MK

How to resource TCK’s (and their parents)

/ christineheatherbird / Leave a comment

I purchased the children’s books listed below (pre-school, primary school and teens) and took them with me when visiting families during ‘home’ leave. Then children and parents could borrow those that were most appropriate. Books that were most often helpful were stories about children moving, living in two worlds, friendship, difference, feelings, anxiety, change, identity, sexuality and porn-proofing children.

Preschool books (some suitable for lower primary school)

Leaving home

  • We’ll Still be a Family by Linsey Painter
  • Harold and Stanley Say Goodbye by Jill Dyer (OMF)
  • Alice and the King’s Quest by David and Emily Grace
  • Sammy’s Next Move by Helen Maffini
  • Alexander, Who’s Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst
  • Gila monsters meet you at the airport by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
  • The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day by Stan and Jan Berenstain
  • Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss
  • God is with You: That is All You Need by Larry Libby
  • Off We Go Workbook (OMF)

Living in two worlds

  • Lewis’s Interesting Life by Anna Brotherson and Sara Ang

Friendship

  • How to Be a Friend by Laurie Kransy Brown and Marc Brown

Difference

  • We’re Different, We’re the Same by Bobbi Jane Kates

Feelings

  • How are you Peeling? Foods with Moods by Saxton Freyman and Joost Elffers
  • God Gave Me Feelings by Catherine MacKenzie

Anger

  • Let’s Talk About Feeling Angry by Joy Berry

Pornography

  • Not for Kids! by Liz Walker
  • Good Pictures, Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids by Kristen Jenson and Gail Poyner

Primary school books

Anxiety

  • What to Do When You WORRY Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety by Dawn Huebner (Ages 6-12)
  • The Worry Tree by Marianne Musgrove
  • Hey Warrior: A Book for Kids About Anxiety by Karen Young

Change

  • Who Moved My Cheese? For Kids by Spencer Johnson, M.D. and Christian Johnson

Friendship

  • Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger

Teen books

Grief

  • The Grief Tower: A Practical Guide to Processing Grief with Third Culture Kids by Lauren Wells

Change

  • Who Moved My Cheese? For Teens by Spencer Johnson, M.D. and Christian Johnson
  • Home Keeps Moving by Heidi Sand-Hart

Leaving well – RAFT

  • Burn Up or Splash Down: Surviving the Culture Shock of Re-entry by Marion Knell (the RAFT process is explained on p105-109)

Anxiety

  • Hey Warrior: A Book for Kids About Anxiety by Karen Young

Identity

  • Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the 21st Century by Tania Crossman
  • Rice, Noodles, Bread or Chapati: The Untold Stories of Asian MK’s edited by Polly Ho
  • Half and Half by Lensey Namloka
  • Between Two Worlds by LeAnne Hardy
  • Scamps, Scholars and Saints by Jill and Roger Dyer
  • …And Bees make Honey by Jill and Roger Dyer
  • Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds: The Original Class Book on TCKs by David Pollock, Ruth Van Reken and Michael Pollock
  • Kids Without Borders: Journals of Chinese Missionary Kids by OMF

Re-entry

  • Re-Entry by Rosanne Hawke
  • Footsteps Around the World: Relocation Tips for Teens by Beverly D. Roman
  • The Global Nomad’s Guide to University Transition by Tina Quick
  • Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing after Loss by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKleyn
  • Burn Up or Splash Down: Surviving the Culture Shock of Re-entry by Marion Knell

Sexuality

  • Growing Up By the Book by Patricia Weerakoon
  • Teen Sex By the Book by Patricia Weerakoon

Pornography

  • IP: DIY – Internet Pornography: Do-it-yourself treatment guide for men by Phil Watts
  • Captured by a Better Vision: Living Porn Free by Tim Chester

Online Resources 4 TCKs regarding pornography

Kids and Pornography: Using Internet Accountability to Protect and Teach Your Children (Video, parents) – http://www.covenanteyes.com/2012/09/13/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-pornography/

EducateEmpowerKids (Website/Blog, parents) – 

http://educateempowerkids.org/category/healthy-sexuality/ 

What’s the problem with pornography?  It’s bigger than lust, and more than just disobeying the Bible (Webpage, youth) – http://fervr.net/teen-life/whats-the-problem-with-pornography/

Guilty Pleasure (Website, adult) – Focused towards directing people to course and programs that will help them recover from their addiction. – https://guiltypleasure.org/about/

Have you any suggestions of other books to recommend for cross-cultural workers? Please comment below.

Updated: July 31, 2023