The book, which helps parents understand how their children are feeling, was the brainchild of volunteers and staff at Portsmouth-based charity The Roberts Centre.

They printed 500 copies for local families and these have been met with rave reviews.

During a visit to the city shadow children's minister Tim Loughton was so impressed that he vowed to try to get funding to print and distribute it nationwide.

Mr Loughton said: 'I have seen nothing like it – it is a really innovative book.

'It is written so simply with no technical language and it's cutting edge stuff. I think it is a great idea.'

Mr Loughton was invited to Portsmouth by parliamentary candidate Flick Drummond.

He spent the morning at the charity, based in Crasswell Street, which offers emergency housing to broken families along with a raft of supportive schemes, from childcare to help with benefit forms.

He said: 'The work they do is fantastic. They have made a difference to families who would otherwise be living in bedsits. I have never seen anything quite like it before – I only wish we had something like this in my constituency.'

Mr Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, plans to use the centre as an example of good work across the country.

Ms Drummond, who hopes to oust Mike Hancock from his Portsmouth south seat in the next general election, added: 'The stability they provide through the housing is so fundamental to families. I wanted someone important to see what they are doing.'

Centre manager Carol Damper said: 'Even if the book helps a few families then it is worth it. It's absolutely brilliant to have backing.'