Using Books to Approach Tough Topics
- prairieskiespld
- Oct 29
- 3 min read
Some things are hard to talk about, especially if you’re trying to talk about them with kids. Whether the conversation is about divorce, death, bullying, or scary world events, it can be difficult to know where to start and how much to say.
Good books that tackle hard issues can be a valuable method of relating to your kids. That’s because, getting kids to start talking is made easier when you are sharing a story. Young children (and even adults!) often don’t know the right words to express their feelings. But books give us an avenue—and the vocabulary—to broach hard topics with a safe amount of distance.
Reading and then discussing these stories can spark conversations about difficult issues in the news, fears your children are facing, and family changes or challenges. Also, using books as an entry point gives us the chance to remove the stigma from controversial topics and provide a safe zone to discuss difficult issues.
When is the appropriate time to introduce tough topics? When going through challenges (like a death in the family) or when preparing for a shift in family life (a parent in the military is leaving for another tour of duty) seems like a sensible answer. But maybe the question to ask ourselves is, do we have a duty to our children to explain difficult and painful topics?” If we don’t step in to help our children understand their world, others will. As much as we would like to protect our children from all the bad things in the world, it’s not possible. Bad things and bad people are part of our life. With this in mind, it is important to confront issues alongside our children with honesty and compassion. And, books are a wonderful way to introduce difficult concepts in a safe and supportive environment.
After reading and discussing together, remember that feelings your child may have around challenging topics may not be resolved with one conversation. As children continue to process their emotions and experiences, they will likely have more questions to ask or changing feelings that they may want to talk about with a trusted adult. Let your child know that you are there for them in those moments and that the conversations you have together can be ongoing.
The library is an excellent resource for identifying and acquiring books for challenging topics. Our online catalog offers 24/7 access and allows you to place a hold on books from our library or through interlibrary loan. Our librarians are here to help: feel free to call ahead with your request or just ask at your next visit. There are also many helpful websites (see below) with age appropriate book suggestions for a wide variety of tough topics.
While talking about things that are confusing, sad, or complex can be uncomfortable, it can also be an opportunity to deepen your bond with your child and your family as a whole. As caring adults who have the best interests of kids as our focus, tackling difficult conversations with books can offer another tool to relate, reassure, and provide support.
Helpful websites:
ALSC Tough Topics Booklist 2019
The books on these lists are to help inspire conversations with children going through challenging situations like the death of a loved one, an unexpected move, natural disasters and more. They are available for grades K-2nd, 3rd-5th and 6th-8th. Resources for adults are also included.
Blog post excerpted and adapted from:
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