The Seven C's

I didn't CAUSE it.

I can't CURE it.

I can't CONTROL it.

I can take CARE of myself.

By COMMUNICATING my feelings,

Making healthy CHOICES, and

By CELEBRATING myself.

You can take this list to the library, and ask the librarian if they have any of these books. If they haven't, you might ask if they are at another library. If they are, sometimes the librarian can get an "inter-library" loan for you. Maybe the library might think about getting them for their own library.

Alateen-Hope for Children of Alcoholics. New York: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1980.

Brown Bottle: A Fable for Children of All Ages. Penny Jones, Center City, MN: Hazelden Foundation, 1983. Presents an allegory of alcoholism in the illustrated story of Charlie the caterpillar who leaves the caterpillar kingdom to follow the glow of the brown bottle.

The Cat Who Drank Too Much. LeClair Bissell and Richard Watherwax. Bantam, CT: Bibulophile Press, 1982. Twenty captioned black and white photos that relate the story of a kitten that was obsessed with drinking, reflecting the behavior and feelings of many alcoholics.

An Elephant in the Living Room, The Children's Book. M.H. Typpo and J.M. Hastings Minneapolis, MN: Compcare Publications, 1984. A program designed to help children from seven years to early adolescence cope with the problems of living with a problem drinking or drug-abusing parent or sibling. The leader's guide is primarily for adults working with children in groups. The children's book uses a workbook format with line drawings.

My Dad Loves Me, My Dad has a Disease. Claudia Black. Denver, CO: M.A C. Printing, 1979. A workbook designed to help young children learn about themselves, their feelings, and the disease of alcoholism in their families through art therapy. Children between the ages of six and fourteen share what it is like for them to live in an alcoholic family.

Something's Wrong in My House. Katherine Leiner. New York: Franklin Watts, 1988. About domestic violence and alcoholism and how it affects children. Acknowledges the universal feelings of fear, anger, and hopelessness, and looks for ways to cope.


Cut out this card and keep it in a place where you can get to it
easily, like in your bookbag, pencil case, or in with collector cards.

Remember that these calls won't cost you anything because they have an
area code of "800". Be sure to dial the "1" first.

Boystown National Hotline 1-800-448-3000

CHILDHELP USA Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-422-4453

National Youth Crisis Hotline 1-800-448-4663

National Runaway Switchboard 1-800-621-4000

For more resources and fun stuff, check out the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information's (NCADI) Kids Only Area