Compiled by Anne Coppell
When something tragic happens, children are affected.
When it is something big — and it is all over the news — children are affected.
As trusted grown-ups in their lives — and the lives of their family members — we may be asked for help, and especially asked for book recommendations.
When a Storytime Solidarity member put out the call for recommendations, when a tragedy affected their community, these were the books recommended.
- THE BREAKING NEWS by Sarah Lynne Reul.
- ON THE NEWS: OUR FIRST TALK ABOUT TRAGEDY by Dr Jillian Roberts and Jane Heinrichs.
- THE RABBIT LISTENED by Cori Doerrfeld.
- SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED: A KID’S GUIDE TO COPING WITH EVENTS IN THE NEWS by Dawn Huebner.
- SOMETHING HAPPENED IN OUR PARK by Ann Hazzard, Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Keith Henry Brown.
- SOMETHING HAPPENED IN OUR TOWN by Ann Hazzard, Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, and Jennifer Zivoin.
- A TERRIBLE THING HAPPENED by Margaret M. Holmes and Cary Pillo.
- WHAT TO DO WHEN THE NEWS SCARES YOU by Jacqueline B. Toner and Janet McDonnell.
- ALL OF A SUDDEN AND FOREVER by Chris Barton and Nicole Xu.
- BLUEBIRD by Bob Staake.
These websites were recommended by the Storytime Solidarity community:
- Assisting Parents/Caregivers in Coping with Collective Traumas by The National Child Traumatic Stress network – NB: this is a downloadable PDF.
- Talking to Children about the Shooting by National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Helping Children with Tragic Events in the News by PBS Kids
- How to Talk to Kids About Shootings and Gun Violence by Scientific American
- How to Talk to Kids About Violence, Crime, and War by Common Sense Media.
- Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers by National Association of School Psychologists
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend’s
Or of thine own were:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
~ John Donne, Mediation 17.
A note from Ms. Kate (The Lavender Librarian)
The solidarity team has been planning on releasing a series of blogs about death and grief for children on an ongoing basis.
While we will generally be releasing blogs on Thursdays moving forward, we felt that given recent events in the United States, there are children and families in need of these resources and book recommendations right now.
As such, and in solidarity, we’re making this piece immediately available. Please check in with us regularly for more books, resources and blogs.
In Solidarity,
Kate
