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When Sadness Is at Your Door
by
In the style of Harold and the Purple Crayon comes a picture-book primer in emotional literacy and mindfulness that suggests we approach the feeling of sadness as if it is our guest.
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 scar ...more
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 scar ...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
January 29th 2019
by Random House Books for Young Readers
(first published October 2018)
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This is a simple beginning book about the visitor known as sadness and how to handle it. I think it’s pretty good advice like sit with it and get to know it and ask it why it’s here. Befriend it and a new day will have it going away. I think this book is simple and brilliant. I think this is good for all ages, but its target is the very young. It so simply explains sadness in a way children get. This is a FANTASTIC book. FANTASTIC.
The artwork is simple, the lines are simple, the story is simple ...more
The artwork is simple, the lines are simple, the story is simple ...more

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
When Sadness Comes to Call is the first book by Eva Eland in her Big Emotions series. The book teaches young children that sometimes people get sad, even for no apparent reason, and that it is natural to feel that way.
In the story, we meet sadness who is shown as being an aqua green coloured large round jellylike person with slumped shoulders and a down-turned mouth. He arrives at the door of a small child who doesn’t know what to do about the sadness.
Th ...more
When Sadness Comes to Call is the first book by Eva Eland in her Big Emotions series. The book teaches young children that sometimes people get sad, even for no apparent reason, and that it is natural to feel that way.
In the story, we meet sadness who is shown as being an aqua green coloured large round jellylike person with slumped shoulders and a down-turned mouth. He arrives at the door of a small child who doesn’t know what to do about the sadness.
Th ...more

A good book to introduce children about sadness. The last book I borrowed at the Scottsdale Public Library. See you again!
"Try not to be afraid od Sadness. Give it a name. Listen to it. Ask where it comes from and what it needs." ...more
"Try not to be afraid od Sadness. Give it a name. Listen to it. Ask where it comes from and what it needs." ...more

In my short journey in being a parent (my girls will be four years old this year), one of the most difficult things that my husband and I have been through is helping our girls with their emotions. Emotions are a part of the human condition but it can be hard to deal with them. "When Sadness is at Your Door" is a good primer on how even feelings like sadness have a place and shouldn't be pushed aside or forgotten. It is okay to be sad (oh, this is definitely a lesson that I am still learning as
...more

Oct 10, 2020
Sophie Snowden
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picture-books
A simple but thoughtful book which looks at the effects of sadness, and how it can impact you throughout the day. I love that at the end it highlights the importance of putting sadness to bed and knowing that the next day is a new day.

A sweet, gentle story that gives an actual shape to sadness and teaches children to acknowledge and be okay with feeling the feeling, while carrying on like usual.

One of my favourite illustrations from this book is on the copyright page. Sadness, represented by a mint-green amorphous blob, stands outside a closed door. On the other side of the door, a little girl clutches an open book in her hands. She peers cautiously over the top of the book, looking in the direction of door.
The book describes the little girl's changing relationship with sadness. In a gentle, matter-of-fact tone, it describes how sadness makes the little girl feel. It follows her attemp ...more
The book describes the little girl's changing relationship with sadness. In a gentle, matter-of-fact tone, it describes how sadness makes the little girl feel. It follows her attemp ...more

Excellent.
.
This is a must have tool in everyone’s arsenal. I’m talking schools, libraries, counseling offices, safety patrol vehicles...
.
We can never discount when we can serve as a lifeline for a child who is hurting.-
.
Talking to children about abstract ideas can be challenging. Throw in a little bit of taboo, though our society is improving in this area, makes it nearly impossible to reach our youngest and most vulnerable hearts. I mean, kids are kids...what do THEY have to feel sad about, rig ...more
.
This is a must have tool in everyone’s arsenal. I’m talking schools, libraries, counseling offices, safety patrol vehicles...
.
We can never discount when we can serve as a lifeline for a child who is hurting.-
.
Talking to children about abstract ideas can be challenging. Throw in a little bit of taboo, though our society is improving in this area, makes it nearly impossible to reach our youngest and most vulnerable hearts. I mean, kids are kids...what do THEY have to feel sad about, rig ...more

Dealing with unpleasant emotions such as sadness, fear, and grief can be very difficult for anyone, but especially for young children who may not have learned helpful coping skills. This lovely picture book uses language that is gentle and soothing along with softly rendered illustrations that show Sadness as a melancholy visitor that needs attention. I like that the book offers suggestions to help youngsters calm themselves with quiet activities in order to get to a place where maybe they can l
...more

A very important and powerful picture book that explains how to treat sadness when it arrives at your door, even though you may not have invited it over. The pared-down text and illustrations quite effectively break down this complex emotion into terms that a child can understand and relate to. The coping solutions presented are everyday activities that any child can do. This book's masterful creator ends the story arc with the child protagonist embracing sadness, and then sadness moving on. Hig
...more

Feb 25, 2019
Colona Public Library
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
ashley,
e-children-picture-books
I wonderful introduction to sadness and its shifting relationship. I really enjoy the color palette in this book, the repeating colors make sadness a part of everything, even in something beautiful like the flowers outside. This is an excellent book to help kids understand their feelings, especially a strong emotion like sadness, that can come and go in different lengths of time. Excellent read, fantastic illustrations, I highly recommend! ~Ashley

A nice addition to Social-Emotional Learning picture book sets dealing with heavy emotions. Will pair well with The Rabbit Listened, Allie All Along, Jack's Worry, Whimsey's Heavy Things, The Remember Balloons, The Rough Patch... The muted palate of the illustrations fits the topic and creates a visual way for kids to see the sadness hanging on.
...more

I really wish there were more books like this. With everything going on nowadays, kids need to see and hear more of this. Parents need to be able to have more books that help with our childs' emotions when we don't always have the words or a way to help them understand them ourselves. Just wish it was a little bit longer.
...more

THIS REVIEW: might not be a popular opinion. But it is mine after this reading of it.
This is going to be a very popular book. It is going to win awards for context and for the illustrations. It will be talked about, promoted and probably go out of stock for awhile at vendors/publisher. If you have not read this book people are going to think you have two heads. And it is going to be one of those books that if you do not like it, people will think something is wrong with you. BUT do not be afraid ...more
This is going to be a very popular book. It is going to win awards for context and for the illustrations. It will be talked about, promoted and probably go out of stock for awhile at vendors/publisher. If you have not read this book people are going to think you have two heads. And it is going to be one of those books that if you do not like it, people will think something is wrong with you. BUT do not be afraid ...more

This is a gentle story that introduces sadness in a unique way. Children are encouraged to see sadness as a normal part of their lives. The story shows ways to include sadness in their daily activities, rather than trying to shut it out or hide it. Calming activities such as sitting quietly, drawing, listening to music, and going for a walk are mentioned as something they might do with sadness. And sometimes sadness will drift in and out of their lives, and that’s completely okay. This one could
...more

"Try not to be afraid of Sadness. Give it a name. Ask where it comes from and what it needs. If you don't understand each other, just sit together and be quiet for awhile."
A clear-minded, gentle story that teaches children (and adults) how to be compassionate with their hard emotions. By relating to our Sadness with tenderness and curiosity, Eland demonstrates how to understand vulnerability as strength -- without needing to "fix" anything or feign positivity. Simple, softly-colored illustration ...more
A clear-minded, gentle story that teaches children (and adults) how to be compassionate with their hard emotions. By relating to our Sadness with tenderness and curiosity, Eland demonstrates how to understand vulnerability as strength -- without needing to "fix" anything or feign positivity. Simple, softly-colored illustration ...more

The one I own has a different title for some reason but it’s a lovely book. Fantastic illustrations.
I feel like this is a message that has been spreading more and more recently and there might be other books about it out there that I have yet to come across but I still found it heartwarming. I remember a few years back I worked on a comic strip with a friend that had the same overall message but instead of Sadness she chose Loneliness and I loved working on that and interpreting her words.
It’s a ...more
I feel like this is a message that has been spreading more and more recently and there might be other books about it out there that I have yet to come across but I still found it heartwarming. I remember a few years back I worked on a comic strip with a friend that had the same overall message but instead of Sadness she chose Loneliness and I loved working on that and interpreting her words.
It’s a ...more

Nice simple look at sadness for Littles. Even preschoolers can understand the feeling when this book is read to them. I like the way the book introduces sadness and encourages naming and accepting the emotion and also explaining that it goes away. That's very important. Children need words for what they are feeling and this books gives sadness expression. Love the illustrations, simple, but easily understood.
...more

Oh my goodness. I loved this book. As someone who was frequently sad as a child, and frequently sad as an adult, too, this one spoke to me. I could see how it would be a nice gift for a person of any age going through a rough spot or whose outlook on life is a bit more on the melancholy side. I liked how the book emphasized that sadness isn't something to fear, and that even when we are sad, we can still do things for self-care. I also enjoyed the depiction of sadness as a ghostlike creature.
...more

Guys,
Never have I felt so understood, vulnerable, and validated from reading a picture book before. It is so pure that as I was turning the pages I was trying to hold back tears.
This is a great resource for trying to explain to children (and adults) that it is okay to be sad and that you are not alone.
Nothing but love for this book <3
Never have I felt so understood, vulnerable, and validated from reading a picture book before. It is so pure that as I was turning the pages I was trying to hold back tears.
This is a great resource for trying to explain to children (and adults) that it is okay to be sad and that you are not alone.
Nothing but love for this book <3

Beautiful and simple story about embracing your sadness. It demonstrates how to name it and claim it, become friends with it, but don't let it consume. And so wonderfully said at the end, "Don't worry - today is a new day."
...more

What a wonderful book! Sadness is presented to small children as kind of 'jello ghost' that follows them around and they come to terms with the 'envelopment' that often occurs when he takes over their physical space. Really innovative concept with excellent art!
...more

Beautiful book! It explains, in a simple way so children can understand, how to deal with sadness.
Recommended for all ages.
Recommended for all ages.

How do children deal with sadness? This book helps children find ways of coping when sadness arrives, and reminds children that sadness is a normal part of life.

Jun 12, 2019
BrookesEducationLibrary
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
feelings
Simple, profound and a careful look at how sadness can seem to take over your days and nights and how to deal with it through acceptance.
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Eva Eland is a Dutch author and illustrator who lives in England. She earned an MA with distinction in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art, and has also studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and the School of Visual Arts in New York.
When Sadness Comes to Call is her first picture book. Eva grew up in Delft, Netherlands, and now lives in Cambridge with her fiancé.
When Sadness Comes to Call is her first picture book. Eva grew up in Delft, Netherlands, and now lives in Cambridge with her fiancé.
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