Prisha trudges into the classroom and, even though sheās wearing a mask, I can tell by her body language that something is different. Typically, sheās bounding into the room, excited to tell me all about her dogās latest escapades, but not today.
I walk over, lean in, and quietly ask, āHow are you feeling today?ā
Prisha looks up from her backpack and replies, āIām sad.ā
āDo you want to tell me more?ā I wonder.
āNot right now,ā is all sheās ready to share.
āIāll be here to listen when youāre ready,ā I whisper, smiling with my eyes.
At this moment, I know that Iām going to change my read-aloud plan for the day. Iāll share a book or two that might make Prisha feel seen and heard. Below find my ideal books about sadness for students like Prisha.
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Loss of a Pet
Blue, written and illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
The book begins with a puppy and a baby boy sleeping on a blue blanket. Readers watch as they both grow up, the dog ages, and then, sadly, passes away. On the next page, the young man meets a girl with the dog, and weāre left to imagine what happens next. Invite your learners to look carefully at illustrations to infer what is happening in the story. Also, watch as the blue blanket becomes the dogās neckerchief.
View the entire book here (Uploaded by Publisher)
Whatās the Matter, Marlo?, written and illustrated by Andrew Arnold
Marlo and Coco are inseparable best friends. On this particular day, when Coco asks Marlo to play, he replies, āGo away.ā She tries to cheer him up with dog jokes, but this only upsets him more. Eventually, she discovers the problemāMarloās dog has passed away. Coco comforts Marlo the way that kind friends do, with a hug.
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Leaning on Friends and Family
Iām Sad, written by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Flamingo is sad. Flamingoās two friends, an empathetic girl and a wise-cracking potato, stick by its side. Together, the three wonder why sad things happen and come to the conclusion that itās OK to be sad. The charactersā dialogue is written in three different colors, offering the opportunity to discuss point of view or perform as a readerās theater. If your readers enjoy this book, check out the others in the series Iām Bored,Ā Iām Worried, and Iām Sorry.
Jenny Mei is Sad, written and illustrated by Tracy Subisak
Jenny Meiās friends stand by her side through thick and thināeven when Jenny Meiās sadness causes her to lash out at a classmate. This story is told from the point of view of the supportive friend, making it ideal for conversations about how to be a good friend. After reading, offer time for students to reflect on these questions:
- What did her friend do to comfort Jenny Mei when she was sad?
- What can you do for your friends when they are sad?
My Friend is Sad, written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Piggie tries every clever disguise she can think of in order to cheer up her friend Elephant, but heās still sad. Not realizing that the disguised characters are his friend Piggie, Elephant shares that heās sad because he canāt enjoy the fun with his friend. One of our favorite books about sadness, this one is also a humorous starting point for a conversation about noticing and naming sadness and the power of caring friends.
Ten Beautiful Things, written by Molly Beth Griffin, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Lily, who has encountered some kind of life-changing event, journeys with her grandmother to their new home. During their car ride to Iowa, Lilyās Gram encourages her to find ten beautiful things. Though skeptical at first, Lily begins to enjoy the game and takes comfort knowing sheās going to be living with her grandmother.
Finding a Space for Sadness
When Sadness Is at Your Door, written and illustrated by Eva Eland
Sometimes sadness creeps in when you least expect it. Thatās exactly what happens to the child in this story. Instead of hiding the sadness or being afraid of it, the child chooses to listen, draw with it, and take it out for a walk. In the end, the child finds comfort in knowing that sadness is a part of life.
A Shelter for Sadness, written by Anne Booth, illustrated by David Litchfield
A boy builds a shelter for his sadness, gives it space, and cares for it throughout the seasons. In the end, he and his sadness discover the beautiful world together. Anne Booth was inspired to write this book by the words of Esther āEttyā Hillesum, a Jewish woman and victim of the Holocaust, who believed that we have to give āsorrow the space it demands ā¦ā (Dedication page) While reading this book aloud, you might spark conversation with questions like:
- Why do you think the boy says that āsadness has a right to be there?ā
- What do you suppose the boy is trying to help us understand about sadness.
At the end of the day, as the kids are packing their backpacks, Prisha walks over. āIām ready to tell you why Iām feeling sad. I feel just like Marlo and the boy in Blue.ā At that moment, I know. Prishaās beloved dog has passed away. I give her a hug and thank her for sharing. Then, I silently thank Andrew Arnold and Laura Vaccaro Seeger for writing the books about sadness that Prisha needed on that particular day.