Books and Resources to Help Guide Young Children Through Difficult Times

​A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes 
   A gently told and tenderly illustrated story for children who have witnessed any kind of violent or traumatic episode, including physical abuse, school or gang violence, accidents, homicide, suicide, and natural disasters such as floods or fire.

You've Got Dragons by Kathryn Cave
   Lots of people get dragons. And sometimes they’re hard to get rid of. So what can a young boy with a bad case of the dragons do? He can pretend they are not there, or that they are really quite harmless. Hugs from his mom help. Looking his dragon straight in the eye at least once every day helps even more. But most reassuring of all is the reminder that dragons don’t stay forever. You’ve Got Dragons provides real, actionable, kid-friendly advice on handling stress and is ideal for students exploring SEL themes. 

Puppy in my Head by Elise Gravel
   Kids experience anxiety and can feel overwhelmed just like adults do, and this picture book serves as both a story and a step-by-step guide to help calm kids down. 

Whimsy's Heavy Things by Julie Kraulis
   Whimsy’s heavy things are weighing her down. She tries to sweep them under the rug, but she trips over them. She tries to put them in a tree, but they fall on her. She even tries to sail them out to sea, but they always come back. Eventually Whimsy decides to deal with the heavy things one at a time… and a surprising thing happens. Whimsy’s Heavy Things is a sweet story about changing the things that weigh us down into the things that lift us up.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buschglia
   The Fall of Freddie the Leaf touches children and adults alike, illustrating the delicate balance between life and death. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf is a warm, thought-provoking story about how Freddie and his companion leaves change with the passing seasons and the coming of winter.