As a librarian, patrons constantly ask if I have any recommendations about books that can gently, intelligently, and honestly explain to kids about all the Big Scary Topics. You know, those big themes that we adults still barely comprehend. But the good news is that the answer is yes — there are hopeful stories about difficult topics and this list holds a few of my favourites. While these hopeful stories are still full of sad moments that will likely require further discussion, they are poignant and honest. So when you are ready to teach preschool-aged kids about topics like racism, war, and natural disasters, this is a sampling of the wonderful new titles that you can turn to for help.
