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The World Around Us
On the News: Our First Talk About Tragedy
Introduces children to the realities of natural disasters, terrorism and other forms of tragedy. In age-appropriate language and tone, Dr. Roberts explains what tragedy is, the feelings it may create and how to manage those feelings. She also emphasizes the good that can come out of tragedy, looking at how people help one another in caring, compassionate and heroic ways. The book's question-and-answer format will help parents have a meaningful conversation about these difficult topics with their children and equip parents to better handle questions that arise when children are exposed to the news.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published September 4, 2018
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 1, 2018
This is a great book to discuss serious matters without being too frightening or overwhelming. On the left side of each spread, there is a question asked by a child, with an answer provided on the right side. Topics covered include natural disasters and tragedies caused by people both accidentally and intentionally. It also talks about how people might feel as a result of tragedies and how to handle those feelings.
I read this with my five-year-old twins, and it was a good experience. They were both interested in the topic and the questions asked in the book fit with what they wanted to know about. It definitely does its job in starting meaningful discussions. The one thing that I wish were different is that it would have been nice if each photograph were labeled to tell what tragedy it was depicting; my son asked about EVERY picture, wanting to know where it happened and what was going on. (I read an ARC, so perhaps they will be labeled in the finished product.)
I read an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I read this with my five-year-old twins, and it was a good experience. They were both interested in the topic and the questions asked in the book fit with what they wanted to know about. It definitely does its job in starting meaningful discussions. The one thing that I wish were different is that it would have been nice if each photograph were labeled to tell what tragedy it was depicting; my son asked about EVERY picture, wanting to know where it happened and what was going on. (I read an ARC, so perhaps they will be labeled in the finished product.)
I read an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
January 21, 2019
Helps children understand the terms disasters and tragedies. Lets kids know that it is natural to feel sad, scared, worried, or to have questions when they hear about these things on the news. But then it encourages them to instead of focusing on the bad, look for the helpers and to be a helper during these times.
This book and the book on poverty by the author and illustrator are great tools to use when talking to kids about some tough topics. The book does acknowledge that bad things often happen in the world. It talks about what can cause those bad things, but wraps up talking about our emotional response and how to take hope in the helpers and be a helper. Some parents/teachers may want to leave off some of the side bar examples of real disasters if that will just make kids more emotionally upset. They also should be aware that there are photos of real disasters in the book but they only show destruction of buildings or vehicles, no injured people. Our readers here will have a unique reaction to the book. We live in Thailand and there are several pictures of the floods of 2011. However, 2 of the 4 pictures of the flooding just look like what happens after a normal 2 hours of good rain during the rainy season. (The picture with the adult carrying a child and the picture of the buses don't look like disaster photos to Thai residents, they look like a normal rainy day and kids will know that that amount of water will likely be gone in a few hours with no major issues.) I'm a little concerned that that our readers will think every time it rains here in Thailand it is a disaster or they will be confused as to what constitutes a flooding disaster. On the other hand, they will likely be thrilled there are so many pictures from Thailand. Overall, a really good resource to use to talk to kids about the bad things they see on social media or TV or hear adults talking about.
This book and the book on poverty by the author and illustrator are great tools to use when talking to kids about some tough topics. The book does acknowledge that bad things often happen in the world. It talks about what can cause those bad things, but wraps up talking about our emotional response and how to take hope in the helpers and be a helper. Some parents/teachers may want to leave off some of the side bar examples of real disasters if that will just make kids more emotionally upset. They also should be aware that there are photos of real disasters in the book but they only show destruction of buildings or vehicles, no injured people. Our readers here will have a unique reaction to the book. We live in Thailand and there are several pictures of the floods of 2011. However, 2 of the 4 pictures of the flooding just look like what happens after a normal 2 hours of good rain during the rainy season. (The picture with the adult carrying a child and the picture of the buses don't look like disaster photos to Thai residents, they look like a normal rainy day and kids will know that that amount of water will likely be gone in a few hours with no major issues.) I'm a little concerned that that our readers will think every time it rains here in Thailand it is a disaster or they will be confused as to what constitutes a flooding disaster. On the other hand, they will likely be thrilled there are so many pictures from Thailand. Overall, a really good resource to use to talk to kids about the bad things they see on social media or TV or hear adults talking about.
April 5, 2018
Good informative book about tragedy. It explain and introduce a dialogue with children about what are tragedy, what is all that sad stuff they saw on TV and try to explain it. Well done, it cover a good variety of tragedy, from natural disaster to terrorism. It's really a book that you may want to look at AND speak with your kid while reading it, if you just read the book, it isn't bad, but it won't be that much understand by them. A good book, that bring a difficult but important matter to younger spirit!
January 28, 2019
A wonderful and serious little book to use for talking with little ones about tragedy. I admit I even teared up a little towards the end when she was talking about her own theory that sometimes bad things happen to give people a chance to be brave and kind, etc...
I think children at my school will be excited to see pictures of the flooding in 2011, here in their own home city!
I think children at my school will be excited to see pictures of the flooding in 2011, here in their own home city!
February 15, 2019
This is such an important book. Even as adults, we often become overwhelmed by news of tragic events. Imagine what it's like for a child, who has no broader context with which to understand what is happening in the world around them, but nonetheless is constantly bombarded by media. I very vividly remember being in a grocery store with my mom when I first learned to read, and being frightened by headlines at the checkout.
Using simple language and providing lots of examples, this book is appropriate for the primary level. It would be a good jumping-off point for discussions about world events, or for discussing fears and concerns with children.
Using simple language and providing lots of examples, this book is appropriate for the primary level. It would be a good jumping-off point for discussions about world events, or for discussing fears and concerns with children.
January 27, 2026
This book is really clear and well done (although maybe a few too many photos of real disasters)
HOWEVER I was aggressively disappointed that at the end the author recommended to show our appreciation to first responsers including police officers to help deal with tragedy. In the US, too often, police officers are the cause of many tragedies. I would strongly hesistate and get more specific information from the caregiver before recommending this title.
HOWEVER I was aggressively disappointed that at the end the author recommended to show our appreciation to first responsers including police officers to help deal with tragedy. In the US, too often, police officers are the cause of many tragedies. I would strongly hesistate and get more specific information from the caregiver before recommending this title.
October 12, 2018
Why we chose this book:
T responded very well to On Our Street by the same author; it was helpful in answering his questions about impoverished people in our city. T has also overheard his dad and me discussing news and asked about it, starting with the Thai boys who were trapped in the cave. Given these circumstances, I thought this this would not only be a good fit for our blog, but also a timely read for T. Orca Book Publishers provided a review copy.
Mom's Review (V)
Direct and honest while remaining age-appropriate, On The News explains what tragic news events are, why they occur, and how people react and respond to them.
Where do you start, what do you say when your child asks about tough topics like death tolls, assaults, or emergencies on the news? We have been talking to T about political events and news since the presidential election, but have tried to shield him from violent news and news of natural disasters. As I mentioned in the "why we chose this" section, he heard us discussing the trapped Thai boys and asked about it. We explained what happened, trying to focus on how sometimes people have problems and need lots of help and it's on the news. More recently we've been talking about weather, which led to a conversation about flooding in the south. While we've tackled tragic/devastating news already with him, it has not been easy. This picture book about tragedies on the news has been a support and a resource in talking about what is going on in our country and in the world. When I've read this with T, I skip the section on terrorist attacks (which he doesn't notice), and focus on the content explaining natural disasters, the emotional reactions of those involved and us, how aid is provided, and how we can help. Sidebars and back matter provide more information for older readers and for parents. T and I chat as we read it (about the flooding, the boys, and upsetting political news), but he didn't have much to say for his portion of the review; I know that this will be drawn on for future conversations, reference points, and selected reading to answer T's questions.
If you have a curious kiddo who hears more than you might expect — and who doesn't? — I recommend On the News.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: 3 and 1/2 years)
Mom: Do you know about any bad things happening, T?
Son: Flooding and wars - those are. And killing, and sick. And like torn-down buildings, like in real life.
(A local cathedral is in the process of being torn down. It's been controversial.)
_________________________________________
Son: Look at that.
Mom: That is a child collecting clean water.
Son: Wow! He had to walk really far. Why did he?
Mom: He couldn't get clean water from the faucet. The earthquake shook the ground really hard so that lots of stuff was broken, like the water pipes.
_________________________________________
Mom: How do you feel when you hear about things like floods?
Son: I feel very annoyed.
Mom: What can you do if there is a tragedy in the world?
Son: I can share my feelings.
(One section of the book addresses how to handle your feelings when you hear about tragedies.)
Mom: What did this book help you understand?
Son: Tragedy is something that is a BAD thing.
Mom: Does any good come after tragedies?...Let's turn back to the end... What kind of good?
Son: Yes. That they are rebuilding buildings.
Mom: What would you tell a friend that this book is about?
Son: I would tell him that there was bad things on it. And I would tell him that bad things are called tragedies.
T responded very well to On Our Street by the same author; it was helpful in answering his questions about impoverished people in our city. T has also overheard his dad and me discussing news and asked about it, starting with the Thai boys who were trapped in the cave. Given these circumstances, I thought this this would not only be a good fit for our blog, but also a timely read for T. Orca Book Publishers provided a review copy.
Mom's Review (V)
Direct and honest while remaining age-appropriate, On The News explains what tragic news events are, why they occur, and how people react and respond to them.
Where do you start, what do you say when your child asks about tough topics like death tolls, assaults, or emergencies on the news? We have been talking to T about political events and news since the presidential election, but have tried to shield him from violent news and news of natural disasters. As I mentioned in the "why we chose this" section, he heard us discussing the trapped Thai boys and asked about it. We explained what happened, trying to focus on how sometimes people have problems and need lots of help and it's on the news. More recently we've been talking about weather, which led to a conversation about flooding in the south. While we've tackled tragic/devastating news already with him, it has not been easy. This picture book about tragedies on the news has been a support and a resource in talking about what is going on in our country and in the world. When I've read this with T, I skip the section on terrorist attacks (which he doesn't notice), and focus on the content explaining natural disasters, the emotional reactions of those involved and us, how aid is provided, and how we can help. Sidebars and back matter provide more information for older readers and for parents. T and I chat as we read it (about the flooding, the boys, and upsetting political news), but he didn't have much to say for his portion of the review; I know that this will be drawn on for future conversations, reference points, and selected reading to answer T's questions.
If you have a curious kiddo who hears more than you might expect — and who doesn't? — I recommend On the News.
Son's Review (T)
(Age: 3 and 1/2 years)
Mom: Do you know about any bad things happening, T?
Son: Flooding and wars - those are. And killing, and sick. And like torn-down buildings, like in real life.
(A local cathedral is in the process of being torn down. It's been controversial.)
_________________________________________
Son: Look at that.
Mom: That is a child collecting clean water.
Son: Wow! He had to walk really far. Why did he?
Mom: He couldn't get clean water from the faucet. The earthquake shook the ground really hard so that lots of stuff was broken, like the water pipes.
_________________________________________
Mom: How do you feel when you hear about things like floods?
Son: I feel very annoyed.
Mom: What can you do if there is a tragedy in the world?
Son: I can share my feelings.
(One section of the book addresses how to handle your feelings when you hear about tragedies.)
Mom: What did this book help you understand?
Son: Tragedy is something that is a BAD thing.
Mom: Does any good come after tragedies?...Let's turn back to the end... What kind of good?
Son: Yes. That they are rebuilding buildings.
Mom: What would you tell a friend that this book is about?
Son: I would tell him that there was bad things on it. And I would tell him that bad things are called tragedies.
April 11, 2018
I love this book, but I hate that this book is needed. We live in a 24/7 news cycle world. Explaining that to kids can be hard, but Dr. Roberts is here to help. This book uses both illustrations and real pictures to point out what is being explained. In this instance, its about tragedies and disasters seen on the news. The author takes time to discuss the difference between the two, why they happen, and how people are affected. This series has been a great source of information for parents and kids, to help them understand everyday life.
February 13, 2019
This book is SO important! I will be adding this to my classroom library. Will definitely guide conversation with young ones about disasters and tragedies. It's accessible for young kids, and has more academic and deeper information on the sides for older kids who can learn more. If your child has asked questions about bad things that happen or scary stories on the news- this book can definitely help with the tough conversation to be had!
March 30, 2019
Kdg-6th grade
Genre: Informational
This is a necessity. As adults, I think we can forget that children are impacted by tragedy just like we are. This book breaks down the different types of tragedy, what can cause it, and how we can respond to it. This is important for students to understand and for teachers to teach!
Genre: Informational
This is a necessity. As adults, I think we can forget that children are impacted by tragedy just like we are. This book breaks down the different types of tragedy, what can cause it, and how we can respond to it. This is important for students to understand and for teachers to teach!
September 12, 2018
I love this series! The mix of real images, illustrations, citations, questions, and definitions make it easy to understand and follow. This is great to read after a child sees a tragedy in the media or hears about it from friends.
August 7, 2019
Using illustrations, full-color photographs, and straightforward text, this well-done book introduces the topic(s) of disaster and tragedy to children.
My only issue is that it is a tragedy that a book of this nature is a necessary part of a Children's collection, but in this day and age, this is very much needed.
Author, Dr. Jillian Roberts has worked as a primary school teacher, Child Psychologist, and an Associate Professor of Education Psychology at the University of Victoria, so she knows her stuff! Her writings and photos, along with illustrations by Jane Heinrichs, answers children's questions about topics that appear on TV, computers (and other forms of technology), newspapers, etc. that can often seem scary, especially when you do not understand what is going on.
At the end of the book, in "A Note from Dr. Jillian Roberts, Author and Child Psychologist," Roberts reminded me of something once said by Mr. Rogers: "Look for the helpers ..." Today, this is more important than ever.
Excellent!
My only issue is that it is a tragedy that a book of this nature is a necessary part of a Children's collection, but in this day and age, this is very much needed.
Author, Dr. Jillian Roberts has worked as a primary school teacher, Child Psychologist, and an Associate Professor of Education Psychology at the University of Victoria, so she knows her stuff! Her writings and photos, along with illustrations by Jane Heinrichs, answers children's questions about topics that appear on TV, computers (and other forms of technology), newspapers, etc. that can often seem scary, especially when you do not understand what is going on.
At the end of the book, in "A Note from Dr. Jillian Roberts, Author and Child Psychologist," Roberts reminded me of something once said by Mr. Rogers: "Look for the helpers ..." Today, this is more important than ever.
Excellent!
September 6, 2019
I read & evaluated this book for the Vancouver Children's Round Table (VCLR)'s 2019 Information Book Award.
I think I liked On Our Street: Our First Talk about Poverty better, but this book was still a decent discussion of a difficult topic. It was neat to see how the book provided definitions and synonyms for large concepts, but I felt like the discussions around terrorism could have been better. I also wasn't a fan of how the expressed the idea that "tragedy makes people strong."
I think I liked On Our Street: Our First Talk about Poverty better, but this book was still a decent discussion of a difficult topic. It was neat to see how the book provided definitions and synonyms for large concepts, but I felt like the discussions around terrorism could have been better. I also wasn't a fan of how the expressed the idea that "tragedy makes people strong."
March 26, 2020
A broad overview of types of natural and human-made disasters and tragedies, and usefully explains the difference between those humans can cause and those they can't, while emphasizing that most disasters are outside of our control. Photos of actual disasters (while child-appropriate and not very graphic, they show the serious consequences of disasters) are combined with much more gentle, reassuring drawings of inquisitive kids. Surely this book would be a great resource for parents and teachers alike in talking about disasters and how to be resilient during and after them.
December 13, 2024
3.5 stars. I didn't really like the part near the end where the author shared her ideas on "why tragedies happen" -- I thought that was kind of cringe. And I think it's crazy that mass shootings and police brutality aren't addressed in the "human-caused" tragedies section, but overall I still think this book is a great beginning book for parents and I love that it includes mixed media of illustrated "characters" and photos of real disasters to expose kids to these hard imagines in a controlled and slow way.
December 30, 2021
I won't call the books in this series great literature, but they are important for helping young people understand difficult social concepts. Each two page spread begins with a question. They include captioned photographs and an illustrations of children. There is a section of large print text as well as text boxes in smaller print with additional information about the idea being presented.
November 3, 2023
This book is presented in a question and answer format with questions in a child-like tone and answers more parental. Clear, simple language and definitions help parents explain disasters and tragedy to children. This book is a great resource for supporting difficult conversations.
May 26, 2021
*Unique layout of photographs and drawings
*Enrichment: side notes with more detailed information
*Sensitive and triggering topics handled well
*Enrichment: side notes with more detailed information
*Sensitive and triggering topics handled well
April 17, 2023
What a wonderful resource for families! This book will help all children, those who have experienced disasters and those who have heard about them. A well written and thought out book.
July 21, 2023
Well done! This series belongs in every classroom and library.
May 6, 2018
It's a unfortunate situation, But we often has serious yet confusing things on the news. Whether it be oil spills, floods, or bombings, there comes a time that we need to discuss the scary things on the news with our children. This book does a great job of explaining the different things that can be going on in the world, and what it , means to us. This book can be a great source of information for children as well as parents. I highly recommend that all parents, and teachers read this.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate it!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I truly appreciate it!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews