We’re All in This Together: Using Picture Books to Talk About Collective Trauma

"After a young girl's mother dies, Empty appears and silently takes up the big blank space left behind. For some time, the girl can't connect with her dad or any friends, and Empty is her closest companion. But then, a happy reminder of her mom pops up one day, and this bit of joy helps the little girl open up to the world around her. Empty stays around, but the little girl starts to connect with others and share new moments of happiness with them....

A little girl's smile as she skips down the street in New York inspires a neighbor to send cookies to her grandson in Mexico, and the goodwill soon spreads around the world.

A father and his young daughter gather their tools and begin building a future where love can be set aside until it is needed, enemies become friends, and exploration is key.

"Some days I feel so wild and brave and some days I feel small. There are so many ways to be when you're as BIG inside as me" --

Bob the bird keeps trying to fly, but is beginning to worry that he will never succeed when Crow comes by with a suggestion to "just breathe."

When they find a dead bird, a group of children bury it in the woods, sing a song to it, and put flowers on the grave.

In this twist on the classic fairy tale, a wolf who lost his huff and puff consults with three yogis to help him find his breath. "Once upon a time there lived a wolf who lost his huff and his puff. It was a BIG, BAD problem! One morning, the wolf came upon a peaceful little yogi doing sun salutations. The wolf wanted to huff and puff and blooow her hut down into a big pile of straw. But instead the yogi suggested, "Let's meditate on that!" Soon the...

A young guinea pig describes situations that make her worry, what being worried feels like, and how she can stop worrying. Includes note to parents and teachers.

Flamingo learns that it is okay to be sad sometimes and that her friends, the little girl and Potato, will stand by her no matter how she feels.

A young girl's sense of adventure and exploration vanishes when she discovers a Worry that grows and grows until she learns how to get rid of it.