Again. We have no words. Our hearts are with the community of Uvalde, Texas, and with all kiddos who are worried, scared, and confused.
We are not experts in helping children navigate tragedy, so we looked to a teacher. Andrea Burns taught fourth grade in Kansas City for eight years and is now a book buyer. She recently spoke with Good Morning America about how books can facilitate discussions about school shootings. The information below is from that interview and from her Instagram BookishBurnsss. You can read her interview here.
On Instagram, Burns wrote, “Books help lead meaningful discussions. Sometimes it’s hard to find the words to say to our kiddows when these things happen. I turn to books to help speak the words and tell the stories that I can’t convey.”
Four of the books she recommended to parents in her GMA interview are listed below.
The Breaking News by Sarah Lynne Reul
“‘…it’s literally about you hear something on the news and how do you react?” Burns said.
There was a Hole by Adam Lehrhaupt
A book to help kids and those who love them navigate grief and loss. “It doesn’t just cover grief. It covers sadness, when you have that emptiness in your heart, whether you’re upset about something, [or] you’re missing someone,” Burns said.
Catching Thoughts by Bonnie Clark
What do you do with all of those unwelcome thoughts in your head? This book can help parents and teachers talk about big feelings.
Kids Can Cope: Put Your Worries Away by Gill Hasson
A gentle and supportive guide to help children cope with worry and anxiety.
Burns has more book recommendations and resources listed on her Instagram feed.