The Big Hug Books are a series of picture books designed to gently talk about topics that many find emotional. Each of the stories has grown from psychological sessions with children (and sometimes with grown-ups) to help them understand and talk about complex emotional situations in simple and gentle ways. Each book includes some notes for parents or teachers that can be used to guide the ways they assist their children and students. Psychologists and students of psychology will recognise the evidence-based strategies the Big Hug Books promote.
Anger is Like Armour. Anger is an emotion that lets us know that things are not how they should be. Rather than getting rid of anger, the focus needs to be on listening to, or being aware of, our anger so that we can use the angry feelings as a cue for appropriate action.
Worries are Like Clouds compares worries to the weather, acknowledging that some days are wonderful, filled with golden sunlight that calls us outside to run and jump and play with fresh air on our faces. But some days are not so wonderful and can be a bit tough.
Life is Like the Wind is a book about grief and loss.
Friendship is Like a See Saw is a book about friends and relationships.
The Playground is Like the Jungle is about making safe friendship choices in the playground.
The Internet is Like a Puddle is a book about playing safely on the internet.
A Family is Like a Cake celebrates families in all of their different shapes and forms and speaks to the importance of safety, love, discipline and support.