With a growing need for positive mental health messages for children and teenagers, the Children’s Book Council of Australia WA Branch has created a series of five videos to highlight how books and reading can play an important role in helping young people feel better about themselves and their place in the world.

Reading for the Heart and Mind explores the topics of: Reading to Children, Imagination, Curiosity, Resilience and Self-Acceptance. The series highlights incredible Western Australian children and YA authors and their books, including titles from the CBCA Notables and Shortlist.

Mental Health advocate and award-winning author of the Being You is Enough series, Josh Langley, teams up with CBCA WA Branch Secretary and avid book lover, Kris Williams, to present this insightful series.

Under each video you'll find a list of books featured and links to further reading and more resources. 

Reading for the Heart and Mind is an initiative by the Children’s Book Council of Australia WA Branch, the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Lotterywest and Healthway with the message Go for 2 & 5.

Episode 1 : The importance of reading to children

Books featured in this episode
Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.
  • Let’s Count Wildflowers by Tracey Gibbs
    Rhyming, colour, number recognition, actions, plants, listening
  • In the Lion by James Foley
    Funny, expression, interest, able to ask questions, listening
  • The hole Story by Kelly Canby
    Imagination, curiosity, questions, looking for things in the text
  • The Bear in our Backyard by Emma Middleton & Briony Stewart
    Imagination, curiosity, prediction, images
  • My Super Hero by Chris Owen
    Questions, communication skills, imagination, acceptance
  • Pandamonia by Chris Owen & Chris Nixon
    Rhyming, expression, predicting, curiosity, images, listening
  • Super Side Kicks series by Gavin Aung Than
    Graphic novel, develops language, puts pictures to words, understanding, communication skills

Episode 2 : Imagination

Books featured in this episode
​Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.
  • The Smugglers Curse by Norman Jorgensen
    One of a series of books featuring the same character. Pirates, adventure, Western Australian history
  • Little Jiang by Shirley Marr & Katy Jiang
    Themes include: imagination, ghosts, other places, family, friends. How would you feel if you had a ghost following you from the day you were born?
  • No! Never! ; a cautionary tale by Libby Hathorn & Mel Pearce​
    What would you do, would you like it or not, how would you feel?
  • Kumiko and the Dragon by Briony Stewart
    This is one of a series of books. Themes include family, adventure, other cultures, other worlds
  • The Red Wheelbarrow by Briony Stewart
    There are no words in this book.  You are free to let your imagination go and tell the story, inspiration

Episode 3 : Curiosity

Books featured in this episode
​Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.

Episode 4: Resilience

Books featured in this episode
​Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.

Episode 5 : Self-Acceptance

Books featured in this episode
​Click on the book titles to find these books in your local public library, or purchase them from one of our supporting West Australian book stores.

Major Sponsors of CBCA Book Week in Western Australia