Children of Incarcerated Parents Library

The National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated

Books for parents, caregivers and professionals to read with children of the incarcerated

• Ayer, Bonnie & Bigelow, Amy. If You Have a Parent in Jail Then This Book Is For You. Flynn School.  Burlington, Vermont. 1996.
• Beal, Janice M. & Gilmore, Vanessa. 2008.  A Boy Named Rocky: A Coloring book for the Children of Incarcerated Parents.  Available at: http://www.4theloveofkids.com/wordpress/
• Beaty, Daniel. 2013. Knock, Knock: My Dad’s Dream for Me. New York: Little Brown.
• Bell,S.D. Surviving the Chaos: Dontae’s Story: Children with Incarcerated Parents (iBelieve-uBelieve Youth Book Series) (Volume 1) 2013 norahS Youth Publications (older children/young adults)
• Bender, Janet M. My Daddy is in Jail: Story, Discussion Guide, and Small Group
• Activities for Grades K-5.  Chapin, S.C.: YouthLight, Inc.
• Bergen, Suzanne & Hodgkins, Kathleen. 1997.  My Mom Went to Jail.  Madison, WI: The Rainbow Project, Inc.
• Beesley, Leslie. Locked Away.2012. Bookemon: http://www.bookemon.com/book-profile/locked-away/178136
• Beesley, Leslie. Happy Birthday Gabina 2013. http://www.bookemon.com/book-profile/happy-birthday-gabina/266980
• Black, Frank. There are Some Real Special Kids in our Class. 1999.
• A Visit with Mommy
• A Visit with Daddy
• Brisson, Pat & Caple, Laurie (Illustrator). 2004.   Mama Loves Me from Away. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press
• Burch, Robert. 1999. Queenie Peavy. London: Puffin Books.
• Butterworth, Oliver & Avishai, Susan (Illustrator). 1993. A Visit to the Big House. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
• Cain, Sandra, Speed, Margaret & Mukhida, Zul (Photographer). 1999.  Dad’s in Prison. London: A&C Black.
• Crane, J. & Short, B. n.d.  Two in Every Hundred: Workbook for Older (school-age) children.  Nashville, TN: Reconciliation.  Order from: Reconciliation, 702 51st Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37209, (615) 292-6371.
• Curcio, A. (2015). My daddy’s in jail. ICG Children’s
• Dyches, R. W., & Garcia, E. (2011). Doogie’s dad. Berryville, AR: Children Left Behind
• Dyches, R. W. (2011). Kofi’s mom. Berryville, AR: Children Left Behind
• Ellis, S. (2016). Almost Like Visiting. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
• Futrell, Q. (2015). Our Mom’s (Living With Incarcerated Parents). Quniana Futrell, LLC.
• Gesme, Carole, Kodpfmann, Michele & Schmoker, Lisa. 1993.   Help for Kids!
• Understanding Your Feelings About Having A Parent in Prison or Jail For Kids Ages Six and Older.  Minneapolis, MN: Pine Press.  (6 years and older)
• Harriman, Jeannie Lou and Kylie Ann Flye Waiting for Daddy 2013. Create Space Independent Publishing. 
• Hayes, Margaret, Witherill, Jill & Pergrim, Lois A. 1989. My Daddy is in Prison. Johnstown, PA: Cambria County Community Action Council.
• Hickman, Martha Whitmore. 1983.  When Can Daddy Come Home? Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press.
• Hickman, Martha Whitmore & Raymond, Larry (Illustrator). 1990. When Andy’s Father Went to Prison. Niles, IL: Albert Whitman and Company.  (K-5)
• Higgens,M. The Night Dad Went to Jail. 2011.Picture Window Books
• Jones, Donna. n.d.  Joey’s Visit.  Syracuse, NY: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County.
• Kagy-Taylor, Kathy, Dansker, Donna. All About Change.  The Aring Institute Of Beech Acres. Cincinnati, Ohio. 1991. 
• Kerniski, Ann. n.d. Keeping in Touch by Long Distance.  Syracuse, NY: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County.
• Maury, Inez. 2002.  My Mother and I Are Growing Stronger. Berkeley, CA: New Seed, Press. 
• Maldonado, Torrey. Secret Saturdays.2010.New York: Putnam.
• Muhammad, B., Dr., & Muhammad, M. (2014). The Prison Alphabet (Project Iron Kids). Goldest Karat Publishing
• Myers, Rebecca. Someone I Know Lives in Prison. 2013 order from http://www.asca.net/system/assets/attachments/6121/Book%20Order%20Form.pdf?1375408369 
• Nelson, Julie. Families Change: A Book for Children Experiencing Termination of Parental Rights (Kids Are Important) Free Spirit Publishing, 2006.
• Paterson, Katherine. The Same Stuff as Stars.2002.Clarion Books. ( 10-14 year olds) 
• Paratore, Colleen. Sunny Holiday.2009.Scholastic Press.
• Penn, Audrey. The Kissing Hand. Child Welfare League of America. Atlanta, Georgia.1993.
• Roznowski, Fran & Toyoshima, Tak (Illustrator). n.d.  Time to Go. Order a copy by sending $7 (includes postage) to: Fran Roznowski, 11 Cottage St., Chelsea, MA. 02150.
• Speed, Margret, Cain, Sandra & Mukhida, Zul. Dad’s in Prsion. 1999.  London: A & C Black.
• St. Pierre, Stephanie. 1994.  Everything You Need to Know When a Parent is in Jail. New York: Rosen Publishing Group.
• Stanglin, Jackie A. & McGuckie, Cierra Jade. 2007.  Mami, Que es una Carcel? Centennial, CO: Lifevest Publishing, Inc
• Stanglin, Jackie A. and McGuckie, Cierra Jade. 2006.  What is Jail, Mommy? Centennial, CO: Lifevest Publishing, Inc.  (Ages to 8)
• Testa, Maria & Amanda Schaffer (Illustrator). 1996.  Nine Candles. Minneapolis, MN: Carol Rhoda Books.
• Thompson, Blair. 1995. The Magic Quilt. Sundance Publishing ( out of print)
• Vogel, Carol Lynne & Mulhollen, Amy. 1996.  My Mommy’s in Prison.  Pennsylvania: Southwest-South Central Pennsylvania AmeriCorps Program, The Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps.
• Walker, Jan & Leonhard, Herb (Illustrator). 2006.  An Inmate’s Daughter.  Norris, MT: Raven Publishing of Montana.  (Grades 5 – 8)
• Whitbold, Maureen. 2003.  Let’s Talk About When Your Parent is in Jail. New York: Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
• Williams, Vera B. 2001.  Amber was Brave, Essie was Smart. New York: Greenwillow.
• Wittbold, Maureen. 1998.  Let’s Talk about When Your Parent is in Jail. New York: PowerKids Press.
• Woodson, Jacqueline. 2002.  Our Gracie Aunt. New York: Hyperion.
• Woodson, Jacqueline & Ransome, James (Illustrator). 2002.  Visiting Day.  New York: Scholastic Press. (Ages 4 – 8)