Reading for Character: Principles of Bibliotherapy Applied to Children’s Literature

In the past decade, interest has revived in character education, a facet of American education from the earliest days of the nation’s history. Bibliotherapy, the process of reading books with a therapeutic intent, is an effective means to implement character education within the curriculum. Bibliotherapy is a child-friendly and noninvasive technique that can be used in various groupings, settings, and ability levels. Book selection, active dialogue, and follow-up activities are critical elements in the successful classroom implementation of a bibliotherapy lesson.