There are so many great books you can read to children. These books are definitely worthwhile borrowing or purchasing as the messages are simple and beautifully written and illustrated. These books assist children to understand and learn fundamental skills that may change and shape their lives and assist them to deal with setbacks, anger, frustration, anxiety and jealously.

The Disappointment Dragon by K.I. Al-Ghani, illustrated by Haitham Al-Ghani
This illustrated book brings to life the issue of dealing with disappointment through the endearing characters of the Disappointment Dragon and the Dragon of Hope.
When things don’t go our way, the Disappointment Dragon can come to visit and take us down to his home in the Valley of Despair…

The Disappointment Dragon sometimes comes to see us all and, if we let him, he can make us feel sad or angry. He visits Bobby when he is not picked for the school football team, he also finds Lucinda when she has to miss an exciting school trip because she has the Chicken Pox. He even tries to take the whole of Class Three down to the Valley of Despair when their favourite teacher moves away. Will the Dragon of Hope be able to chase away the Disappointment Dragon and help them see things more positively?

The fun characters in this charming, fully illustrated storybook will help children to cope with, and discuss openly, their feelings of disappointment. There are many creative suggestions on how to banish the Disappointment Dragon and an introduction for adults explaining disappointment in children and how they can help.

The Red Beast by K.I. Al-Ghani, illustrated by Haitham Al-Ghani
This vibrant fully illustrated children’s storybook is written for children aged 5+, and is an accessible, fun way to talk about anger, with useful tips about how to ‘tame the red beast’ and guidance for parents on how anger affects children.

Deep inside everyone, a red beast lies sleeping. When it is asleep, the red beast is quite small, but when it wakes up, it begins to grow and grow.

This is the story of a red beast that was awakened. Rufus is in the school playground when his friend John kicks a ball that hit him in the stomach, and wakes up the sleeping red beast: `I hate you – I’m gonna get you!’. The red beast doesn’t hear the teacher asking if he’s okay. It doesn’t see that John is sorry – how can Rufus tame the red beast?

Students can sympathise with the characters in the book. It will help children to cope with, and discuss openly, their feelings of anger. There are creative suggestions on how to ‘tame the red beast’ and how to empower themselves.

The Panicosaurus by K.I. Al-Ghani, illustrated by Haitham Al-Ghani

This illustrated book teaches children who experience anxiety about Panicosaurus and Smartosaurus and how to help Smartosaurus banish Panicosaurus when he appears at times of stress by using a range of calming techniques. There is a helpful introduction for parents and carers, and a list of techniques for lessening anxiety at the end of the book

Have you ever felt a sense of dread and worry creeping over you? That might be the Panicosaurus coming out to play. Sometimes the Panicosaurus tricks Mabel’s brain into panicking about certain challenges, such as walking past a big dog on the street or when her favourite teacher is not at school. With the help of Smartosaurus, who lets her know there is really nothing to be afraid of, Mabel discovers different ways to manage Panicosaurus, and defeat the challenges he creates for her.

This fun, easy-to-read and fully illustrated storybook will inspire children who experience anxiety, and encourage them to banish their own Panicosauruses with help from Mabel’s strategies. Parents and carers will like the helpful introduction, explaining anxiety in children, and the list of techniques for lessening anxiety at the end of the book.

The Green Eyed Goblin by K.I. Al-Ghani, illustrated by Haitham Al-Ghani
This book that will be released shortly and it’s about jealousy. Deep inside everyone, a little goblin lies sleeping. When it wakes up, its eyes turn green, its nose grows and it starts to breathe a smelly green mist.

This is the story of the wakening of a Green-Eyed Goblin. When Theo sees his sister getting lots of attention for her birthday, his sleeping goblin wakes and he can’t seem to stop himself from saying all the horrid things the nasty goblin’s green mist is making him think. Will Theo learn how to send his Green-Eyed Goblin back to sleep in time for the party?

This fun, illustrated storybook will help children aged 5-13 to understand and cope with jealousy and how it can sometimes make us feel not good enough. A helpful introduction for parents and carers explains jealousy in children, and a section at the back of the book provides strategies for overcoming it.