In turbulent times, it is important to work to stay emotionally and physically strong. This collection supports finding ways to recognize and celebrate the healing forces around us.

I Love You ­Because I Love You. By Muợn Thị Văn, illus. by Jessica Love.
Pre-K–A reminder of why we love all the folks we do. Readers will also connect to deeper emotional themes like courage and forgiveness. Ultimately a story about family and the bonds that connect us, this book will remind readers to keep living and loving and be loved in return.

My Book and Me. By Linda Sue Park, ­illus. by Chris ­Raschka.
K-Gr 2–This boisterous and colorful celebration of our relationship to books and reading is an important ­celebration of literacy and the joy that young people find within the pages of their favorite books.

Lift. By Minh Lê, illus. by Dan ­Santat.
K-Gr 2–A book about the power of the ­imagination to overcome negative emotions or situations shows that the world can be transformed through a young person’s state of mind.

Rez Dogs. By Joseph Bruchac.
Gr 3-5–This heartfelt novel teaches about the power of community and how our relationships with one another and with nature are a unique kind of medicine.

The Season of Styx Malone. By Kekla Magoon.
Gr 4-7–This funny, heartfelt, and uplifting story is a love letter to friendship and belonging that also contains deeper messages about found family and self-acceptance.

Remember Us. By Jacqueline Woodson.
Gr 6-7–This poignant homage to Brooklyn is also a love letter to the the safety and protection individuals find in community when people unite in the aftermath of tragedy. 

Pardalita. By Joana Estrela, tr. by Lyn Miller-Lachmann.
Gr 8-9–Personal and universal, this graphic novel is a sweet story of first love, transformation, and connection. It shows readers that love is a healing force that can help us see one another and ourselves more clearly. 

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling. By Wai Chim.
Gr 10 Up–This whimsical story addresses heavy topics: mental health struggles and domestic situations with no easy answers.

Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants. By Robin Wall Kimmerer, adapt. by Monique Gray Smith, illus. by Nicole Neidhardt.
Gr 11 Up–This YA adaptation of the bestselling adult book is powerful, inspiring, and nurturing. It offers guidance to readers looking to form a deeper connection to the earth, and a window to understanding indigenous healing and wisdom.

Me (Moth). By Amber McBride.
Gr 12 Up–This beautifully written novel in verse details a road trip taken by two teenagers. One deals with grief and loss; the other struggles with ghosts, past and present. They need each other to navigate the impossible.

Julia E. Torres is a librarian and veteran language arts teacher in Denver.