When you are sad
by Jocelyn Flenders
edited by Edward T. Welch
32 pages / 2019

This book is part of an excellent series put out by the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF) called “Good News for Little Hearts.” Each title addresses an area of counseling that might be of use to “little hearts” and in this one the issue is grieving the loss of a loved one.

Of course, they don’t tackle it head-on – that would be abrupt, and too distressing for the very children the book is intended to help. So instead of a person, we have Henry, a little hedgehog, and instead of the loss of a relative, he is trying to deal with the death of his pet ladybug Lila. Sad and angry, and he doesn’t want to be around his other friends, whose pets are all still alive. But what his parents model is how to take our grief to God. Henry’s dad shares relevant Bible passages, pointing his son to the God who has promised to one day dry every tear.

It is a wonderful book, and brilliantly illustrated. It would probably be most useful if read before there was a need, but even after the death of a pet, or of a loved relative, the book’s Scripture citations, and instructions for parents found in the back, will be incredibly helpful.

Overall I would recommend it to parents of children 5-10.