Last night I was sitting at the table when my daughter slid a paper over to me. “I’m worried,” it read. I immediately stopped what I was doing to ask what she was worried about. She didn’t want to talk about it then, but we touched base later during bedtime.  What was she worried about? She didn’t even want to say it. She said, “It has a U-M-P with letters on the front.”  

 

I won’t begin to guess what she’s been hearing and seeing to make her express this worry — but it’s clear she’s taking in and understanding more about the political situation in our country than I would have thought. I think many peole of all ages may be feeling worried right now, for a variety of reasons. As I tell the students in my Children’s Literature class, picture books are not just for children. A good book is a good book. Check these out for the children in your life, or for yourself.

 

Written for ages 4-8, this book is great for kids (and adults) of all ages. A little girl has lots of worries filling her mind, but in this faith-centered book, she learns about God’s care in holding our worries and how we can open our hands and let our worry birds fly to God. Other coping techniques include drawing pictures, imagining the “what ifs” of good things happening, and more. As I said last night to my daughter, at her age, right now, it’s the adults who need to do something about her worry. The ways that we all respond depend so much on our age, privilege (those with it, need to use it to help others), and gifts.

 

A sweet book in the Little Mole series, this volume shares about when Mama helps Little Mole learn to find hope in even the things around him that seem dead. Set in winter, Little Mole sees a “dead” bulb underground, “dead” leafless trees and a “lifeless” chrysalis. Mama invites her little one to close his eyes, and imagine the new life spring will bring them — this is hope! May we all have holy imaginations to dream new life into the places of worry in our lives. This book includes a caregiver discussion guide, tips to help a child who is feeling sad and a note on finding hope.

 

This book helps ground us in the reality of God’s love and care for us. It is essential to remind children (and ourselves) of our belovedness as well as the belovedness of the people around us, locally as well nationally and internationally. One particular strength of this book is that each color is specifically named and the author highlights how that color reminds us of God’s love. Orange helps us be grateful for God’s creation, yellow brings joy, blue calms us, green gives confidence and more. I could see us creating a rainbow and using it to ground ourselves by talking about a color and how it shows God’s love for us. When possible I’d like to focus on brown, which “fills me with compassion, as God loves us all and helps us love others through acts big and small.” This is what we all can do, and are called to do!

 

This book explores just how all-encompassing God’s love is and then shifts into exploring how we can give the same love that God shows. This looks like sharing, dealing with anger, being humble and making peace. A note for adults: This book does use significant masculine language for God.

 

I believe it’s important for us all to learn about the problems facing our country (whether that be in the United States, Canada, Mexico or any number of others around the world). These issues are not simply “issues,” but decisions and policies that affect living human beings who are children of God. This book is a gentle introduction to our brothers and sisters at the border and what happens when we all do what we can. Encouragement and comfort can transform others — and most importantly, ourselves.