Books & Films For Children of Incarcerated Adults
About 2.6 million U.S children have a parent who is incarcerated, according to A Developmental Perspective on Children With Incarcerated Parents, yet the media rarely represents these youths. It’s important to find representation so you do not feel alone. From picture books to documentaries, here are some pieces of media children of incarcerated adults may find comforting.
Sesame Street: Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration
Sesame Street is a beloved children’s show that helps little ones learn about everything from death to children with autism. The episode shows viewers characters with parents in jail and teaches what “incarceration” means.
Tre Maison Dasan is a documentary about three boys, Tre, Maison, and Dasan, who visit their parents in prison and fight through the stereotypes of having an incarcerated parent.
The Night Dad Went To Jail: What To Expect When Someone You Love Goes To Jail
Written by Melissa Huggins, this is a picture book to help children understand the tough process of a loved one being arrested and imprisoned.
Inspired by real events, Gracie’s Choice is a Lifetime movie about an eldest sibling who fights for the custody of her youngest siblings after the arrest of their mother. This movie shines a light on eldest siblings who step up to raise their brothers and sisters after the loss of a parent and all the struggles they go through to do so.
Visiting Day by Jacqueline Woodson is a picture book about the routine of a little girl and her grandmother on the one day a month she can visit her father in prison. The book shows the heartwarming side of visiting a parent and looking forward to the future when their sentence ends.
Unprisoned is a quirky, lighthearted Hulu show for the adult children of incarcerated parents. The story follows Paige Alexander, a single mother and therapist who deals with the aftermath of her father moving in with her and her teen son after being released from prison.
