Day: August 3, 2019

Quinn Says Goodbye

Quinn Says Goodbye: Friends May Go Away, but God is Here to Stay

Author: Christie Thomas
Illustrator: Sydney Hanson
To Be Published: August 6, 2019
32 Pages

Reviewed By: Jessica
Date Read: July 29, 2019
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars

Book Description:

Goodbye Is Never Easy, but God Can Make It Better

When Quinn the Owl makes a new friend, a firefly named Blink, she is filled with joy. But one night, Quinn wakes up to find her friend has disappeared in a flash.

“Momma, why didn’t God make Blink stay with me? Didn’t he know how much I loved him?”

“God doesn’t always stop bad things from happening, Quinn. But he does promise that He will always be with you, and He will never stop being your friend.”

Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written, Quinn Says Goodbye is designed for children dealing with different kinds of loss, whether it be death of a pet or a family member, or simply the loss of a favorite toy. Remind little ones that although people and things might not be in their life forever, God will never leave them.

Jessica’s Review:

Quinn is a baby owl and she finds an injured firefly and helps to take care of it. Quinn even names the firefly Blink. One day Blink is gone and Quinn is devastated as she really loved Blink.

Quinn Says Goodbye  is a good picture book that shows children that goodbyes (and grief) happen and it is ok to be sad about the loss.  Quinn Says Goodbye has a religious context to it and shows faith and even though God may let bad things happen, He will always be with us and take care of us.

This picture book can definitely help younger children deal with grief in a comforting way no matter the loss, and this story has a sweet ending.  Whether the loss is a family pet, family member, a favorite toy, or even a move, this story will help children positively.

There is also a “Did You Know” section about fireflies, so children can learn about them.  There are also Bible verses mentioned to help enhance the story and open up a discussion with your child and their grief if needed.

I loved the illustrations!  The colors have a peaceful and calming effect to them as you read the story. I adored the owls and was excited to find out that there is another Quinn book which is already out: Quinn’s Promise Rock: No Matter Where, God Is Always There.

Special thanks to the publisher, Harvest House Publishers, for granting me an e-arc copy via NetGalley. It was a pleasure to read and review.

Pre-order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK