When the world feels overwhelming, kids often pick up on more than we realize. Tough topics like violence in the news or other scary news stories can leave them anxious and full of questions. Reading together can be a comforting way to help children process what’s happening. Here are some thoughtful books to read with kids when the headlines feel heavy.
Little Bear loves going on adventures with his best friend, Big Bear. Then something scary happens to Big Bear. He's caught in a forest fire. Even after he escapes and is safe, Little Bear can tell that Big Bear is not the same. He runs, roars, or freezes in fear when ordinary things happen in the woods that remind him of that traumatic day. This book gently introduces young readers to the common feelings of fear, anxiety, and anger that can follow a traumatic event, and shows them how to have empathy and compassion for themselves and for loved ones experiencing the effects of PTSD. Includes backmatter written by a family therapist with information on how to talk about trauma with children.
Age range: 3-8 years
Sarah starts her day like any other day: she eats her toast and feeds her bugs. But today isn't a day like any other day. Today, her dad brings her to a protest to speak out against police violence against Black people. When Sarah spots a beautiful monarch butterfly and follows it through the crowd, she finds herself inside the no-man's land between the line of police and protesters. In the moments that follow, Sarah is confronted with the cruelty of those who are supposed to protect her and learns what it feels like to protect and be protected. Inspired by the protests that happened during the Minneapolis Uprising after the police killing of George Floyd, Sarah Rising provides a child's-eye view of a protest and offers an opportunity for children to talk about why people take to the streets to protest racial injustice.
Backmatter includes a note from the author about his experience growing up as a Black boy in the Twin Cities, information about the Minneapolis Uprising, and practical ways kids can get involved in activism.
Age range: 5–8 years
When Things Are Hard, Remember
With gentle storytelling and poetic language, Joanna Rowland explores what it means to have hope—hope that things will get better, hope that you are cared for even when things are hard, and hope that new growth is waiting to burst forth, just around the corner.
"A reassuring read for uncertain times."
—Booklist
Age range: 5-8 years
After Raccoon's home burns down in a lightning storm, his friends don't know what they can do to help. Squirrel, Beaver, Mouse, Badger, and Rabbit all go back to their own homes, trying to focus on something other than Raccoon's tragedy. But each animal discovers one small thing they can do for Raccoon—and it turns out that each small act may not be so small after all. A gentle and powerful look at how small actions can make a big impact.
Age range: 4–8 years
When Little Mole is feeling sad in his dark, underground home, his mother shows him how to look for hope. He finds that signs of spring are everywhere, from the daffodil bulbs under the soil to the tiny buds on the branches above. Hope can be found—even in the darkest places. Best-selling children's author Glenys Nellist and illustrator Sally Garland tell an endearing story sure to lift the spirits of people emerging a challenging season of life and inspire them to look for signs that spring will come again.
Age range: 3–8 years
In this inspiring picture book, author and podcaster Cindy Wang Brandt speaks to every child who sees injustice in the world, revealing that they already have inside themselves everything they need to make big, transformative change in the world—just as they are. Every kid is a revolutionary! You don't need to wait until you grow up. You don't even need any special skills. Kids who are loud, kids who are quiet, kids who make art, kids who are good at math, kids with lots of energy, kids who are good listeners—all kids have what it takes to make a difference.
Age range: 4-7 years
For older children, this guide to grief by psychologist Dr. Lora-Ellen McKinney answers the big questions that surround feelings of loss. This engaging handbook looks at grief from many different angles, examining how it influences our emotions and relationships, our brains and bodies, and our behavior. Preteen readers will get to know when and why we are most likely to grieve, what purpose grief serves, and strategies for healing and finding hope moving forward. The guide discusses grief that is caused or affected by news we see on television or online.
"A fantastic book makes a complex subject relatable and engaging for tweens of all reading levels."
—School Library Journal, starred review
Age: 9-13 years
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