Resources to Help Kids with LA Fires
“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” - Mr Rogers
Needless to say, these past two weeks have been uncertain, scary, and devastating. Many parents have reached out asking about books to talk to their children about fires and natural disasters. Here’s a list you can use with your kids.
Some things to consider prior to reading these books with your kids:
Read the book beforehand to determine appropriateness
Ensure you are grounded and centered before discussing this with your kids
Prepare yourself to process emotions that may arise while reading
Prepare yourself to answer questions your child may have
Normalize changes that may occur in response to scary situations (e.g. thoughts, emotions, sensations, routines) and remind them of resources they have available to them
Check out “Resources for Parents Navigating the California Wildfires” below for additional ideas and scripts
Books:
Dear Wild Child: You Carry Your Home Inside You - Wallace Grayce Nichols and Wallace J Nichols
Description - “A picture book inspired by a letter from a father to his daughter about wildfire, loss, and learning that we carry our homes inside us wherever we go.”
Link: https://store.abramsbooks.com/products/dear-wild-child
I Am the Storm - Jane Yolen and Heidi E Stemple
Description - “... address four distinct weather emergencies (a tornado, a blizzard, a forest fire, and a hurricane) with warm family stories of finding the joy in preparedness and resilience.”
We Will Live in This Forest Again - Gianna Mariano
Description - “This story of recovery and resilience will comfort young readers concerned about forest fires, reassuring them that in time new growth will sprout and, like the wildlife in the story, we can rebuild.”
The Fox and the Forest Fire - Danny Popovici (Danny is a volunteer fire fighter)
Description - “As we all search for tools for understanding the destruction of forest fires, this touching story shows that hope, friendship, and resilience shine the brightest.”
Simone - Viet Thanh Nguyen
Description - “... this powerful tale introduces an unforgettable young heroine who awakens to a new role fighting for her community and for the future of the planet.”
Wombat Underground: A Wildfire Survival Story - Sarah L Thomson
Description - “During the fire season in Australia, a wombat allows its underground shelter to become a place of refuge for other vulnerable animals in need.”
Link: https://www.bookvine.com/prod-20-1-1644-386/wombat-underground-hc-.htm
What to Bring - Lorna Schultz Nicholson
Description - “This heartfelt and powerful story explores a rare perspective: experiencing a natural disaster through the eyes of a child. Malia’s authentic voice will resonate with readers, and the book’s challenging subject matter is balanced with gentle lessons in communication, problem solving, and family.”
Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/what-to-bring-lorna-schultz-nicholson/1141686439
They Hold the Line: Wildfires, Wildlands, and the Firefighters Who Brave Them - Dan Paley
Description - “The author was inspired to write this book by a question his sons asked as they watched fires rage from their Southern California home in August 2018: who protects us from the fires? This is an attempt to answer that question.”
Online Resources:
Resources for Parents Navigating the California Wildfires - https://media.goodinside.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/08184711/Gi_ResourcesforParentsNavigatingtheCaliforniaWildfires.pdf?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0QHkbFz1EGbkn0FAzGynA7GkRU5geQXXEQGgi0L2N7S-0o5Os0RgtvRYA_aem_-rJYOjmGzgge59GyWM5G-w
This is Hard: There Was a Big Fire in my Neighborhood (social story)
Ages: 2-7 years old
Tips for Parents Talking to Kids About Fires - https://www.canva.com/design/DAGcM3xSjDY/sY661d7Wdd48BSOxScS5cQ/view?utm_content=DAGcM3xSjDY&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h0dbf8216de#1
Resources for Families Who Have Been Impacted - https://www.ca.gov/LAfires/
Manhattan Beach Donation and Support - https://www.manhattanbeach.gov/Home/Components/News/News/5565/43
South Bay Events - https://a66.asmdc.org/south-bay-events-and-resources-residents-impacted-los-angeles-fires
Clothing Donations - https://www.foxla.com/news/where-donate-clothes-la-fire-victims
Donate / Volunteer - https://www.ncjwla.org/lafire/
Ways to Volunteer - https://www.laworks.com/2025fires
Final Thoughts:
Los Angeles is a town of visionaries. People come from all over the world to chase their wildest dreams. With this, Angelenos have created a culture and community built on hope, passion, and action. I look forward to the day where I look back and see how we grew stronger, closer, and more connected to one another. To finish where I started, Mr Rogers told us to look for the helpers - we can all be helpers.
If you have any questions, please feel encouraged to reach out christina@christinakingfamilytherapy.com.
Yours In Service,
Christina King, LMFT 145704