How Frankie stories can help
Frankie stories help children and families cope with the stress or trauma of an illness, injury, hospital admissions or medical procedures.
These stories help children process feelings like being scared, sad, worried or angry and make sense of things that have happened to them. Each story shows a child (like the reader) meeting medical professionals and having procedures to help their bodies heal.
It's helpful to read Frankie's stories even with babies and toddlers who may seem too young to understand. Just hearing your voice and looking at pictures can help them feel calm, safe and connected.
It’s normal and expected for both children and adults to have some uncomfortable thoughts and feelings while or after reading a Frankie’s story book. Read our Guide to reading Frankie stories [PDF 192.03 KB] to prepare and learn more about using these stories to help your child cope with medical experiences. After you have read the story with your child a couple of times, it is likely that any distress will decrease. If it doesn’t, it’s a good sign that it’s time to seek some additional mental health support.
Tips for reading with different ages
Reading with babies
Reading with a baby can help them feel safe and connected. Use a calm, soothing voice. Point to pictures and talk about what the baby is looking at or pointing to.
Reading with toddlers
Toddlers like to get involved in reading, pointing at pictures, and talking about what they see. Listen carefully to what they say and answer their questions. Let them know it’s okay to talk about their own experiences, and discuss big feelings like feeling sad, angry or scared.
Reading with children in preschool and early primary school
Preschool and early primary school aged children are developing skills in both reading and expressing emotions. Encourage them to read aloud to you, help them with unfamiliar words and tell them they’re doing a good job. Talk together about what happens in the story – is it similar to or different from what happened for your family? Name how the characters are feeling (e.g. angry, sad, worried) and talk about what they do to feel better.
For more information about reading with children of different ages, check out our Conversational reading video.
Frankie stories
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Max the brave
Oh no! Max has been burned by hot tea. Everyone at the hospital does something different to help. But there’s someone who does a very special job - helping Max be brave. Max the brave is a story for young children who’ve had an injury.
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Sophie dances again
Sophie loves dancing. But when she gets sick and must stay a long time in hospital, everything changes. Who can help Sophie dance again? Sophie dances again is a story for children admitted to a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
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Jilly's big sleep
Jilly thinks sleeping is BORING! But one day Jilly needs an operation, and that means having a special sleep in hospital. It’s a good thing she has Frankie along to help. Jilly’s big sleep is a story to help young children prepare for a general anaesthetic.
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The first step
Abbi has been very brave. She told her mum about something upsetting that happened to her. Now people at the hospital are going to help, and Frankie will be there every step of the way.
Last updated: November 2024