I recently had lunch with the amazing Crystal Bowman. As is usually the case when writers get together, we talked writing. For a couple of hours. Pretty much without taking a breath.

We discussed the state of the industry. We talked about our heart projects and social media and marketing and more. And in all that talking we came to a conclusion. (Actually, we came to many conclusions. But only one of them is the subject of this post.)

Some picture books aren’t really meant for kids. At least, not for kids alone. Some picture books cover big topics that require discussion. They are the ones a parent buys to help them explain real life. They are resources for families although “family resource” is not usually a designation for picture books. Sometimes good family resources are hard to find.

With this in mind, today’s post is to let you know about some great family resources. It is by no means an exhaustive list. And if you and your family have found others, feel free to drop those titles in the comments. Some of the books in this post are overtly Christian while others hold a Christian worldview. The one thing they all have in common is that they help parents and kids tackle serious topics using a picture book as a starting point.

Adoption – God Found Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren is a 2009 title that tackles the topic of adoption. When a little fox cub climbs into bed, he asks his mom about how he came to live with her. As she tucks him in, she tells the miraculous story of his arrival—and assures him that he made her “the happiest mama in the world.” It’s a tenderly told tale that captures the blessings of adoption and opens the door to a discussion about it.

Alzheimer’s – I Love You to the Stars: When Grandma Forgets, Love Remembers by Crystal Bowman is a beautifully illustrated, thoughtful book, with child-friendly language that helps children understand the often-scary reality of a grandparent or older friend experiencing dementia. It can be read with an adult, along with the discussion questions included at the end of the book, or pulled from the shelf by little hands whenever they need a reminder that love is always there. Families dealing with Alzheimer’s or dementia sometimes forget to include the younger members of the family in discussions about what is happening and why. I Love You to the Stars is a great way to include kids in the discussion while reassuring them that love never fails. And there’s a dog. (That’s always a win as far as I’m concerned.)

Anxiety – There’s an Elephant on my Chest by Caris Snider is about a topic of increasing concern to even very young children. When Allie is feeling anxious one morning, she feels like there’s an elephant on her chest. This horrible feeling has her unable to get out of bed. Allie’s family and friends walk her through some grounding exercises until that heavy elephant feeling on her chest shrinks. There’s an Elephant on my Chest provides an opportunity for parents to discuss things that may make kids anxious while offering some ideas on how to combat it. The book, supplemented with some key scriptures, is a great way to teach kids to cope.

Autism – The Dog That Gave My Brother Words by Wendy Hinote Lanier (that’s me) is a fictional story about a family dealing with autism. Although the story isn’t true, the description of autism is real and so are the questions kids often ask about autism found in the back matter. When a nonverbal autistic boy meets his service dog for the first time, it’s a magical moment that leads to a break in the silence. The Dog That Gave My Brother Words promotes a greater understanding of autism while leaving the reader with the satisfying sense that boy and dog are destined to do great things together.

Death of a pet – The Rough Patch by author-illustrator Brian Lies is a beautiful story about friendship, loss, and renewal. The Rough Patch is a Caldecott Honor book and features stunning paintings by its award-winning author. It’s the story of Evan and his dog who do everything together, from eating ice cream to caring for their prize-winning garden, which grows big and beautiful. One day the unthinkable happens: Evan’s dog dies. Heartbroken, Evan destroys the garden and everything in it. The ground becomes overgrown with prickly weeds and thorns, and Evan embraces the chaos. But beauty grows in the darkest of places, and when a twisting vine turns into an immense pumpkin, Evan is drawn out of his isolation and back to the county fair, where friendships—old and new—await. The story provides the perfect opportunity to discuss the loss of a pet and the grief that goes along with it.

Failure – Yay! You Failed!by Shannon Anderson is a growth mindset chapter book that will appeal to kids beginning to read independently. With its humorous and light-hearted tone, kids are encouraged to develop the life skills needed to set goals and overcome challenges. It includes a glossary of terms to support children’s vocabulary growth. Although technically not a picture book, Yay! You Failed! can still be read by parent and child together and will help young readers learn how to set goals, overcome challenges, build resilience, and believe in themselves.

Fear – God, I Feel Scared: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger Godis a new release from Zonderkidz by Michelle Nietert and Tama Fortner. Licensed counselor, Nietert, and Fortner, author of more than fifty books for kids, have teamed up to tackle the topic of fear in kids. God, I Feel Scared helps kids identify the feeling of fear and recognize things that can make them feel that way. Along with some ideas on how to manage fear, the authors encourage kids to talk to God about their fears.

Grief – Fly High by Michelle Medlock Adams and Janet K. Johnson helps children who may lack the vocabulary and understanding to name the emotions they experience when they go through grief. They just know they are hurting inside. They may be feeling sad, angry, lonely, or even scared. These feelings manifest in different ways depending on the age of the child. Told in hope-filled language featuring a layered-text format, Fly High teaches readers it’s okay to have the feelings they are having, and that each new day holds healing, hope, and promise. Fly High is available in two formats. There is also a version of the book specifically for Christian families: Fly High: Understanding Grief with God’s Help. 

Heaven – God Made Me for Heaven by Marty Machowski explains how children often picture heaven as a place where everyone floats around a sky of white, puffy clouds, playing harps and singing. But this beautifully illustrated book shows how the Bible depicts a very different heaven than the one many of us imagine. Told through the perspective of a grade school boy to his preschool brother, this picture book includes a gospel presentation and speaks truth in simple language kids can understand. Part of the God Made Me series, Machowski helps parents and caregivers have life-changing conversations with children about how we will be with Jesus when we die—and how we can long for and anticipate Christ’s return. God Made Me for Heaven invites children to understand that God made each person for heaven and provided a way through his son, Jesus, to get there. Soon, he will return to recreate the earth, end sin and suffering once and for all, and come to live with us forever. Included in the back of the book is a special section just for parents and caregivers that provides biblical guidance and help as they have this important conversation with children.

Loss – Quinn Says Goodbye by Christie Thomas is the story of an owl named Quinn who makes a new friend, a firefly named Blink. But one night, Quinn wakes up to find her new friend gone. Quinn is confused and lonely without her friend, wondering why God couldn’t make Blink stay with her. Quinn learns an important lesson that although people and things might not be in her life forever, God will never leave her. Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written, this book is designed for children who are dealing with different kinds of loss, whether it be the death of a pet or a family member, or simply the loss of a favorite toy.

One final thought: the very best book you can read with your kids is the Bible. Whatever they’re facing or feeling is covered within its pages in some way or another. The Bible is the ultimate family resource.

by Wendy Hinote Lanier

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