Why Do I Feel So Sad? A Grief Book for Children
Why Do I Feel So Sad? A Grief Book for Children
Author: Tracey Lambert- Prater, LPC
Illustrator: Elena Napoli
Published: July 14, 2020
50 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: August 9, 2020
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars
Book Description:
Why Do I Feel So Sad? is an inclusive, age-appropriate, illustrated kid’s book designed to help young children understand their own grief. The examples and beautiful illustrations are rooted in real life, exploring the truth of loss and change, while remaining comforting and hopeful.
Broad enough to encompass many forms of grief, this book reassures kids that they are not alone in their feelings and even suggests simple things they can do to feel better, like drawing, dancing, and talking to friends and family.
Why Do I Feel So Sad? is:
- Practical and compassionate—Written for early childhood-aged kids, this book touches on common sources of grief—everything from death to divorce or changing schools.
- Different for everyone—This book normalizes the confusing thoughts and physical symptoms that come with grief, so kids know there’s no one right way to feel or heal.
- Tips for grownups—Find expert advice and simple strategies for supporting grieving kids in your life.
Children don’t have to go through grief alone; this book provides the tools to help them.
Jessica’s Review:
This children’s picture book is THE resource aimed for children ages 5-7. It is beautifully and brightly illustrated that enhances each sentence on the page. This is one book I could see a parent reading with a child and also discussing the pictures. Fortunately, this is also another picture book that shows a variety of diversity in the people shown on the pages.
The sentences are simple and also bring about full understanding for the aimed age group. This book shows that children, and yes, also adults can experience grief for a variety of reasons: From death, to the loss of a pet, a move, and possible changes in life such as divorce. The book also shows children that they may feel a variety of different ways with their grief and that is ok.
Throughout the book there are even questions posed to the child that they can answer, which in turn may help the adult they are reading the story with know how to help. It also shows how children can deal with their grief in a positive way. At the end there are resources given for both kids and adults to help with the grieving process.
This is a very well done children’s book that will help all children as they will at some point in life experience some kind of grief.
I received a copy from the publisher via Amazon Vine.
Making A Difference: Using Your Talents and Passions to Change the World
Making A Difference: Using Your Talents and Passions to Change the World
Author: Melissa Seymour
Illustrator: Stevie Lewis
To Be Published: August 24, 2020
96 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: August 6-7, 2020
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Girls have the power to make a difference, whether that’s in their own lives, their community, or even the world! But it can be confusing to know where to start. From protecting our planet to helping animals to saying hello to someone who seems lonely, this book offers young readers lots of ideas — big and small — on how to spark change. The quizzes, tips, and inspiration from other girls will help her identify her talents, skills, and the causes she cares about most. Then she can find ways to take action and become a change-maker!
Jessica’s Review:
According to Amazon, this colorful picture book is aimed for girls ages 8-12, though I would say just a little older for ages 10-12. This book is helpful to girls as they begin to discover who they are and what they are passionate about. This is a short picture book that keeps full attention at 96 pages that at times is also an activity book (there are quizzes and it just leaves the reader thinking).
Making a Difference shows how just one girl can make a huge difference by explaining the ripple effect and giving some real life examples of regular girls and what they did to change things. Specific female ‘celebrities’ are also mentioned. The book gives a variety of ideas of what girls can and will do to make a difference.
I really liked how the illustrations showed such diversity from race, disabilities, religion, and even a little bit of LQBTQ+. The LGBTQ+ reference comes about asking someone what pronoun they use. Younger children may need explanation as to the meaning of this.
Overall, this is a well-done book that put together may help young girls realize their potential and may in fact one day change the community they live in.
Many thanks to the publisher American Girl for granting me a copy via Amazon Vine.
Pre-order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
Blog Blitz: Children’s Book: Five Minutes, Alfie
Today I am sharing my review as a part of the blog blitz for the children’s picture book Five Minutes, Alfie by Lily Mae Walters. This is a fun children’s book that will wake the kids up! There is also a giveaway going on for a paperback copy of the book (UK Only).
Book Description:
Alfie snuggles down in bed,
dreams still in his little head.
He dreams he’s a king going out for a ride.
“A dragon sleeps in front of the gate,” they cried.
How will they succeed in waking him up?
By helping each other and lots of luck.
Five Minutes, Alfie
Author: Lily Mae Walters
Illustrator: Jack Foster
Published: February 14, 2020
60 Pages
Reviewed By: Jessica
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Date Read: March 19, 2020
Jessica’s Review:
Five Minutes, Alfie is a fun read for young children that has colorful pictures. This is a children’s book to NOT read when you are trying to get the kids to go to sleep as they may become excited about the story and want to know what is going to happen at the end. I have to say the book has a dragon in it as well which makes it even more exciting! What kid doesn’t like having a story with dragons?!?!?
At the beginning of the book Alfie’s mom is trying to get him up for the day, but he just needs a few more minutes to finish his dream, after-all, he is a king! The problem Alfie’s kingdom is facing is this: there is a huge sleeping dragon outside the castle and no matter what the people do, they can’t wake it up! This story will have the kids in anticipation if the people will be able to get the dragon awake and what will happens when it wakes up?!?!?!
Five Minutes, Alfie rhymes which makes it fun to read aloud. The CGI pictures are bright, colorful, and definitely add to the enjoyment of the story. This book will keep the kids wide awake and ready for their next adventure!
Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK
About the Author:
Lily Mae Walters chose her pen name in honour of her beloved grandparents who also star in the Josie James series.
She is married with two teenage children, and two huskies that are the inspiration behind Murphy and Asher in the books.
Lily Mae lives in Nuneaton, England and finds herself using local places and even her old school in her stories.
Family and friends mean the world to Lily Mae and many will find themselves popping up throughout the series.
Lily Mae also writes for adults under the name of Florence Keeling.
Contact Lily Mae:
Instagram @lilymaewalters
Twitter: @LilyMaeWalters1
**UK Giveaway**
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box above. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
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