All those Secrets of the World by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Leslie Baker. Little, Brown. A poignant, beautifully told story about a young child whose father goes to war, and the special secrets about the world she learns while he is gone.

Elisabeth by Claire A. Nivola. Farrar. Ruth is forced to flee Germany with her family during the Holocaust. She leaves her favorite doll Elisabeth behind. Years later, settled in America with a daughter of her own, she rediscovers the doll in an antique shop. A great story of warmth, love of home and family surviving across generations.

Gleam and Glow by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Peter Sylvada. Harcourt. Two gold fish remind us how life can survive through the horrors of war. A family is forced to flee their country. Before leaving, an older man leaves his fish bowl with the family. Little Marina names the fish Gleam and Glow and her brother Viktor puts the goldfish into the pond hoping they may live a day or two more. When they return, their home is all but destroyed but the fish have multiplied and filled the pond with shades of gold. Inspired by a real incident from the Bosnian War.

On That Day: A Book of Hope for Children by Andrea Patel. Tricycle Press. Sometimes bad things happen, but there are things we can do (no matter our age) to make the world better--such as sharing, laughing, playing and being kind.

One April Morning: Children Remember the Oklahoma City Bombing by Nancy Lamb, illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Lothrop, Lee and Shepard. Children from the Oklahoma City area talk about their feelings after the bombing of the Federal Building in their city.

Smoky Night by Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Diaz. Harcourt Brace. The story of Daniel and his missing cat Jasmine is told in the context of the looting and violence of an urban riot. This Caldecott Medal winner may help children talk about some of their fears.

The Bracelet by Yoshiko Uchida, illustrated by Joanna Yardley. Philomel. When Emi, a Japanese American child is sent with her family to an internment camp during World War II, she misses her best friend. A heart-wrenching story based on the author’s childhood.

The Caged Birds of Phnom Penh by Frederick Lipp, illustrated by Ronald Himler. Holiday House. Eight--year-old Ary, living in poverty in Cambodia, wishes for food, clothes, and work for her family. With a few hard-earned coins, she purchases a caged bird, hoping that when she sets it free, it will carry her dreams and make them come true.

The Cello of Mr. O by Jane Cutler, illustrated by Greg Couch. Dutton. In a war-torn city, a little girls learns about courage and faith from a crabby old man as he continues to use music to bring joy and hop to the people, even after his dearly loved cello is destroyed.

The Roses in My Carpets by Rukhansa Khan, illustrated by Ronald Himler. Holiday House. This is the story of an Afghani boy who lives in a refugee camp with his family. Every night, nightmares of jets overhead haunt him. In the daytime he tries to leave the nightmares behind by learning how to make carpets. He chooses only bright colors because "every bit of land must yield food", not flowers--so he always makes sure to put plenty of roses in his carpets.

We Are All in the Dumps With Jack and Guy by Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins. Sendak combines two Mother Goose rhymes with his powerful visual images to comment on homelessness. This is a stunning work that resonates with hope and human resilience in the face of unbearable hardship.

Why Did It Happen? Helping Children Cope in a Violent World by Janice Cohn. Morrow. Helped by parents and teacher, young Daniel, a witness to a violent crime, talks about his fears and feelings.