'finances'

In a perfect world, children would never be exposed to difficulties and hardships. They would never have to grow up too soon or feel unsafe. They could simply be kids. Unfortunately, life doesn’t discriminate. When these struggles arise, it can be difficult to find a way to answer questions or work through their feelings in an age appropriate way. 

Books can be a great tool to help children (and adults!) find the words for their feelings and cope. Whether it is for more common obstacles like bullying and divorce or other sensitive issues like, poverty, domestic violence, immigrating to a new country, or death of a loved one, books can help provide advice and comfort. Picture books are also a great way to encourage empathy for others in children that may be living these situations. 

These books are best read together with plenty of time afterwards for questions. With books that deal with sensitive subjects, it is always good practice for a grownup to read the book beforehand, and determine if there is a struggle that you or your child is facing, there is a book to help.

Home Life

• The Big Bad Wolf In My House by Valérie Fontaine
  Topic: Domestic violence // Easy FONTAINE
• It’s a No-Money Day by Kate Milner
  Topic: Food banks, poverty // Easy MILNER
• Some Secrets Should Never Be Kept by Jayneen Sanders and Craig Smith
  Topic: Child sexual abuse // Easy 362.76 SANDERS

Divorce

• Dinosaurs Divorce by Laurie Krasny Brown
  E 306.89 BRO
• Divorce is the Worst by Anastasia Higginbotham
  Easy 306.89 HIGGINBOTHAM

Death / Loss

• Death is Stupid by Anastasia Higginbotham
  Easy 155.937 HIGGINBOTHAM
• Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola
  Easy DEPAOLA
• Bear Island by Matthew Cordell
  Topic: Pet loss // Easy CORDELL 
• Arno and His Horse by Jane Godwin and Felicita Sala
  Topic: Toy loss // Easy GODWIN

Bullying

• Confessions of a Former Bully by Trudy Ludwig and Beth Adams
  Topic: How to start being a better friend // Easy LUDWIG
• The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad, S.K. Ali, and Hatem Aly
  Topic: Hijab, Islam, school // Easy MUHAMMAD
• You, Me, and Empathy by Jayneen Sanders and Sofia Cardoso
  Topic: Teaching empathy // Easy SANDERS

Immigration

• The Color Collector by Nicholas Solis and Renia Metallinou
  Topic: Homesickness, friendship // Easy SOLIS
• My name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams, Khadra Mohammed, and Catherine Stock
  Topic: Refugee, names // Easy WILLIAMS
• Home is in Between by Mitali Perkins and Lavanya Naidu
  Topic: Traditions, culture // Easy PERKINS

People with Disabilities

• What Happened to You? by James Catchpole and Karen George
  on order
• It’s Okay to Ask! by Nancy Carlson
  Easy CARLSON

Adoption

• Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born by Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell
  Easy CURTIS 
• We Belong Together by Todd Parr
  Easy PARR
• Goyangi Means Cat by Christine McDonnell, Lou Fancher, and Steve Johnson
  Topic: English as a second language // Easy MCDONNELL