GOD, I FEEL SAD {Book Review}

Last week, we had a special guest post by Michelle Nietert and Tama Fortner about how to help our kids cope when they are sad. Would you like to know another way to help your children? Read to them the picture book: GOD, I FEEL SAD.

I got this book to read to my five-year-old grandson. He was sad because the things he counted on—his family and his routine, were not “right” due to his little brother having surgery. Not only did this book encourage him, but the two-year-old little brother really honed in on it as well He was experiencing a great deal of sadness too, due to pain and not being able to play or eat like he wanted. I was surprised by how intently they both focused on this book from the beginning to the end.

The Authors

Michelle Nietert has been a licensed professional counselor for over twenty-five years and is the coauthor of the award-winning book Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls and Make Up Your Mind. A passionate speaker, she is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, including her own “Raising Mentally Healthy Kids.” She and her husband, Drew, have been married almost two decades with two school-aged children. Connect with Michelle at www.YourMentalHealthCoach.com .

Tama Fortner is an ECPA award-winning and bestselling author with more than fifty titles to her credit, including Simply Christmas and Easter Is Coming!. She has collaborated with some of the biggest names in Christian publishing to create inspirational books for children, teens, and adults. But her greatest accomplishments happen in a happy little home on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her family and a feisty little pup who is convinced he’s people too. To learn more, visit www.TamaFortner.com.

About GOD, I FEEL SAD

Zonderkidz has published another terrific and timely book. The full title of this 32-page picture book is Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God: God, I Feel Sad. This is the first in the series.

The book begins by stating the facts:

When God made you, He gave you emotions.

Then, the emotion of sadness is discussed using examples with which children are familiar.

The authors do an excellent job of helping children identify what sadness may look like on their faces and what words they sometimes say that convey their sadness.

Children are reminded of the different ways sadness makes them feel. Then, they are given some suggestions on how to express those feelings.

They’re encouraged not to pretend the sad feelings aren’t there, but to feel them.

After that, children discover different ways to begin feeling better. Talking with someone who cares about them, talking to God, expressing themselves through art and music, and many more suggestions are given.

(Graphic provided by the publisher, Zonderkidz)

Additional Notes

This book is written with a biblical worldview. There are several references to God. One verse of scripture is included at the end and is taken from the Holy Bible, NIV.

At the back of the book is a special note to parents which includes another wonderful way for parents to teach their children how to cope with sadness. I’ll not spoil the treat by sharing the details, but it was something I’d never heard before and I think it’s an excellent suggestion!

Also, I want to mention the illustrator, Nomar Perez/ He does a beautiful job illustrating emotions. He expertly captures the nuances of sadness. The bright colors he used throughout the book give a nod to the ever-presence of God’s hope.

My Recommendation

Oh, how I love this book. One of my favorite sections is the explanation of how sadness can trickle in like a tiny wave on our toes. But sometimes the waves are big and “soak you with sad all the way through. It might take a little longer, but those big waves will roll back out too.”

Throughout this book, the authors acknowledge the reality of children’s sad feelings. But, they also show them many healthy ways to process those feelings. They remind kids sadness means something isn’t right in their world, but God doesn’t want them to be sad forever.

I highly recommend GOD, I FEEL SAD. It’s unique and helpful. Most of all, it’s a warm reminder of how God loves and cares about us when we feel sad.

Your turn! What have you found that helps children cope with sadness?

A freelance writer, Sally Matheny’s writing is published in worldwide, national, regional, online, and print publications

Sally focuses on the power of story, history, and His Story to tell the next generation wondrous things. Connect with her on various social media sites. But, if she’s not hanging out with family and friends, or engaging in an American history class, you’ll most often find her at SallyMatheny.com or Pinterest.