Importance Of Bibliotherapy

According to the Children’s Literature Module (LGA3101) by Institut Pendidikan Guru Malaysia, bibliotherapy is using the reading of books as a way “to heal” or solve a problem (Alex, 1993). In other words, bibliotherapy is the process of mending one’s life by reading books and it is therapeutic. Although it is often associated with “self help” books, any kind of book, fiction or nonfiction, can be used. Bibliotherapy is a dynamic process, by which the students “meet” the author in the pages of the book. A dialog begins to take place between the student and the author. Interpretation is made based on his or her experiences and thus become a part of the book. Nowadays, there are so many obstacles that children have to face and many of them do

Books provide models for how to cope with a particular problem and may provide possible solutions the child can implement in his or her life. Even if a teacher does not feel a child is dealing with a severe emotional problem, bibliotherapy can be used to address experiences that all children faced. Children today are exposed to violence and issues that they themselves do not understand through the media and sometimes it is beyond their comprehension. Books provide a way for the children to learn about these issues in a much more open classroom environment at a slower pace. Plus, bibliotherapy increases reading skills. Children will learn to appreciate literature and become more motivated to read. They gain richer insights about the book and have a greater depth of meaning if bibliotherapy is applied productively in the classroom.

There are ten ways in which bibliotherapy is used “to heal”. Firstly, teachers must create a trusting relationship with students before they begin bibliotherapy. Students are unlikely to share deep emotions with an adult they do not