When Sadness Comes to Call

"Yes, and even three-year-olds would enjoy this one. I love the simplicity of the illustrations, combined with the simplicity of the words—and yet this book also has a really profound effect on you. It reminds you that it’s okay to feel sad and that if you actually take the time to sit with your feelings, then you have the time to release them and set them free. It doesn’t mean that they’ll never come back, and you may feel sad again tomorrow, but by sitting with your feelings and acknowledging them, then you can actually take the time to feel better. It’s so simply put and so accessible for kids. Sign up here for our newsletter featuring the best children’s and young adult books, as recommended by authors, teachers, librarians and, of course, kids. I think social and emotional intelligence is so important; we shouldn’t just gloss over feelings. It’s so easy to send a kid to their room and say, “You need to go calm down,” but if you take a moment to read this book with them, and let them know that actually sitting with your feelings and getting to know your feelings is helpful, I think the world will be a better place. There is no specific trigger. The story starts with, “Sometimes sadness arrives unexpectedly” and there’s this green blob guy at the door. Then the kid invites the sadness in, and they interact, and by the end sadness goes out the door. It’s just so simple and sweet, but really effective."