Little Kids, Big Emotions: Sadness
Last week we started this series with happiness and I figured that it kind of made sense to do sadness next. What I really like about these books is that while some of them teach kids about how to help a friend who is sad, many others allow the reader to realize that it’s okay to be sad and that it’s not something that needs to be “fixed” right away. I think a lot of people try to bottle up their emotions and it’s not a healthy thing to do, rather feel what you are feeling, acknowledge it, understand it, and when you’re ready reach out to the people and activities that make you feel good.
A few notes on books about sadness, I didn’t focus these books on grief necessarily. That’s an entirely different emotion and one that we might get to down the road. I also tried to focus this list on books about sadness as an emotion that comes up now and again. There are a number of children’s picture books that discuss mental health, specifically depression, but again, that’s not what I wanted to focus on for this particular book list. But, I think it’s important to know that those resources do exist. Come back each week through the next few months as we explore lots of big emotions!
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Little Kids, Big Emotions: Sadness
Bear Feels Sad by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Bear feels sad. All his friends are off being busy and he’s by himself. He can’t think of anything to do to cheer himself up. Even building a fort is no fun! But when he finds a beautiful field of flowers, Bear gets the perfect idea to turn his day around: gathering gifts to share with his friends when they get back!
I’m Sad by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Everyone feels sad sometimes—even flamingos.
Sigh.
When Flamingo announces he’s feeling down, the little girl and Potato try to cheer him up, but nothing seems to work. Not even dirt! (Which usually works for Potato.)
Flamingo learns that he will not always feel this way. And his friends learn that sometimes being a friend means you don’t have to cheer someone up. You just have to stick by your pal no matter how they feel.
Even if they’re a potato.
Jenny Mei Is Sad by Tracy Subisak
Jenny Mei still smiles a lot. She makes everyone laugh. And she still likes blue Popsicles the best. But, her friend knows that Jenny Mei is sad, and does her best to be there to support her.
Let the Light In by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Adriana Predoi
It’s normal to feel sad, but for kids, sadness can often feel overwhelming and confusing. Let the Light In meets children in their moment of sadness and offers empathetic ideas on how to navigate it. Concrete and simple ideas include creative expression, going for a walk, paying attention to the world around them, and visiting a friend. Little ones will be left with the uplifting message that, whether it happens in big ways or small, all at once or over time, sadness will eventually fade, and better days will come.
My Friend Is Sad by Mo Willems
In My Friend is Sad, Elephant Gerald is down in the dumps. Piggie is determined to cheer him up by dressing as a cowboy, a clown, and even a robot! But what does it take to make a sad elephant happy? The answer will make even pessimistic elephants smile.
Pocketful of Sads by Brad Davidson, illustrated by Rachel Más Davidson
Rabbit is SO excited to go fishing with Bear. But Bear’s not feeling up to it. . . . He’s feeling low, like his pocket is full of sads that are weighing him down. Although Bear doesn’t know why he’s feeling this way, Rabbit is sure she can fix it!
Rabbit looks to the internet for advice, but none of the self-help tips seem to help. The friends try meditating, healthy eating, even a new hobby, only to learn that when it comes to having the sads, there’s no easy fix—except, maybe, friendship.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
When something sad happens, Taylor doesn’t know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn’t feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that’s not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen . . . which is just what Taylor needs.
Sad, Sad Bear by Kimberly Gee
Bear is feeling very sad today. Mommy has to go to work, so Bear has to go to Cub Care. But Bear doesn’t know anyone there at all! How will he make it through the day? Luckily, with the help of some brand-new friends, Bear cheers up, has fun, and then can’t wait to tell Mommy all about it when she comes to get him at the end of the day.
A Shelter for Sadness by Anne Booth, illustrated by David Litchfield
A small boy creates a shelter for his sadness so that he can visit it whenever he needs to, and the two of them can cry, talk, or just sit. The boy knows that one day his sadness may come out of the shelter, and together they will look out at the world and see how beautiful it is.
Sometimes When I’m Sad by Deborah Serani, illustrated by Kyra Teis
“Now when I get sad, I still cry sometimes. I still hide sometimes. But only for a little while. Because now I know ways to feel better.” Sadness can be an overwhelming emotion, especially for young children. But it’s important to know when sadness can be overcome, and when it’s indicative of a greater problem.
When Sadness Is At Your Door by Eva Eland
Sadness can be scary and confusing at any age! When we feel sad, especially for long periods of time, it can seem as if the sadness is a part of who we are–an overwhelming, invisible, and scary sensation.
In When Sadness Is at Your Door, Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. She gives it a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all of which helps to demystify it and distinguish it from ourselves. She suggests activities to do with it, like sitting quietly, drawing, and going outside for a walk. The beauty of this approach is in the respect the book has for the feeling, and the absence of a narrative that encourages the reader to “get over” it or indicates that it’s “bad,” both of which are anxiety-producing notions.
Why Do We Cry? by Fran Pintadera, illustrated by Ana Sender
In a soft voice, Mario asks, ”Mother, why do we cry?“ His mother thinks for a moment, and then begins to tell him about the many reasons for our tears. We cry because our sadness is so huge it must escape from our bodies. Because we don’t understand the world, and our tears go in search of an answer. Because we can’t find the right words, and our tears speak a universal language. Most important, she tells him, we cry because we feel like crying. And, as she shows him then, sometimes we feel like crying for joy.
