How can adults help children understand the worst things about living in the world, when we struggle (and often fail) to understand them ourselves?

Here are some books for kids that address scary events—big and small—and how to cope with the anxiety, fear, anger, and other feelings they bring up.

Picture Books

What Do You Do with a Problem? by Kobi Yamada

A beautifully illustrated picture book about coping with something difficult. It ends on a hopeful note, and it's deliberately vague enough that adults can apply its broad lesson to a range of situations.

Deals with anxiety and worry.

 

 

Snowflakes Fall by Patricia MacLachlin

Written in honor of the children killed in the Newtown shootings, this illustrated poem offers a subtle, gentle lesson about changing seasons and the power of memory.

Deals with change and loss.

 

 

Ida, Always by Caron Levis
Gus is a polar bear in the Central Park Zoo. When his longtime companion Ida begins to get very ill, Gus has to accept her death and learn ways to handle his grief.

Deals with death.
 

 

Sometimes by Rebecca Elliott
Toby’s sister is very sick and has to go to the hospital, so he helps figure out what he can do to help her feel better.

Deals with hospitalization and sibling illness.

 

 

 

Ladder to the Moon by Maya Soetoro-Ng
Suhaila gets to spend time with her grandmother, Annie, who helps people facing tragedy—even though Annie died before Suhalia was born.

Deals with death and the afterlife.

 

 

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
The first day of school can be scary, and Wemberly—a mouse who worries about everything—is particularly nervous about it.

Deals with school-related anxiety.

 

 

 

Tess’s Tree by Jess Brallier
When a maple tree in Tess’s yard has to be cut down, she gathers her neighbors and family together to celebrate its life.

Deals with death and mourning.

 

 

 

Jack’s Worry by Sam Zuppardi
Stage fright can seem like a minor matter for adults, but it can also be a big deal to children. Jack’s worries about playing the trumpet in his first concert grow until they threaten to overwhelm him.

Deals with anxiety.

 

 

When I Feel Sad, When I Feel Angry, and When I Feel Worried by Cornelia Maude Spelman
Guinea pigs star in this series of straightforward books about handling emotions.

Deals with handling negative emotions.

 

 

 

 

Books for Slightly Older Kids

Bird by Zetta Elliott
When a boy’s older brother becomes addicted to drugs, he turns to his art and an understanding uncle to help understand.

Deals with drug use and death of a sibling.

 

 

 

Con Cariño, Amalia / Love, Amalia (Spanish version and English version) by Alma Flor Ada
Amalia spends every Friday afternoon with her grandmother. After she dies, Amalia struggles to stay connected to her and the rest of her family.

Deals with death of a grandparent.

 

 

 

 

New Year’s Eve Sleepover from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler
When Hubie’s invited to his first-ever sleepover, he needs to overcome some serious concerns about what might happen when he’s there.

Deals with separation anxiety and fears of the future.

 

 

 

Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick
Twelve-year-old Zane and his dog are stuck in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

Deals with natural disasters.

 

 

 

 

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy
The true story of how the Massai people reacted to hearing about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Deals with terrorism.

 

Missing! A Cat Called Buster by Wendy Orr
Josh’s neighbor, Mr. Larsen, has a cat who gets lost and can’t be found after Mr. Larsen has to go into the hospital.

Deals with illness and missing pets.

 

 

 

 

Some Bunny to Talk to: A Story about Going to Therapy by Cheryl Sterling

Fear and anxiety are making life hard for a young bunny, and a talking to a therapist can make it easier.

Deals with processing anxiety and trauma.

 

 

Healing the Bruises by Lori Morgan
Julia and her mother go to live in a shelter, to get away from her abusive father and begin life in a new place.

Deals with domestic violence and post-traumatic stress.

 

 

 

 

When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown
A nonfiction question-and-answer book about the extinction of the dinosaurs and, by extension, death in general.

Deals with death.

 

Can you think of other books that have helped you or children you know deal with trauma? Let us know in the comments.

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Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!