When my kids are having a tough day, I want nothing more than to offer them a hug and a sympathetic ear—but sometimes, comfort from a well-meaning mom is the last thing they want. They’d rather be alone for a while, finding their own kind of comfort in a book. And I’m okay with that.

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This is obviously a lie. I am not okay with it at all. Who turns down a mom hug?!

Still, I feel a lot better when I think of my kids reaching for a story that recognizes their tough emotions and reminds them that they’re not alone. Or maybe, I think, they’ll grab something funny and weird that distracts them from the tough stuff and invites them to find a little joy in the world. This month, I’ll be placing some of these new titles strategically around my house so that my young readers can find them on their next tough day and have a good laugh, a good cry, or a little bit of both.

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Neil Sharpson, Help!…