Nancy over on the Reactive Attachment blog isn’t the only one pouring every free moment into ATN’s Parenting Traumatized Children conference, coming up in August. Since Fridays are LuLu’s therapy and activity-free days, I focused squarely on the details of planning and finalizing the schedule and other details.

One of those details is pulling together a list of books for our local book vendor to have on hand that will appeal to our attendees and relate to what they are learning at the conference. I’ve asked for (and received) advice from our speakers, many of whom are authors themselves.

And I’ve made a list of what I consider some of the standards of our industry…must reads for those parenting or treating attachment disordered and traumatized children. Here are some of my personal favorites.

Building the Bonds of Attachment by Dr. Daniel Hughes. This one (referred to on some listserves as BBA) is a wonderfully woven story of a foster-to-adopt mom and the young attachment-disordered child brought into her care. Their journey toward hope and healing for the girl illustrates how one mom learns how to become therapeutic and just exactly what it takes to help our troubled kids. It’s a book I’ve read more than once…each time learning more (and learning that I’ve grown).

The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Dr. Bruce Perry. I’ve raved about this book on this blog recently! It is a wonderful collection of case studies of traumatized children and some important insight into reaching traumatized children – all in non-technical language so even us frazzled parents can understand.

Attaching in Adoption by Deborah Gray. This book has a marvelous section on emotional development stages which can quickly help a parent put into perspective how far their child is lagging compared to other children of the same chronological age. Ms. Gray also offers some incredible advice and strategies to improve the attachment climate for newly adopted children.

Parenting with Love & Logic by Dr. Foster Cline and Jim Fay. This is a parenting manual that no parent should be without, regardless of whether your child has special needs or not. The advice is practical and necessary for raising responsible children who grow up to be respected adults that everyone (including you) enjoy being around…sounds like a worthwhile goal for all our children, right?

Love is a Start by Donna Shilts. I don’t think many folks have found this book, but it’s an incredible description of one adoptive mom’s search for help for her two sons with FAS. She accurately reflects the struggles and difficult choices she must make, while still showing us just how much she loves these kids. If you’re drawn to this one, you’ll also like The Unlit Path by Deborah Hannah. Nancy has reviewed that book here.

So, what would you recommend that I ask the book vendor to bring? What book(s) did you find invaluable as you were learning about your child’s disabilities? What book(s) are right for using with children to explain to them their situations and disabilities? What would you put on my book list?