Therapeutic Fairy Tales are a series of short, modern tales, dedicated to supporting young children through challenging situations of life and loss, covering diverse themes such as family breakdown, untreatable illness, and parental depression. Each short story is brought to life by engaging, gentle and colourful illustrations, and can be used by professionals and caregivers to support children’s mental and emotional health.

This set also includes the Storybook Manual, which offers practical and creative ideas on how to use illustrated storybooks therapeutically. Exercises have been designed to encourage children’s imagination and creativity, develop confidence and emotional literacy as well as deepen engagement and understanding of storybooks.

Books in the series include:

• Storybook Manual: An introduction to working with storybooks therapeutically and creatively
• The Storm: For children growing through parent’s separation
• The Island: For children with a parent living with depression
• The Night Crossing: A lullaby for children on life’s last journey

Designed to be used with children aged six and above, each story has an accompanying online resource, offering therapeutic prompts and creative exercises to support the practitioner.

These resources can also be adapted for wider use with siblings and other family members.

Contents:

Storybook Manual: An introduction to working with storybooks therapeutically and creatively

The Night Crossing: A lullaby for children on life’s last journey

The Island: For children with a parent living with depression

The Storm: For children growing through parents’ separation

Author Bio:

Pia Jones is an author, workshop facilitator and UKCP integrative arts psychotherapist, who trained at The Institute for Arts in Therapy & Education. Pia has worked with children and adults in a variety of school, health and community settings, including Place 2 Be and Kids Company. Core to her practice, is using art and story as support during times of loss, transition and change, giving a TEDx talk on the subject. She was Story Director on artgym’s award-winning film documentary, ‘The Moving Theatre,’ where puppetry brought stories of migration to life.

Sarah Pimenta is an experienced artist, workshop facilitator and lecturer in creativity. Her specialist art form is print-making, and her creative practice has brought texture, colour and emotion into a variety of environments, both in the UK and abroad. Sarah has over twenty years’ experience of designing and delivering creative, high-quality art workshops in over 250 schools, diverse communities and public venues, including the British Library, V&A, NESTA, Oval House and many charities. Her work is often described as art with therapeutic intent, and she is skilled in working with adults and children who have access issues and complex needs.

Both Pia and Sarah hope these Therapeutic Fairy Tales open up conversations that enable children and families’ own stories and feelings to be seen and heard.