Talking to Kids About Tough Topics: Books That Inspire Understanding and Change

Children’s Books for Memorial Day: Honoring Service, Questioning War, and Embracing Peace

As we celebrate the day off for Memorial Day, families and educators often look for ways to help children understand its meaning. Traditionally, this holiday honors those who have died in military service to the United States. But as we reflect, it’s also important to engage young readers in broader conversations—about war, peace, and the global impact of conflict.

Picture books are a powerful tool for this. They introduce complex themes with emotional clarity, empathy, and accessibility. Below is a carefully curated list of children's books that honor service and sacrifice, offer global and critical perspectives, and encourage a deep commitment to peace

📖 "The Wall"
by Eve Bunting

A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to find his grandfather’s name. This tender story honors sacrifice while gently introducing the cost of war.

📖 "A Day for Remeberin’"
by Leah Henderson

Based on true events, this beautifully illustrated book tells the story of the first Memorial Day, organized by freed African Americans in Charleston after the Civil War.

📖 "My name is SANGOEL"
by Karen Lynn Williams

This moving story follows a young refugee from Sudan who resettles in the U.S. after escaping war. As Sangoel adjusts to a new country, he struggles to preserve his identity. It's a gentle but powerful story about war, displacement, and resilience, helping children see conflict through the eyes of those most impacted by it.

📖 "Brick by Brick"
by Giuliano Ferri

n this wordless book, animals tear down a wall and use the bricks to build a bridge. A simple, powerful metaphor for unity and peacebuilding.

📖 "Remember"
by Joy Harjo

A powerful and poetic reminder of where we come from and who we belong to, Remember invites children to reflect on memory, identity, ancestors, and the land. Though not directly about war, it offers a deeply resonant way to approach Memorial Day through reflection and interconnectedness.

📖 "Why?’"
by Nikolai Popov

A wordless picture book that illustrates how conflict escalates through retaliation. This allegorical tale shows how quickly "playful" aggression can lead to destruction—perfect for sparking discussion about the nature of war.

📖 "Sami And The Time Of The Troubles"
by Florence Parry Heide

Set during the Lebanese Civil War, this story captures a child’s experience of living in a conflict zone, offering a powerful contrast to more sanitized portrayals of war.

📖 "A Sky Without Lines"
by Laura Borras

Told from the perspective of a boy separated from his brother by a border, this story explores the pain of division and the hope for reconnection..

Why These Books Matter

Memorial Day is a time to remember. But remembering can be active, thoughtful, and global. For children, stories are often the first window into understanding big ideas like loss, justice, and peace. With these books, we can help young readers reflect not only on the soldiers who served but also on the many lives touched—and sometimes shattered—by war.

These books invite children to ask questions: What does peace look like? Who gets remembered? How can we build a better world?