Health and wellbeing reading resources
Page contents
Autism reading list
Autism is a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with and relates to other people, and how they experience the world around them. We have information and resources on our Autism resources page.
Books to help your child with life’s challenges
We have a collection of picture books for you to share with your child which help to explain life experiences, situations and milestones.
These include topics such as:
- visiting the doctor
- the arrival of a new baby
- starting school or playgroup
- coping with bereavement
- understanding different fears and feelings.
They are all free to borrow and reserve on a child’s library card.
Domestic abuse support
If you are living with domestic abuse, it can be very hard to ask for help, public libraries are safe places where anyone can go to find out about the support available.
Library computers are free to use to access the internet safely to seek information and support without fear of anyone being aware of the information you are checking. The computers are reset every time they are used so an abuser cannot track a search.
The library service has worked with Next Link South Gloucestershire to choose books to support victims of domestic abuse and for readers interested in widening their knowledge of the issues. These books can be read in the library or borrowed discreetly on our self-service kiosk and taken away.
Reading Well – dementia
Reading Well Books on Prescription for Dementia recommends books you might find helpful if you have dementia, are caring for someone with dementia or would like to find out more about the condition.
Normal ageing and memory problems
- Ian Stuart-Hamilton. Introduction to the Psychology of Ageing for Non-Specialists
- Sallie Baxendale. Coping with Memory Problems
About dementia
- Alex Bailey. Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias: Answers at Your Fingertips
- Nori Graham and James Warner. Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias
- Bernard Coope and Felicity Richards. ABC of Dementia
- Karen Dodd, Vicky Turk and Michelle Christmas. About Dementia: For People with Learning Disabilities
For children
- Jessica Shepherd. Grandma
Living well with dementia
- Simon Atkins. First Steps to Living with Dementia
- John Killick. Dementia Positive
- Bernie McCarthy. Hearing the Person with Dementia: Person-Centred Approaches to Communication for Families and Caregivers
Activities to share
- Sarah Zoutewelle-Morris. Chocolate Rain: 100 Ideas for a Creative Approach to Activities in Dementia Care
- Helen Bate. Pictures to Share (various titles)*
Support for relatives and carers
- Susan Elliot-Wright. When Someone You Love Has Dementia
- Graham Stokes. And Still the Music Plays: Stories of People with Dementia
- Jude Welton. Can I Tell You about Dementia? A Guide for Family, Friends and Carers
- Dave Pulsford and Rachel Thompson. Dementia: Support for Family and Friends
- June Andrews. 10 Helpful Hints for Carers: Practical Solutions for Carers Living with People with Dementia
- Rita Salomon. Seeing Beyond Dementia: A Handbook for Carers with English as a Second Language
Personal stories
- Christine Bryden. Dancing With Dementia: My Story of Living Positively with Dementia
- Ian Donaghy. Dear Dementia: The Laughter and the Tears
- Lisa Genova. Still Alice
- Helen Beaumont. Losing Clive to Younger Onset Dementia: One Family’s Story
- Lucy Whitman. Telling Tales About Dementia: Experiences of Caring
- Martin Slevin. The Little Girl in the Radiator: Mum, Alzheimer’s and Me
- Chris Carling. But Then Something Happened: A Story of Everyday Dementia
Pictures to Share series by Helen Bate
- Beside the Seaside in Pictures
- Childhood Days in Pictures
- The Countryside in Pictures
- Family Life in Pictures
- A Funny Old World in Pictures
- In the Garden in Pictures
- Pets in Pictures
- Proverbs and Sayings
- Shopping in Pictures
- A Sporting Life in Pictures
- Travelling in Pictures
- A World of Work in Pictures
Reading Well – mental health for children
Reading Well for young people recommends expert endorsed books about mental health, providing 13 to 18 year olds with advice and information about issues like anxiety, stress and OCD, and difficult experiences like bullying and exams. Find out more on our Reading Well – mental health for children page.
Reading Well – teens
A list of books recommended to help with a range of issues can be found on our Reading Well – teens page.
Reading Well – mood boosting
Reading Well mood-boosting books is a national promotion of uplifting titles, including novels, poetry and non-fiction. The books are all recommended by readers and reading groups. Search for any title on the LibrariesWest website or check the following booklists:
Reading Well – mental health
Our libraries offer the national Reading Well collections of books on mental health topics. Check our Reading Well – mental health booklist for titles.
Selected titles on each of the Reading Well lists are available 24/7 in digital format as eBooks and/or eAudiobooks, visit the LibrariesWest website for more information.
If you need any support in dealing with mental health issues, including self-referral for talking therapies, please see the Vita Health Group website.