By Jackie Friedman Mighdoll

As we struggle with the horrors of massacre and kidnappings and the trauma of war, as we worry about loved ones in peril and our fellow human beings who are suffering, we turn to children’s books, to world kid lit.

As Miriam Udel says in a November 6 opinion piece in the New York Times: 

“Children’s books, which present subtle truths in simple terms, offer a valuable tool in retaining our moral bearings, especially amid a maelstrom of grief and rage. These books, in their simplicity and brevity, can grant polarized communities access to each other’s stories, reminding us of our shared humanity and common interest in finding a way toward peaceful coexistence.”

In the past on our blog, we’ve covered picture books to help children (and adults!) grapple with the concepts of conflict and war and to think about friendships that exist despite differences. Here are three posts with recommended books on these difficult topics.

• Picture Books Teaching Children about Conflict and War
• Picture Books on War
• Friendships in Conflicts: Adult barriers and the friendships that defy them

Our colleagues at ArabKidLitNow and at the Association of Jewish Libraries have also published books lists. By seeing and recognizing each other, it’s our hope that we can take the steps we need toward a safer world.

• Love Your Neighbor: AJL recommends Jewish Books for All Readers
• Palestine through children’s books: 4 must-reads by Palestinian authors

Our children can’t solve today’s problems. But through them we have hope. And so we write – and read – toward deeper understandings, toward a better world.