April 21, 2023
Picture books help tamariki through trauma
![Watermark](/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/logo-4.png)
![](https://waateanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/mntBLOCKSTORAGEhomemasternews_importersrclinda-tuhi-smith-pukapuka_1_Pub.jpg)
Educationalist and decolonisation expert Linda Tuhiwai Smith has put her research into intergenerational historic trauma into action with a series of picture books for tamariki.
The distinguished professor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanauiārangi says there are few resources for children who have undergone trauma.
That prompted her to write five books aimed at 4 to 8 year olds, which have been published by Huia.
They cover topics like suicide of a sibling, death of a baby, a mother’s long term illness, domestic violence and child abuse.
“The purpose is really to help a child talk about something, talk about an issue, talk about a trauma and process that in a conversation with an adult,” Professor Smith says.
She says if these kinds of things are not discussed, children will often form their own reasons and may blame themselves.