Way Past Sad

by Hallee Adelman, Karen Wall (Illustrator)

Sometimes, being sad can make you feel all alone, even when you're not.

James is sad. Way past sad. His best friend, Sanj, is moving away. James feels all alone, and even hugs from Mom don't take away all his sad. But it helps to talk about it. Nothing can change the fact that Sanj is moving, but James learns that he can get past his sad.

Genres: Picture Books, Emotion, Friendship, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2021

Reviews

[Kristen]

7/2/2025 - Great book that could apply to many situations.

[Jessica]

I liked this because it acknowledged the boy's feelings of sadness at his friend moving away while also giving him tools to cope with his sadness, like having a creative outlet and doing some opposite action, going out biking with other friends even when he doesn't feel like it. Good book!

[Eileen R.]

When James’s best friend Sanj has to move, even Mom’s hugs can’t squeeze away James’s sadness. Rather than focusing on the boy who moves away, this sweet friendship story follows the feelings of the friend left behind. Way Past Sad is the latest in the “Way Past” series, which also includes great books about anger, worry, and jealousy. Little people have big feelings, and these Way Past books really get to the heart of those emotions. Instead of pushing them aside, author Adelman acknowledges these feelings, lets kids know that it’s okay to feel this way, and shows them ways to “get past” difficult emotions. In Way Past Sad, James uses strategies like drawing his mood, sharing his sad feelings, making plans to stay connected with his friend, and playing with other friends. I love these Way Past books! They help kids sort through complex emotions at a distance through very relatable characters. Great stuff!

[Jennifer Barr]

WAY PAST SAD is one of those books that you wish was around a long time ago for those moments when a teacher or parent can show young children that it's okay to be sad. Especially now, leaving 2020 behind when there were so many sad moments, we all sometimes feel like James - floating in a vast ocean all alone. The book shows ways to confront these feelings, both alone, and with others who may be feeling the same way. Even when there are fun moments and James and Sanj almost forget why they are sad by building a tent or swinging on a tire, Adelman rightly shows how quickly the reminder comes back. James and Sanj confront their pending separation and, "share our sad." I recommend Way Past Sad and all of the books in the GREAT BIG FEELINGS series for your classrooms and libraries!

[Marnee Simon]

I became a fan of Dr Adelmans books after reading my quiet ship”. The “way past” series are just as well written and illustrated. Especially during the very confusing and emotionally challenging times during the pandemic, the books are such useful tools in helping children understand, process, and reframe their thoughts and emotions in very thoughtful and sensitive ways. I would highly recommend to the entire series to parents, educators, therapists, and of course to children. I would highly recommend the entire series. Well done Dr Adelman! Thank you!

[Danielle Hammelef]

This book will help so many kids who are feeling sad for any reason. I love the symbolism of the blue cover too. The idea that it's okay to be sad and the kid-friendly way the text and illustrations show how it may feel to be sad, will help readers put into words the way sadness is making them feel. The book is hopeful because it shows being sad won't last forever, but may come and go, and gives readers ways to ease the pain sadness brings.

[Bonnie Grover]

Hallie Adelman has a way of capturing our emotions and helping us understand how to cope. When a best friend is moving away, sadness takes over this little boy’s life and he has to figure out how to deal with sadness. Although these books are pretty simple, they have a way of getting right to the heart of feelings and how to get through difficult situations.

[Peacegal]

Another relatable book about big emotions for kids. A child learns his best friend is moving away, and he is sad. Eventually he learns how to manage his sadness, communicating with his friend across the miles while making new friendships closer to home. This is a realistic story, although the ghostly skin tone of some of the characters is a little odd looking.

[FM Family]

This was a good one, 2nd in the series we read after Way Past Worried. Does a good job of explaining the complex feels a kid has after a friend moves away. No complaints, but reviewing a few months later I can’t really remember anything that stands out about it besides that it’s good for a kid to feel seen when they are sad.

[Pam]

This is one of the better ones in this series. James is sad because his best friend is moving. Readers see how he copes with this big emotion. His mom is supportive and offers ideas. He realizes his friend is even sadder so comes out to be with him and play. He also joins others after Sanj moves and realizes he can be happy again.

[Miss Vicky]

Another good installment. Good for a storytime, especially since you can ask about a lot of aspects about this one (have you been sad, have you moved, how do you deal with your sad, do you draw when you're sad, etc.) It was good to see parental involvement in here as well to show/promote coregulation of emotions/getting help from a grownup is OK. Good for feelings, sad, moving.

[skcocnaH]

I’ve read better and worse emotions books for kids. My favorites though are Eva Eland’s two books.
My daughter was *very* distracted by the fact that the white kid was legitimately white.
I appreciated that one of the main characters was brown and that the minor characters were diverse-ish

[Sarah Limb]

This book does a good job at articulating emotions for children and the validation that it’s okay to feel that way. And it also gives the hope that things get better and those feelings aren’t always here to stay.

[Rose Rosetree]

Emotional education for the young continues in this SADNESS book of the series by Hallee Adelman.

It really is a story about how the hero reacts emotionally to having his best friend Sanj move away.

Could this story be helpful to a child of picture book age? Definitely.

[Fatima Seraj Alam]

This book is a great way for a child who is going through a huge sad event to feel seen. It shows ways to cope through sadness and how to channel the feeling into something productive. Finally it shows that the feelings diminish over time.

[Ashley]

A nice book about emotions when a friend is moving away, with hope for feeling happy again later. Ages 4-8.

[Reagan Kapasi]

A thoughtful book about friendship and feeling sad when a friend moves away. Explores coping strategies: hug, drawing, exercise.

[Pinky]

James is sad that his friend Sanj is moving away. He feels better after a talk with his mom and playing with his other friends.

[Carrie Jacobs]

It's okay to be sad.

[Dylan]

I think this one was great and handled the feelings a little better than the jealousy and anger ones.

[SamSamSam]

This story features some really great emotional coping skills! I really liked how they were worked into the story. Social-emotional

[Molly]

Good book on sadness. Gives some coping strategies. His best friend moved away- but can be applied to other situations

[nat]

literally me.

[Caroline VanLandingham]

Really great book about processing sadness/a friend moving away!

[Milagros Ledford]

Great book about being sad but overcoming it with time.

[Madison]

7/2/2025 - Read with Momma. Great story to explain emotions.

[Geo Hendrick]

Good when friends move away.

[Claudette]

A great book for kids that’s about sadness. There’s a lot of books in the series about other emotions too.