Booklists

Explaining death and loss to children is a difficult task. Grieving situations may involve a family member, a friend or a pet. Sharing picture books can provide comfort to grieving children and a safe environment to ask questions. We hope the booklist below will help open a dialogue and support children on the difficult topic of death and bereavement. It is important to select a book suitable for your situation and the nature of your child. Read through the book yourself before sharing with a child. Not all books will be suitable for all children or all situations.

Ben’s Flying Flowers

by Inger M. Maier

Emily introduces her younger brother, Ben, to butterflies, which he calls “flying flowers,” and when his illness makes him too weak to go see them she draws him pictures, but after his death she no longer wants to draw happy things. Includes note to parents.

The Biggest Thing of All

by Kathryn K. Thurman

Lily loves helping in Grandma’s beautiful garden. She and Grandpa help make sure everything’s growing strong. One day, Grandpa lets her in on a secret: pointing to an ant, he says that everything is a part of something bigger. One ant is part of a colony. One rain drop becomes part of the ocean. One star is part of the universe. When Lily’s Grandma passes away suddenly, Lily struggles to deal with and understand her grief. She comes to realize that they are all part of something bigger – a family – and that LOVE is the biggest thing of all.

The Funeral

by Matt James

Norma and her parents are going to her great-uncle Frank’s funeral, and Norma is more excited than sad. She is looking forward to playing with her favorite cousin, Ray, but when she arrives at the church, she is confronted with rituals and ideas that have never occurred to her before. While not all questions can be answered, when the day is over Norma is certain of one thing: Uncle Frank would have enjoyed his funeral. This sensitive and life-affirming story will lead young readers to ask their own questions about life, death and how we remember those who have gone before us.

Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?

by Elke Barber

Alex and his father are on a boys-only weekend when his father has a heart attack. Alex finds someone to call the ambulance, but his father dies on the way to hospital. His mother comes to get him and explains why his daddy can’t come back.

Lost in the Clouds

by Tom Tinn-Disbury

Billy misses his mommy very much. She lives in the clouds. Some days when he and Daddy play in the garden, he knows that Mommy is letting the sun shine for them. But not all days are like that. Sometimes Mommy’s clouds are dark, and Billy feels sad and alone. Written in collaboration with an experienced grief professional, Lost in the Clouds gently explores the idea of grief and teaches children how to understand and deal with their emotions surrounding the death of a loved one.

Mom’s Sweater

by Jayde Perkin

After the loss of her mother, a young girl and her dad find a new way to live with grief with the help of her mom’s sweater.

Remembering Ethan

by Lesléa Newman

A young girl misses her deceased brother and wants to talk about him, and she does not understand why her parents do not even want to mention his name.

Something Very Sad Happened

by Bonnie Zucker

When a loved one dies, it can be hard to know how to explain it to a young child, particularly if you are grieving the loss yourself. Written at a developmental level that is appropriate for two- and three-year-olds, the story explains death; lets children know that it is okay to feel sad; and reassures children that they can still love the person who died, and the person who died will always love them. This story is intended to be personalized; certain words are color-coded in red to cue the adult reader to substitute with the appropriate names and pronouns for the person who died. Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers.

The Dead Bird

by Margaret Wise Brown

When they find a dead bird, a group of children bury it in the woods, sing a song to it, and put flowers on the grave.

The Goodbye Book

by Todd Parr

Through the lens of a pet fish who has lost his companion, Todd Parr tells a moving and wholly accessible story about saying goodbye. Touching upon the host of emotions children experience, Todd reminds readers that it’s okay not to know all the answers, and that someone will always be there to support them.

Ida, Always

by Caron Levin

A polar bear grieves over the loss of his companion, based on the real-life Gus and Ida of New York’s Central Park Zoo.

The Invisible Leash

by Patrice Karst

Emily tries to comfort her best friend, Zack, whose dog Jojo recently died, by telling him about the “Invisible Leash” that connects each owner to his or her deceased pet.

The Longest Letsgoboy

by Derick Wilder

As a dog and his little girl go on their final walk together, he gets to experience the sights, smells, and wonders of this world one last time before peacefully passing on. But for such a good boy and his foreverfriend, that doesn’t mean it’s the end.

Paws + Edward

by Espen Dekko

Paws + Edward is a dog-and-his-boy story, told from Paws’ perspective. Paws is an old dog whose rabbit-chasing is limited to his dreams nowadays. When Paws dies, Edward is lost without his loyal companion, but finds solace and even happiness in his own memories and dreams of Paws. A light-touch look at the death of a pet, Paws + Edward is gently heartbreaking and heart-healing, hitting a perfect note for children and their grown-ups, too, who might be dealing with loss.

Pumpkin and Me

by Alicia Acosta

After her beloved pet dog dies, a young girl finds it very difficult to overcome her feelings of sadness.

Rodney Was a Tortoise

by Nan Forler

A touching picture book about the friendship between a girl and her pet tortoise, and the aftermath of the tortoise’s passing.

Wonderful Goodbyes

by Kelly Wu

A young girl faces the loss of her beloved dog by spending the day doing all their favorite things.

The Bear and the Wildcat

by Kazumi Yumoto

When the Bear’s friend, the little bird, dies, Bear is inconsolable. Full of grief, he locks himself in his house and ventures out again only when the smell of spring grass blows in through his window. He meets a wildcat and finally feels understood. As the cat plays his violin, Bear remembers all the fun he had with the little bird. Now he can say goodbye to his friend, because he knows he’ll always have his memories.

Death is Stupid

by Anastasia Higginbotham

“She’s in a better place now,” adults say again and again. But mortality doesn’t seem better, it seems stupid. This forthright exploration of grief and mourning recognizes the anger, confusion, and fear that we feel about death. Necessary, beautiful, and ultimately reassuring, Death Is Stupid is an invaluable tool for discussing death, but also the possibilities for celebrating life and love.

The Grief Rock

by Natasha Daniels

When someone you love dies, the grief rock shows up. Sometimes grief can feel like a heavy weight you are carrying around. It can be difficult to explain how you feel or know how you will cope carrying the grief rock around. This gentle story explores how grief is filled with all the love we have for someone who was important in our lives. Perfect to open up the conversation on difficult feelings, the book also includes a short guide for adults with tips on supporting children after a bereavement.

A Kids Book About: Death

by Taryn Schuelke

This book dives right into the weighty topic that most adults prefer to avoid thinking or talking about: death. It explains the practical aspects and gracefully navigates the nuances of emotion and community that surround something we all experience.

Maybe Tomorrow?

by Charlotte Agell

Elba carries the black block of grief and sadness wherever she goes–until Norris comes along and helps her to let go of the block and enjoy life again.

Some Days

by María Wernicke

A young girl tells her mother about a passageway in their yard. Down this passageway, it is not cold, there is no danger, and nothing bad can ever happen–and the person she longs for is with her again. The only problem is that, on some days, the passageway is not there. But maybe, together, mother and daughter can find a way to carry that feeling with them always.

Other resources

Child Mind Institute: Helping Children Cope with Grief

The Dougy Center: The National Center for Grieving Children & Families

National Alliance for Grieving Children

Sesame Street in Communities: Helping Kids Grieve

More than 560,000 people experience homelessness each night in the United States. These books are one way to approach the subject with children and start a conversation.

Home

by Tonya Lippert

Two children learn from their experiences of homelessness and uncertain housing that despite their living circumstances there are aspects of their lives that remain constant.

I See You

by Michael Genhart

A wordless picture book that depicts a homeless woman who is not seen by all the life around her, except by a little boy. Ultimately, in a gesture of compassion, this boy approaches this woman, in an exchange where he sees her and she experiences being seen.

Maddi’s Fridge

by Lois Brandt

Best friends Sofia and Maddi live in the same neighborhood, go to the same school, and play in the same park, but while Sofia’s fridge at home is full of nutritious food, the fridge at Maddi’s house is empty. Sofia learns that Maddi’s family doesn’t have enough money to fill their fridge and promises Maddi she’ll keep this discovery a secret. But because Sofia wants to help her friend, she’s faced with a difficult decision: to keep her promise or tell her parents about Maddi’s empty fridge. Filled with colorful artwork, this storybook addresses issues of poverty with honesty and sensitivity while instilling important lessons in friendship, empathy, trust, and helping others. A call to action section, with six effective ways for children to help fight hunger and information on antihunger groups, is also included.

The Old Man

by Sarah V

Day breaks over the town. Get up, everybody! It’s time to go to school. For the old man too, it’s time to wake up. The night was icy and he’s hungry. His name? He doesn’t know . . .

This is the story of a person with no job, no family, no home―a nobody, who can’t even remember what he was once named. But his day changes when he is noticed by a child.

The One with the Scraggly Beard

by Elizabeth Withey

In this poignantly illustrated picture book, a young boy asks his mother questions about a homeless man he’s seen.

A Place to Stay : A Shelter Story

by Erin Gunti

This simple, touching picture book shows readers a women’s shelter through the eyes of a young girl, who, with her mother’s help, uses her imagination to overcome her anxiety and adjust. Includes factual endnotes detailing various reasons people experience homelessness and the resources available to help.

Crenshaw

by Katherine Applegate

Jackson and his family have fallen on hard times. There’s no more money for rent. And not much for food, either. His parents, his little sister, and their dog may have to live in their minivan. Again.

Crenshaw is a cat. He’s large, he’s outspoken, and he’s imaginary. He has come back into Jackson’s life to help him. But is an imaginary friend enough to save this family from losing everything?

A Duet for Home

by Karina Yan Glase 

It’s June’s first day at Huey House, and as if losing her home weren’t enough, she also can’t bring her cherished viola inside. Before the accident last year, her dad saved tip money for a year to buy her viola, and she’s not about to give it up now. Tyrell has been at Huey House for three years and gives June a glimpse of the good things about living there: friendship, hot meals, and a classical musician next door. Can he and June work together to oppose the government, or will families be forced out of Huey House before they are ready?

Free Lunch

by Rex Ogle

Rex Ogle’s story of starting middle school on the free lunch program is timely, heartbreaking, and true. Free Lunch is the story of Rex Ogle’s first semester in sixth grade. Rex and his baby brother often went hungry, wore secondhand clothes, and were short of school supplies, and Rex was on his school’s free lunch program. Grounded in the immediacy of physical hunger and the humiliation of having to announce it every day in the school lunch line, Rex’s is a compelling story of a more profound hunger — that of a child for his parents’ love and care.

The Lucky Ones

by Linda Williams Jackson

It’s 1967, and eleven-year-old Ellis Earl Brown has big dreams. He’s going to grow up to be a teacher or a lawyer–or maybe both–and live in a big brick house in town. There’ll always be enough food in the icebox, and his mama won’t have to run herself ragged looking for work as a maid in order to support Ellis Earl and his eight siblings and niece, Vera. So Ellis Earl applies himself at school, soaking up the lessons that Mr. Foster teaches his class–particularly those about famous colored people like Mr. Thurgood Marshall and Miss Marian Wright–and borrowing books from his teacher’s bookshelf. When Mr. Foster presents him with a copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ellis Earl is amazed to encounter a family that’s even worse off than his own–and is delighted by the Buckets’ very happy ending. But when Mama tells Ellis Earl that he might need to quit school to help support the family, he wonders if happy endings are only possible in storybooks. Around the historical touchstone of Robert Kennedy’s southern “poverty tour,” Linda Williams Jackson pulls from her own childhood in the Mississippi Delta to tell a detail-rich and poignant story with memorable characters, sure to resonate with readers who have ever felt constricted by their circumstances.

No Fixed Address

by Susin Nielsen-Fernlund

Twelve-and-three-quarter-year-old Felix Knutsson has a knack for trivia. His favorite game show is Who What Where When; he even named his gerbil after the host. Felix’s mom, Astrid, is loving but can’t seem to hold on to a job. So when they get evicted from their latest shabby apartment, they have to move into a van. Astrid swears him to secrecy; he can’t tell anyone about their living arrangement, not even Dylan and Winnie, his best friends at his new school. If he does, she warns him, he’ll be taken away from her and put in foster care.

According to the American Immigration Council, one in seven U.S. residents is an immigrant, while one in eight residents is a native-born U.S. citizen with at least one immigrant parent. Books are a great way to introduce children to other cultures and experiences.

Dreamers

by Yuyi Morales

An illustrated picture book autobiography in which award-winning author Yuyi Morales tells her own immigration story.

Marwan’s Journey

by Patricia de Arias

Marwan is a young boy on a journey he never intended to take, bound for a place he doesn’t know. On his journey, he relies on courage and memories of his faraway homeland to buoy him. With him are hundreds and thousands of other human beings, crossing the deserts and the seas, fleeing war and hunger in search of safety. He must take one step after another–bringing whatever he can carry, holding on to dreams. This is the journey of one boy who longs for a home, and we follow his path, walking hand in hand with him as he looks forward with uncertainty and hopes for a peaceful future. This beautiful, heartfelt story gives a human face to the plight of refugees all over the world. Marwan’s journey is everyone’s journey.

Someone New

by Anne Sibley O’Brien

When three children, Jesse, Jason, and Emma, are confronted with new classmates from different ethnic backgrounds, they strive to overcome their initial reactions, and to understand, accept, and welcome Maria, Jin, and Fatima.

Stepping Stones: A Refugee Family’s Journey

by Margriet Ruurs

In this picture book, a young girl and her family are forced to flee their village to escape the civil war that has engulfed Syria and make their way toward freedom in Europe.

Where Will I Live?

by Rosemary A. McCarney

This stunning photo-based picture book for younger readers takes a look at the thousands of children around the world who have been forced to flee war, terror, hunger, sickness, and natural disasters – young refugees on the move with very little left except questions. It’s hard to imagine, but the images here will help unaffected children understand not only what this must feel like, but also how very lucky they are. The final message is that children, even with uncertain futures, are resilient and can face uncertainty with optimism. Gripping images are from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and include photographs of children in countries including Lebanon, Rwanda, Iraq, Niger, Hungary, Jordan, and Greece, among others.

Young refugees wonder what their new homes will be like in this nonfiction photo-based picture book featuring images of refugee children from around the world.

Front Desk

by Kelly Yang

Recent immigrants from China and desperate for work and money, ten-year-old Mia Tang’s parents take a job managing a rundown motel in Southern California, even though the owner Mr. Yao is a nasty skinflint who exploits them; while her mother (who was an engineer in China) does the cleaning, Mia works the front desk and tries to cope with demanding customers and other recent immigrants–not to mention being only one of two Chinese in her fifth grade class, the other being Mr. Yao’s son, Jason.

In the Beautiful Country

by Jane Kuo

Arriving in America, the so-called beautiful country, Anna, a young Taiwanese girl, finds it anything but beautiful as she and her family struggle to make a place for themselves in this world and learn the true meaning of home.

The Night Diary

by Veera Hiranandani

Shy twelve-year-old Nisha, forced to flee her home with her Hindu family during the 1947 partition of India, tries to find her voice and make sense of the world falling apart around her by writing to her deceased Muslim mother in the pages of her diary.

Refugee

by Alan Gratz

Although separated by continents and decades, Josef, a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany; Isabel, a Cuban girl trying to escape the riots and unrest plaguing her country in 1994; and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015 whose homeland is torn apart by violence and destruction, embark on harrowing journeys in search of refuge, discovering shocking connections that tie their stories together.

When Stars Are Scattered

by Victoria Jamieson

Omar and his younger brother Hassan live in a refugee camp, and when an opportunity for Omar to get an education comes along, he must decide between going to school every day or caring for his nonverbal brother in this intimate and touching portrayal of family and daily life in a refugee camp.

And Tango Makes Three

by Justin Richardson

At New York City’s Central Park Zoo, two male penguins fall in love and start a family by taking turns sitting on an abandoned egg until it hatches.

A Church For All

by Gayle E. Pitman

Celebrates a diverse community on a Sunday morning at an inclusive church that welcomes all people regardless of age, class, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Come to the church for all!

Heather Has Two Mommies

by Lesléa Newman

When Heather goes to playgroup, at first she feels bad because she has two mothers and no father, but then she learns that there are lots of different kinds of families and the most important thing is that all the people love each other.

In Our Mothers’ House

by Patricia Polacco

Marmee, Meema, and the kids are just like any other family on the block. In their beautiful house, they cook dinner together, they laugh together, and they dance together. But some of the other families don’t accept them. They say they are different. How can a family have two moms and no dad? But Marmee and Meema’s house is full of love. And they teach their children that different doesn’t mean wrong. And no matter how many moms or dads they have, they are everything a family is meant to be.

A Plan for Pops

by Heather Smith

Lou spends every Saturday with Grandad and Pops. They walk to the library hand in hand, like a chain of paper dolls. Grandad reads books about science and design, Pops listens to rock and roll, and Lou bounces from lap to lap. But everything changes one Saturday. Pops has a fall. That night there is terrible news: Pops will need to use a wheelchair, not just for now, but for always. Unable to cope with his new circumstances, he becomes withdrawn and shuts himself in his room. Hearing Grandad trying to cheer up Pops inspires Lou to make a plan. Using skills learned from Grandad, and with a little help from their neighbors, Lou comes up with a plan for Pops.

When Aidan Became a Brother

by Kyle Lukoff

When Aidan was born, everyone thought he was a girl. His parents gave him a pretty name, his room looked like a girl’s room, and he wore clothes that other girls liked wearing. After he realized he was a trans boy, Aidan and his parents fixed the parts of his life that didn’t fit anymore, and he settled happily into his new life.

Then Mom and Dad announce that they’re going to have another baby, and Aidan wants to do everything he can to make things right for his new sibling from the beginning–from choosing the perfect name to creating a beautiful room to picking out the cutest onesie. But what does “making things right” actually mean? And what happens if he messes up? With a little help, Aidan comes to understand that mistakes can be fixed with honesty and communication, and that he already knows the most important thing about being a big brother: how to love with his whole self.

Drama

by Raina Telgemeier

Callie rides an emotional roller coaster while serving on the stage crew for a middle school production of Moon over Mississippi as various relationships start and end, and others never quite get going.

The Real Riley Mayes

by Rachel Elliot

Fifth grade is just not Riley’s vibe. Everyone else is squaded up–except Riley. Her best friend moved away. All she wants to do is draw, and her grades show it. One thing that makes her happy is her favorite comedian, Joy Powers. Riley loves to watch her old shows and has memorized her best jokes. So when the class is assigned to write letters to people they admire, of course Riley’s picking Joy Powers! Things start to look up when a classmate, Cate, offers to help Riley with the letter, and a new kid, Aaron, actually seems to get her weird sense of humor. But when mean girl Whitney spreads a rumor about her, things begin to click into place for Riley. Her curiosity about Aaron’s two dads and her celebrity crush on Joy Powers suddenly make more sense.

Skating on Mars

by Caroline Huntoon

Still coping with the death of their father, twelve-year-old Mars tries to figure out their place on and off the rink as they navigate being nonbinary in a traditionally gendered sport.

Small Town Pride

by Phil Stamper

Jake is just starting to enjoy life as his school’s first openly gay kid. While his family and friends are accepting and supportive, the same can’t be said about everyone in their small town of Barton Springs, Ohio. When Jake’s dad hangs a comically large pride flag in their front yard in an overblown show of love, the mayor begins to receive complaints. A few people are even concerned the flag will lead to something truly outlandish: a pride parade. Except Jake doesn’t think that’s a ridiculous idea. Why can’t they hold a pride festival in Barton Springs? The problem is, Jake knows he’ll have to get approval from the town council, and the mayor won’t be on his side. And as Jake and his friends try to find a way to bring Pride to Barton Springs, it seems suspicious that the mayor’s son, Brett, suddenly wants to spend time with Jake. But someone that cute couldn’t possibly be in league with his mayoral mother, could he?

A novel in verse is a type of narrative poetry in which a novel-length narrative is told through the medium of poetry rather than prose. It’s a different–and sometimes quick–way to get in to a story. Try one of these awesome novels in verse!

Aniana del Mar Jumps In

by Jasminne Mendez

A novel-in-verse about a 12-year-old Dominican American girl who must keep her love of swimming a secret from her mother, is diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis, and is forced to reimagine the person she is to become.

The Door of No Return

by Kwame Alexander

11-year-old Kofi Offin dreams of water. Its mysterious, immersive quality. The rich, earthy scent of the current. The clearness, its urgent whisper that beckons with promises and secrets… Kofi has heard the call on the banks of Upper Kwanta, in the village where he lives. He loves these things above all else: his family, the fireside tales of his father’s father, a girl named Ama, and, of course, swimming. Some say he moves like a minnow, not just an ordinary boy so he’s hoping to finally prove himself in front of Ama and his friends in a swimming contest against his older, stronger cousin. But before this can take place, a festival comes to the villages of Upper and Lower Kwanta and Kofi’s brother is chosen to represent Upper Kwanta in the wrestling contest. Encircled by cheering spectators and sounding drums, the two wrestlers from different villages kneel, ready to fight. You are only fine, until you are not. The match is over before it has barely begun, when the unthinkable-a sudden death-occurs… The river does not care how grown you are. As his world turns upside down, Kofi soon ends up in a fight for his life. What happens next will send him on a harrowing journey across land and sea, and away from everything he loves.

Good Different

by Meg Eden Kuyatt

Seventh-grader Selah Godfrey knows that to be “normal” she has to keep her feelings tightly controlled when people are around, but after hitting a fellow student, she needs to figure out just what makes her different–and why that is ok.

Moonwalking

by Zetta Elliot

In 1980s Brooklyn, new student JJ Pankowski, an autistic punk rock lover, befriends Pie Velez, an Afro-Latinx math geek and graffiti artist.

Something Like Home

by Andrea Beatriz Arango

When a lost dog helps Laura find a way home to her family, they discover family in each other along the way.

Ultraviolet

by Aida Salazar

Thirteen-year-old Elio is struggling with “coming of age”–first love, first heartbreak, first real fight (which lands him in the hospital), and what it means to be a “man”, a true friend, and an ally, as well as how to overcome a culture of toxic masculinity.

The Conquerors

by David McKee

The general of a large country conquers other lands “so they can be like us,” but discovers that the last small country he invades seems to influence his own instead.

The Day War Came

by Nicola Davies

A powerful and necessary picture book – the journey of a child forced to become a refugee when war destroys everything she has ever known. Imagine if, on an ordinary day, war came. Imagine it turned your town to rubble. Imagine going on a long and difficult journey – all alone. Imagine finding no welcome at the end of it. Then imagine a child who gives you something small but very, very precious… When the government refused to allow 3000 child refugees to enter this country in 2016, Nicola Davies was so angry she wrote a poem. It started a campaign for which artists contributed drawings of chairs, symbolizing a seat in a classroom, education, kindness, the hope of a future. The poem has become this book, movingly illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, which should prove a powerful aid for explaining the ongoing refugee crisis to younger readers.

The Enemy: Book about Peace

by Davide Cali

After watching an enemy for a very long time during an endless war, a soldier finally creeps out into the night to the other man’s hole and is surprised by what he finds there.

Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People, and War

by Yukio Tsuchiya

Recounts how three elephants in a Tokyo zoo were put to death because of the war, focusing on the pain shared by the elephants and the keepers who must starve them.

Finding Winnie

by Lindsay Mattick

A woman tells her young son the true story of how his great-great-grandfather, Captain Harry Colebourn, rescued and learned to love a bear cub in 1914 as he was on his way to take care of soldiers’ horses during World War I, and the bear became the inspiration for A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh

Grumpy Little King

by Michael Streich

The little king is always grumpy, fed up with being the little king of a tiny nation. He decides to start a war to be able to rule over an enormous country and be famous, but things do not turn out quite as he planned.

Idriss and His Marble

by René Gouichoux

When war threatens their home, Idriss and his mother must flee. He clutches his lucky charm–a single marble–throughout their journey, walking over hazardous terrain, crawling under barbed wire, and sailing on a fragile little boat. Will the marble’s luck help them avoid capture and bring them to the safety of a new world? A heartfelt tale exploring the perilous path refugees often walk to find a new home and the hope it takes to get them there

The Journey

by Francesca Sanna

What is it like to have to leave everything behind and travel many miles to somewhere unfamiliar and strange? A mother and her two children set out on such a journey; one filled with fear of the unknown, but also great hope. Based on her interactions with people forced to seek a new home, and told from the perspective of a young child, Francesca Sanna has created a beautiful and sensitive book that is full of significance for our time.

The Three Lucys

by Hayan Charara

A young Lebanese boy must learn to cope with loss and hope for a peaceful future after losing one of his beloved cats because of The July War. Based on the month-long conflict between Lebanon and Israel during the summer of 2006.

War

by  José Jorge Letria

An award-winning, stunningly illustrated, sober depiction of war. A recipient of the prestigious Nami Concours prize, this remarkable book of striking, often surreal illustrations and sparse prose reveals the many sides of war: where it comes from, how it creeps up on us, and how it destroys everything in its wake. During a time when wars are fought around the world, this evocative and bold interpretation may serve as a vehicle for difficult yet necessary discussions among readers of all ages.

Year of the Jungle

by Suzanne Collins

Suzy spends her year in first grade waiting for her father, who is serving in Vietnam, and when the postcards stop coming she worries that he will never make it home.

Addressing the topic of race with young kids can be uncomfortable for adults, but it is an important part of early childhood development for children of all races. Fortunately, there are books that can help adults talk about race and racial differences with children. Whether you’re a primary caregiver, an educator, or you have a special kid in your life, these books will make a welcome addition to your child’s reading.

All the Colors We Are : The Story of How We Get Our Skin Color = Todos los colores de nuestra piel : la historia de por qué tenemos diferentes colores de piel

by Katie Kissinger

Explains, in simple terms, the reasons for skin color, how it is determined by heredity, and how various environmental factors affect it.

Antiracist Baby

by Ibram Z. Kendi

Illustrations and rhyming text present nine steps Antiracist Baby can take to improve equity, such as opening our eyes to all skin colors and celebrating all our differences.

Can I Touch Your Hair? : Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship

by Irene Latham

Irene Latham, who is white, and Charles Waters, who is black, present paired poems about topics including family dinners, sports, recess, and much more. This relatable collection explores different experiences of race in America.

Intersection Allies: We Make Room for All

by Chelsea Johnson

A handy book about intersectionality that depicts the nuances of identity and embraces difference as a source of community.

Let’s Talk About Race

by Julius Lester

The author introduces the concept of race as only one component in an individual’s or nation’s “story.”

Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness

by Anastasia Higginbotham

A white child sees a TV news report of a white police officer shooting and killing a black man. “In our family, we don’t see color,” his mother says, but he sees the colors plain enough. An afternoon in the library’s history stacks uncover the truth of white supremacy in America. Racism was not his idea and he refuses to defend it.

Our Skin: A First Conversation about Race

by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli, and Isabel Roxas

Developed by experts in the fields of early childhood and activism against injustice, this topic-driven picture book offers clear, concrete language and beautiful imagery that young children can grasp and adults can leverage for further discussion.

While young children are avid observers and questioners of their world, adults often shut down or postpone conversations on complicated topics because it’s hard to know where to begin. Research shows that talking about issues like race and gender from the age of two not only helps children understand what they see, but also increases self-awareness, self-esteem, and allows them to recognize and confront things that are unfair, like discrimination and prejudice.

Skin Again

by bell hooks

The skin I’m in is just a covering. It cannot tell my story. If you want to know who I am, you have got to come inside and open your heart way wide.

Race matters, but only so much–what’s most important is who we are on the inside. Looking beyond skin, going straight to the heart, we find in each other the treasures stored down deep. Learning to cherish those treasures, to be all we imagine ourselves to be, makes us free.

This award-winning book, celebrates all that makes us unique and different and offers a strong, timely and timeless message of loving yourself and others.

Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice

by Marianne Celano

After discussing the police shooting of a local Black man with their families, Emma and Josh know how to treat a new student who looks and speaks differently than his classmates. Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers that provides general guidance about addressing racism with children, child-friendly vocabulary definitions, conversation guides, and a link to additional online resources for parents and teachers.

While Belle, Cinderella, and Ariel are all great princesses, sometime you need a princess who’s a little out of the ordinary. Try one of these princess stories!

The Big Princess

by Tarō Miura

Once upon a time…a king and queen discover, among their flowers, the teensiest, tiniest princess. Such a charming, sweet little thing! They are instantly taken with her – she becomes the daughter they never had, the child they had always dreamed of. The Queen immediately sets about finding her a perfect-sized bed and only a tiny ring box will do. But, in no time at all the princess grows too big for her miniature bed. In fact, with each passing day, the princess grows bigger and BIGGER. Soon, she is taller than her parents, taller than her bedroom…and the princess keeps growing until her HEAD pokes through the top of even the TALLEST tower! Can the King figure out how to break the spell and save his beloved princess before his castle crumbles and falls?

Interstellar Cinderella

by Deborah Underwood

In this outer space adaptation of the fairy tale in rhyme, Cinderella dreams of becoming a spaceship mechanic.

Not Every Princess

by Jeffrey Bone

After listing activities that are stereotypically, but not always, attributed to princesses, fairies, pirates, superheroes, and more, encourages the reader to imagine what one could be, despite others’ expectations. Includes note to parents.

The Paper Bag Princess

by Robert Munsch

When a fierce dragon destroys her castle and clothes, and carries off the prince she was going to marry, a brave and resourceful princess cleverly outwits the dragon.

The Truly Brave Princesses

by Delores Brown

Princess Nin is a firefighter, Princess Gilda is a supermarket cashier, Princess Agnes is retired, and Princess Liang is in a wheel chair. This gallery of princesses gives visibility to lot of women who do not fit with the traditional conception of a princess. Maybe it’s time to realize that each and every one of us could be a princess.

The Princess in Black

by Shannon Hale

Who says princesses don’t wear black? When trouble raises its blue monster head, Princess Magnolia ditches her flouncy dresses and becomes the Princess in Black! The first in the Princess in Black series.

Princess Pulverizer: Grilled Cheese and Dragons

by Nancy E. Krulik

A princess who would rather be a knight accepts her skeptical king father’s challenge to perform good deeds in order to prove her worthiness to attend knight school, an endeavor that is supported by a friendly dragon and a perpetually terrified knight-in-training. The first book in the Princess Pulverizer series.

The Princess Rules

by Philippa Gregory

Princess Florizella was friends with some of the princesses who had studied the Princess Rules, and behaved just as the Rules said they should. Florizella thought their hair was lovely: so golden and so very long. And their clothes were nice: so richly embroidered. And their shoes were delightful: so tiny and handmade in silk. But their days bored her to death… Instead, Princess Florizella rides her horse, Jellybean, all over the kingdom, having adventures of her own.