Best books for children about alcoholism
Understanding addiction is extremely important for children with a parent or other loved one with alcoholism. Books are great resources to aid in helping children understand, cope with and heal from the trauma associated with having a loved one with a substance abuse disorder.
When my sister was little, I looked for books for kids on addiction, alcoholism and drugs. I wanted her to understand what was happening to our alcoholic mother and all of us. I fast discovered there are not enough children’s books about drugs and alcohol. I hope this changes in the coming years. Here is the list of books that I have given to family members and recommended to others. As an author and adult child of an alcoholic, I believe these are the best fiction and non-fiction books to help explain alcoholism and addiction to kids and teenagers. Updated 8/26/2017. Credits for all images: Amazon.com.
Preschool – second grade books (ages 4-8)
I Wish Daddy Didn’t Drink So Much by Judith Vigna
This is one of the most professionally-done books for kids of alcoholics. The illustrations are highly quality and the story is well written. It is hopeful and relatable. “After breakfast, Daddy didn’t want to go sledding. ‘Later,’ he growled.” Lisa describes disappointment about broken promises and being more aware of what was happening than her mother realized. After a disappointing Christmas, Lisa learns ways to deal with her father’s alcoholism with the help of her mother and an older friend. Highly recommend this as one of the best books for children about substance abuse.
Up and Down the Mountain by Pamela Leib Higgins
Sixth-grader Jenny is always worried about her alcoholic father. On the day of her graduation, she wonders if her father will attend the celebration and reflects on the many times her father’s drinking caused absence at important events. This book for children of alcoholics is best for second and third graders, as the writing is a little more advanced than a preschooler will relate to. There is a lot of focus on embracing the up-and-down feelings that come with having a parent with a substance abuse disorder. This is a tender book that helps children understand that their feelings are normal and how to better cope with the pain they feel and the difficult situation they face living with an alcoholic parent.
Wishes and Worries: Coping with a Parent Who Drinks Too Much Alcohol by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Maggie’s birthday party is ruined because her father is drunk; this leads to confrontations at school because Maggie is embarrassed and angry. When Maggie speaks with the school counselor, she learns that her father has a substance abuse disorder. She learns that her father’s drinking has nothing to do with Maggie and her siblings. She learns how to cope. Her father goes into treatment and by the next birthday, he is in recovery. Some reviewers of this book say the story ends on a too-hopeful note, as many parents with addiction may never recover. However, I believe this book explains well that children have nothing to do with their parent’s drinking and provides a realistic look at the possibilities for healing.
“My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease” – A Child’s View: Living with Addiction by Claudia Black
Written by adult children of alcoholics (ACoA) expert Claudia Black, this book is entirely penned by children. It provides a child’s view of addiction. The drawings and stories reinforce the idea that chemical dependency is a disease and that the alcoholic or addict in the child’s life has a disorder and is ill, and not a bad person. I think this was a brilliant approach to the book; who better to explain the reality than fellow kids who speak and think in similar ways?
When A Family Is In Trouble by Marge Heegaard
This one is workbook-style for children about ages six to 12. Kids fill in and draw responses to prompts like “I feel angry when…” etc. There are also great suggestions for healing and coping including the appropriate time to express feelings and what to do when there are safety concerns (“It isn’t safe to ride in a car with someone who is drunk or high on drugs…or with someone acting crazy because they can’t get them.”) This book is a good tool for adults to understand what questions children of addiction have and how they are feeling so that the adults can better support them.
A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes
Full disclosure – this is the only one in this list I haven’t personally read but it has been highly recommended to me by many grandparents and parents with children who’ve experienced a traumatic event due to addiction in their families or something else. Sherman Smith saw the most terrible thing happen, but it is never explained what the thing was that he experienced. This enables the reader to relate the event to whatever traumatic event he/she had personally experienced. At first, Sherman tries to forget about it, but something inside him started to bother him. He felt nervous and had bad dreams. Then he met someone who helped him talk about the terrible thing and made him feel better. A good conversation starter.
Middle-grade books (ages 8-13)
There are very few relatable books for tweens with parents, siblings or other loved ones with alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders. These are the few books for children in grades third to seventh that I recommend:
Waiting For Normal by Leslie Connor
This is a very inspiring story about Addie, a girl with perseverance and hope. Addie quickly becomes the mini adult of the household. Her mother is bipolar and not identified as an alcoholic but the all or nothing, confusing up-and-down behavior and relationship is very similar to that of kids and alcoholic parents. Addie is waiting for normal. But Addie’s mother has an all-or-nothing approach to life: a food fiesta or an empty pantry, her way or no way.
Addie’s mother is bipolar, and she often neglects Addie. All-or-nothing never adds up to normal, and it can’t bring Addie home, where she wants to be with her half-sisters and her stepfather. But Addie never stops hoping that one day, maybe, she’ll find normal. This book earned multiple top literary awards – and rightly so!
Tall Tales by Karen Day
Meg’s family has moved a lot because of her father’s drinking. Meg arrives in her town longing to find a real friend, someone she can talk to and write stories with. When she and Grace join forces to write a book, she’s thrilled that she has finally found someone who likes her for who she is, who trusts her and confides in her. But she can’t tell Grace about her father. Even though she hates to lie, Meg can’t resist telling tall tales about her family and her life to Grace and other kids. For Meg, friendship turns out to be the key to telling the truth, and to a better life for her family. This is a very sweet and realistic story for children of alcoholics. Lying is a common coping mechanism for kids with addiction in their families. This story shows the power of telling the truth and reaching out for help. This is one of my favorites, because the themes of friendship and coming-of-age are balanced with the tough stuff at home – just like real life.
Easter Ann Peters’ Operation Cool by Jody Lamb (yours truly!)
Twelve-year-old Easter Ann Peters’ Operation Cool, a plan to make her seventh grade year awesome, is derailed as Easter copes with her mother’s alcoholism in their tiny lakeside town.
- FOREWORD REVIEWS MAGAZINE: 2012 Book of the Year Award in juvenile fiction. “Debut author Jody Lamb nails the seventh-grade mentality in her funny, loving ode to an outcast. Cliques, clothing, and other everyday discomforts form the backdrop for her irresistible heroine’s larger trouble: an alcoholic mother. Enter a stunning new best friend and, with her, Easter’s newfound confidence to just be herself.” – ForeWord magazine (spring 2013)
- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “The protagonist’s struggles are well drawn and feel real…This is a solid choice for its realistic portrayal of middle school and a child’s struggle with an alcoholic parent.” -Kefira Phillipe, Nichols Middle School, Evanston, ILα(c) Copyright 2011. School Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.
- BETTY FORD INSTITUTE: “…belongs on the shelf of every school counselor in America.”
- BETTY FORD CENTER: “A sensitive look at how alcoholism affects the entire family, especially the children. A message of hope and the possibility of healing makes this a very powerful read.”- Jerry Moe, National Director of Children’s Programs, Betty Ford Center
In 2009, I embarked on a quest to uncover literature, both fiction and non-fiction, designed for children addressing the topic of alcoholism. My mission was fueled by the desire to ensure that these resources, which had been absent during my own childhood, were readily available for the kids of the twenty-first century, including my younger sister. I was equally eager to stumble upon books suitable for tweens and teenagers, focusing on addiction and substance abuse. My ultimate goal was to provide my sister with a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of our family’s struggle with this disease.
Much to my dismay, my search revealed that there was a glaring lack of books dealing with this prevalent issue. However, my journey took an unexpected turn when I decided to enroll in a creative writing course at a community college, simply for the joy of it. It was during this course that the narrative of “Easter Ann Peters’ Operation Cool” unfolded effortlessly, as if it had been waiting for the right moment to be shared.
Books for teenagers (ages 13 – 19)
Hey, Kiddo: A Graphic Novel by Jarrett Krosoczka
This is a great graphic memoir that tells Jarrett’s incredible and sometimes heartbreaking story of growing up in a complicated family. Picture this: in kindergarten, the teacher asks Jarrett to draw his family, the classic mommy-and-daddy picture. But Jarrett’s family is anything but typical. His mom is battling addiction, his father is a mystery, and he’s raised by his colorful and opinionated grandparents.
Throughout his childhood, Jarrett tries to make his not-so-normal life as normal as possible. He discovers his love for drawing, using it as a way to express himself when there are so many things left unsaid. As he grows into a teenager, he begins to piece together the truth about his family, confronting his mother’s addiction and embarking on a quest to find his elusive father.
“Hey, Kiddo” is a powerful and unforgettable memoir about resilience, family, and the art that can help you survive even the toughest of circumstances. It’s a must-read that delves into the complexities of addiction, the strength of family bonds, and the importance of finding your voice.
So, if you’re looking for a moving and beautifully illustrated story that will tug at your heartstrings, give “Hey, Kiddo” a read. You won’t be disappointed.
For Teenagers Living With a Parent Who Abuses Alcohol/Drugs by Edith Lynn Hornik-Beer
This non-fiction book for teens answers common questions. It has a question-and-answer style that makes it easy to read. However, I’ll warn that feels dated; it was originally published in 1974 and you can tell. There are no references to the post-internet world. That being written, it answers the timeless questions well such as:
- “Why won’t my parent just get a hold of themselves and stop drinking?!”
- “If I keep my father from seeing the alcohol, he would give it up. Should I throw out all the bottles in the house?”
- “Does this mean I’m going to suffer from substance abuse when I’m older like my parents?”
- “Should I stay at home?”
- “What causes alcoholism?”
- “Why do I fight with my parents, even when they are sober?”
It’s a great crash course about addiction for teens, young adults and adult children of alcoholics.
Alateen: Hope for Children of Alcoholics by Al-Anon Family Groups Headquarters, Inc.
A great introduction to what Alateen and Al-Anon meetings are all about, this book features personal stories from teens. They share relateable experiences and feelings related to their experiences with a parent with a substance abuse disorder. I so wish I had this book when I was teenager, as I believe it would have encouraged me to attend Alateen meetings. There, I would have learned that I was SO far from alone in my experience with an alcoholic mother. I would have learned to how to cope and start my healing journey 10+ years earlier than I did. Like all of the Al-Anon publications, this feels dated and should be refreshed to better appeal to today’s youth. But still, the stories are powerful.
Please share
Feel free to pass along this compilation of book suggestions. You never know who among your social circles might have a young individual in their midst who could greatly appreciate the wisdom and insight offered by these books! Sharing is caring, after all.
Add to this list
What books would you add to the list? Please share the knowledge in the comments below.
Book recommendations for adult children of alcoholics
You may also be interested in my list of recommended books for adult children of alcoholics (ACoAs).
Jody Lamb, personal growth author. Leader for adult children of alcoholics. I provide resources and inspiration to help people heal and create lives they love. Get unstuck 🔆Overcome your adult child of an alcoholic traits 🔆Create a life you loveGet the free Jody Lamb weekly email for inspiration and resources!
How I wish these had been around when I was a kid and teen. Sharing….
Me, too!! Education is powerful. Thanks for sharing!
I am a Psychotherapist and author of a children’s book series “Helping Children Understand”. I would be grateful for your feedback on my latest book “Dad’s Addiction” and will be more than happy to email a copy if you are interested. Thank you so much for the wonderful work you do and I look forward to hearing from you!
Hi, Carolyn. Fantastic. I would love to read both books.
Hello
I am looking for a book to help my daughter. She hasn’t seen her Dad since she was 2 due to his addictions and unpredictable behaviour ( I cant think how else to describe it). I want to try and help her understand.
Hi Justine, the books on this page are the ones I recommend to explain addiction to children. Education is a gift; thank you for doing this for your daughter.
Informative and helpful.
InTheRehab recently posted…Alcohol Rehabilitation and Treatment Program
I need books for my 7 year old foster about his dealing with his parents being addicts. I cannot find anything appropriate. Help?
A list of must-reads!
Hi
I’m looking for a book for my daughter about her mother who has addiction problems but most of the books I think will be good for her have “dad” in the title.
My daughter has to put up with Narcissist abuse from her alcoholic mother because of an order. She is scared and too frightened to speak up at school or to any authority.
Glad there are books to help young people who must cope with alcoholic parents. I also wrote a novel for children based on my own childhood experiences called HOLD, ON, JESSICA, DON’T LET GO.
Still can’t find any books specifically about drug abuse….some kids who are in denial about their father’s addiction read these and say that’s not MY parent!
…. children exposed to the abandonment of repeated fails at rehab, who are used to seeing paraphernalia in their house and shady people hanging around, living in poverty due to $200/day habits ….need a story specifically for them!
So many of the books I’ve been looking at were written in the 80s and 90s — pre Fentanyl and Meth proliferation…if ANYone has suggestions plse. Comment!
Thanks for compliling this list to the author.
This is really important for this generation of children to Know About addiction. This book is really helpful for children.