By: Whitney Hollins Anna is an awesome student who looks forward to her spelling test each week so she can show her parents. Her dad is especially proud of her. When she goes to visit her dad in prison, Anna can't wait to share the good news with him! Written and illustrated by directly impacted individuals, Anna's Test is a book that fosters conversation and allows children with incarcerated parents to see themselves represented in literature. While Anna's story is not the s

By: Megan Sullivan Clarissa Pettaway has waited five years for her father to come home from prison. When the day finally arrives, her mother makes a special dinner, and her father calls her his favorite names: Oh, Clarissa, Sissy, Sassafrass Girl, I'm never gonna leave you again . Soon, however, Clarissa discovers it isn't all that easy for people who have been incarcerated to rejoin their families and reenter society. Clarissa has to learn to cope with the reality of her fat

By: Jonae Haynesworth, Jesse Holmes, Layonnte, Jones, and Kahltya Ruffin Lately, Deena has been getting angry. A lot. She acts out in school and keeps getting in trouble. Everyone is surprised because she used to be very calm, but that was before her mother went to jail. Her dad, her grandma, and her best friend Josey all do their best to help her out, but Deena doesn’t want to talk about it. Will a day at the carnival with her Dad help her open up? Available on Amazon

By: Richard Dyches This story is about Doogie, a young boy and his sister, whose father is sent to prison. It explores their feelings of loss, fear and frustration at not being told what’s going on until their mother finally takes them to visit their dad in prison. Available on Amazon

By: Becky Birtha Kids can have all kinds of feelings and questions when a parent is incarcerated. Rafael is embarrased. Rashid is angry. Yen wonders if it's her fault. This sensitive story illustrates a range of situations children may face with moms or dads behind bars, while reassuring them they are not alone. Available on Amazon

By: Annette Dominguez and Candace Paulucci “ How Mommy Found Her Way Home”, is the story of a little girl named Lily whose mother must leave her to serve a prison sentence. Lily is left to deal with the confusion, guilt, and fear that so many children experience due to the increasing rate of incarceration among women. Available on Seednhope

By: Deborah Ellis Jake and his sister Shoshona have been under foster care since their single mother was arrested for possession and trafficking three years before. Both have found their own ways to cope: Shoshona has become a bossy mother figure; Jake, who is a budding comic book artist, has created an alter ego named Jakeman. And unbeknownst to his sister, Jake continues his one-man letter-writing campaign to the Governor, pleading for clemency for their mom. Along with an

By: Daphne Brooks Little Kennedy is so excited to visit her father again. After she tries on her princess dress and a tutu, Kennedy's mother finds something pretty for her to wear. Finally, they are ready to take the long car ride to visit her daddy! When Kennedy arrives at the big building, she knows she cannot run around or talk loudly. When she sees her father, she is happy and sad all at once. Happy because she loves her daddy, but sad because she knows her visit will com

By: Daniel Beaty Every morning, I play a game with my father. He goes knock knock on my door and I pretend to be asleep till he gets right next to the bed. And my papa, he tells me, "I love you." But what happens when, one day, that "knock knock" doesn't come? This powerful and inspiring book shows the love that an absent parent can leave behind, and the strength that children find in themselves as they grow up and follow their dreams. Available on Amazon

By: Richard Dyches Kofi's Mom is a story about Kofi whose mother is sent to prison. It explores his feelings of loss and confusion. Through friends at school Kofi begins to talk about his mom and to look forward to her return. Available on Amazon

By: Maureen K. Wittbold Discusses why jails exist, why people go to jail, and how to deal with having a parent in prison. Available on Amazon

By: Pat Brisson Boyds Mills Press publishes a wide range of high-quality fiction and nonfiction picture books, chapter books, novels, and nonfiction Available on Amazon

By: Jackie A. Stanglin This book was inspired by a much-loved, five year old whose father has been incarcerated most of her life. One day after visiting with friends who have both devoted parents in the home, this little girl blurted out to her mother in frustration, “What is jail anyway, and why can’t Daddy be home with us?” She needed answers! When the truth is withheld from children they tend to blame themselves for others mistakes and short-comings. It is the author’s fir

By: Mariame Kaba A little girl who misses her father because he's away in prison shares how his absence affects different parts of her life. Her greatest excitement is the days when she gets to visit her beloved father. With gorgeous illustrations throughout, this book illuminates the heartaches of dealing with missing a parent. Available on Amazon

By: Janet M. Bender Provides resources--including stories, small group counseling activities, and a discussion guide--for helping children cope with the incarceration of a parent or loved one. Available on Amazon

By: Anthony Curcio There are nearly three million adults in the U.S. alone that are in prison or jail. Many of these being parents that leave behind unanswered questions with their children: What is jail? Why did this happen? Is it my fault? Is my daddy (or mommy) bad? Do they love me? My Daddy’s in Jail is a story of two bears who have a father in prison. The book is narrated by a very odd cockroach. Available on Amazon

By: Q. Futrell Meet Michael, Paul, Jennifer and Anne! All children are different in many ways, but all have one thing in common, their moms are in prison. Parental Incarceration affects children in many ways. This book will serve as a conversation starter for such a sensitive issue that impacts nearly 3 million children in the US. Available on Amazon

By: Melissa Higgins When someone you love goes to jail, you might feel lost, scared, and even mad. This colorfully illustrated book lets children know that they are not alone in this situation. It offers age appropriate explanations to help with difficult conversations. Told from the experience of a rabbit, this picture book is intended to make a parent's incarceration a little less frightening. Available on Amazon

By: Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad and Muntaquim Muhammad More than 2.7 million children in America have a parent in prison. When a parent is incarcerated it can be very difficult to explain that to a child. This unique picture book was created to serve as a conversation starter between adults who plan to talk about parental incarceration with affected children. The Prison Alphabet allows each letter of the alphabet to serve as a topic of discussion. By using the letters of the alphab

By: Jacqueline Woodson In this moving picture book from multi-award winning author Jacqueline Woodson, a young girl and her grandmother prepare for a very special day--the one day a month they get to visit the girl's father in prison. "Only on visiting day is there chicken frying in the kitchen at 6 a.m, and Grandma in her Sunday dress, humming soft and low." As the little girl and her grandmother get ready, her father, who adores her, is getting ready, too, and readers get t

By: Jennie Lou Harriman and Kylie Ann Flye This is a story about a young girl, who wants more than anything to be with her father, but cannot because he is in prison. She discovers many ways to cope with her loss through creative expression, the natural world, and play. Available on Amazon

By: Jamantha Williams Watson When Bernice and her favorite cousin, Malaika meet Mother Olivia - Bernice's mother - for the first time; the girls share similar emotions while forcing themselves to understand society, familial and gender issues. Written primarily for students in grades 1st through 3rd, this story aids youth who are experiencing the return of a parent who has been incarcerated. Available on Amazon

By: Liz Weir and Karin Littlewood When Mum tells Milly that Dad has been sent to prison, Milly feels angry and confused. She can't believe her dad won't be at home to read her stories and make her laugh. But soon Mum takes Milly and her brother Sam to visit Dad in prison, and a week later a special package arrives at home - a cd of Milly's favourite animal stories, read especially for her by Dad. At Christmas the family go to a party at the prison, and in the spring there's a

By: Cornelia Maude Spelman Young children often experience anxiety when they are separated from their mothers or fathers. A young guinea pig expresses her distress when her mother and father go away. "Missing you is a heavy, achy feeling. I don't like missing you. I want you right now!" Eventually the little guinea pig realizes that sometimes she and her parents can't be together. When that happens, she knows that others can help. "They can snuggle with me or we can play. It

By: Josiah J. H. Webber and Ramona L. Wright This is a book of hope and encouragement for children with parents that are incarcerated, guilty or innocent. The whole world may seem dysfunctional at times, so don't be surprised if it knocks at your door one day. Be prepared to endure and look to the future with hope, patience and love. You may even want to do a happy dance, every time you overcome an obstacle or receive an unexpected blessing. Available on Amazon

By: Nancy Baranski If your child is struggling to cope with a parent who is incarcerated, you are not alone. I've created this book in hopes that children can read it, have something they can relate to, find positive ways to cope with their feelings, and know that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Available on Amazon

By: Geraldine M. Blomquist, M.S.W & Paul Blomquist Zachary still remembers his "real" parents and finds that adjusting to life as Marie and Tom's adopted son is sometimes a painful reality Available on Amazon