The situations outlined in the Dealing with Life Challenges series (8 titles) are familiar to any human. Each title shares strategies to cope with personal difficulties and support friends through the same. The books convey gentle, clear, and consistent suggestions: talk about troubles with trusted people, check in with friends having difficulties, listen to others without giving advice. Visual representations of information enhance the succinct reporting. Each kid-friendly title is divided into three chapters and begins with a concise, relatable summary of the issue. Challenging words are highlighted and appear in a glossary. Captioned photos depict kids and adults representing many colors, identities, and abilities. A bonanza of back matter completes each volume, including questions to ponder and “Fast Facts” that recap key concepts. An empowering touch is the text’s use of the term people in lieu of kids and children. Offering helpful messaging, these books lend themselves best to exploration in a one-on-one or small group setting, led by a teacher, counselor, or caregiver.

Familiar situations for children and families are centered in these titles on tough topics. While the page counts for these titles are limited, they are substantial enough to cover each issue in a way that allows children to explore the topics alone or with a caregiver. Real photographs of children with their families accompany the text as they work through issues from bullying and moving to divorce and illness. The pop-up notes allow readers to take a breath and digest what they are reading. VERDICT Families will find the straightforward explanations paired with coping mechanisms to be helpful for children going through complex emotions.