtful conversation. Currently, our topics are:

• Adoption
• Bullying
• Death
• Divorce
• Emotions
• Family
• Health
• Learning
• Moving
• New Baby
• Potty
• Separation
• Social Skills
• Special Needs

Of course, the books in this section are not exhaustive. There are other books throughout the library that deal with these topics, but we've gathered a wide selection in a convenient location. It's the perfect way to begin addressing those tender topics when you just don't know where to start.