LA County Library

Healing Library Kits

The healing journey after a traumatic event can be challenging. Developed in collaboration with LA County Department of Mental Health and the California Mental Health Services Act with content created and inspired by The Healing Library, these circulating Kits provide evidence-based materials that can support families navigating difficult experiences like separation, divorce, and the death of a pet.

What’s Inside the Healing Library Kits?

Each Healing Library Kit includes books and resources guides, including discussion topics and suggestions for activities, intended to make the healing process more accessible and less overwhelming. Visit a participating library to borrow a Healing Library Kit with your Library card.

Available Healing Library Kits

Mindfulness Kit includes:

I Am a Peaceful Goldfish written by Shoshana Chaim; illustrated by Lori Joy Smith
The Me I Choose to Be written by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley; art by Regis and Kahran Bethencourt
Hurry Up! written by Kate Dopirak; illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal
Healing Breath written by William Meyer; illustrated by Brittany R. Jacobs

Borrow Mindfulness Kit

Divorce & Separation Kit includes:

Here and There written by Tamara Ellis Smith; illustrated by Evelyn Daviddi
My Big Fantastic Family written by Adam & Charlotte Guillain; illustrated by Ali Pye
Just the Right Cake written by Christina Tosi; illustrated by Emily Balsley
If My Parents Are Divorced: How to Talk About Separation, Divorce, and Breakups written and illustrated by Dagmar Geisler; translated by Andy Jones Berasaluce
It Feels Like Family/Se siente como familia written by Diane de Anda; Illustrated by Roberta Collier-Morales

Borrow Divorce & Separation Kit

Alzheimer’s & Your Family Kit includes:

Meatballs for Grandpa written by Jeanette Fazzari Jones; illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett
Remind Me written and illustrated by Linda Shute
The Remember Balloons written by Jessie Oliveros; illustrated by Dana Wulfekotte
My Life With a Grandparent with Alzheimer’s Disease written by Mari Schuh; art by Alice Larsson
What Lolo Wants written by Cristina Oxtra; illustrated by Jamie Bauza
A Kids Book About Alzheimer’s written by Tanya Iovino & Kiki Kouris

Borrow Alzheimer's & Your Family Kit

women saying good bye to an older pet

The Death of a Pet Kit includes:

Goodbye Mousie by Robie H. Harris; illustrated by Jan Ormerod
Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinne Demas; illustrated by Ard Hoyt
When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers; photographs by Jim Judkis
The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown; pictures by Christian Robinson
An Ofrenda for Perro / Una ofrenda para perro by Judith Valdés B.; illustrations by Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Where Are You, Brontë? by Tomie dePaola; illustrated by Barbara McClintock

Borrow Death of a Pet Kit

parent comforting a child

The Death of a Loved One Kit includes:

The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown; pictures by Christian Robinson
Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn; illustrations by Ruth E. Harper and Nancy M. Leak
When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Life Is Beautiful written by Winsome Bingham; illustrations by Molly Mendoza
What Happens When a Loved One Dies?: Our First Talk About Death written by Jillian Roberts; Illustrations by Cindy Revell

Borrow Death of a Loved One Kit