Comfort for Children in Hard Times ( book series)
When kids go through hard things, they don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling—
Two books I often use in the counseling room are Something Sad Happened and Something Scary Happened. These are part of the “What to Do When…” series, and they gently help children begin to make sense of big emotions that can feel overwhelming.
One of the reasons I love these books is because they center choice and consent. As we read, children are invited—not forced—to connect with the story. They get to decide:
“Does this feel like me?”
“Have I ever felt something like this?”
“Do I want to share about it?”
This matters so much.
In counseling, consent isn’t just about permission—it’s about giving children a sense of safety and control over their own story. And when kids feel safe, they begin to open up.
These books create a gentle doorway for children to:
✨ Identify experiences that felt sad or scary
✨ Put words to feelings they may not fully understand yet
✨ Share thoughts that might otherwise stay hidden
✨ Realize they are not alone in what they feel
Sometimes a child won’t say, “I’m anxious” or “That was traumatic.”
But they might point to a page and say, “That part feels like me.”
And that’s where the real conversation begins. 💬
If you’re a parent, caregiver, or helping professional, these books are a beautiful way to invite—not pressure—children into sharing their inner world. Because when we understand what a child is thinking and feeling, we can support them in the ways they truly need.