Families who loved Katie's Wish by Barbara Shook Hazen often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with 'magical thinking' guilt, such as believing a bad thought or a stray word caused a real world problem. It tells the story of Katie, a young girl in Ireland who wishes for her potatoes to disappear, only to witness the onset of the Great Famine. Through Katie's journey, the book addresses the heavy weight of secret shame and the healing power of realizing that we are not responsible for global or family crises. This gentle historical story is ideal for children ages 5 to 9 who are highly empathetic or prone to self blame. It provides a safe space to discuss how events happen for many complex reasons, helping children release the burden of feeling they broke the world. It is a poignant tool for discussing resilience, history, and the relief of sharing one's fears with a trusted adult.