Alexis Millar is the former Digital Marketing Specialist at the Edmonton Public Library.
When major events happen, each family responds differently. Sometimes we use humour to cope, sometimes we search for facts to make sense of the world and sometimes we just need to acknowledge the new emotions we are feeling. The recent fires in Jasper have undoubtedly brought up many of these feelings.
Whatever the conversation your family is having, there are books that can help you navigate these tough topics with your child. Check out some of our picks below for children age 3-6 to find the right fit for your family.
About Emotions
It happens to all of us, something goes wrong and the angries come calling. These picture books are great to read with your little ones, and make the feelings a bit easier to understand.
Sadness is a big emotion and can be difficult for little ones to understand. Help your child learn more about and take care of their feelings with this stories to read together.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children. While anxiety can be normal and even helpful at times, it can also become problematic. These books aim to comfort and support anxious children, and help them to develop strategies to cope with their worries.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children. While anxiety can be normal and even helpful at times, it can also become problematic. These books aim to comfort and support anxious children, and help them to develop strategies to cope with their worries.
Dealing with Death
Dealing with the death of a family member, friend, or pet is never easy. These books may help children to navigate their grief and provide opportunities for conversations about death, loss, and sadness.
Death - whether of a family member, friend, or pet - is difficult to grapple with. These books provide a starting point for explaining and navigating death, loss, and grieving.
Helping Children Understand War
War and its impacts are one of the most difficult topics to introduce to kids. This list includes non-fiction titles as well as fiction based on real experiences to help children understand some of the reasons that wars and conflicts happen and the impacts that they have.
Bad Dreams
Nighttime can be scary, but if you have good friends and a few laughs you can make it through. Check out these picture books to help children cope with their nightime fears and nightmares.
Moving Places
Moving to a new place can be difficult, especially for young children. There is a new house to get used to and entirely new friends to make. Explore your child's feelings around moving with some of these picture books to read together.
Houselessness
Kids might see people around their neighborhood struggling to buy necessities or with not having a place to live, or they might be in a similar situation with their own families. Either way, these books provide a gentle starting point to answering questions and destigmatizing the experience.
Feeling Out of Place
There are lots of things that can make kids feel out of place - moving schools, new family, finding your identity, and more! The books on this list give kids relatable stories about feeling like you don't fit in and coping with this feeling.
A Little Hope
Even when things seem dark, hope keeps us strong and makes room for light and new life.
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Didn't find what you were looking for? Request your own Personal Picks book list online or talk to our Library staff.
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