Book Review: One Wave at a Time - A Story About Grief and Healing


Author: Holly Thompson
Illustrator: Ashley Crowley

From the Book Jacket: After his father dies, Kai experiences all kinds of emotions: sadness, anger, fear, guilt. Sometimes they crash and mix together. Other times, there are no emotions at all—just flatness. As Kai and his family adjust to life without Dad, the waves still roll in. But with the help of friends and one another, they learn to cope—and, eventually, heal. A lyrical story about grieving for anyone encountering loss.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is a solid resource for families experiencing a family death. I love how the book shows Kai and his family going to a grief support group with other families. He also makes a grief first aid kit and memory boxes of special belonging that were his dads. Also, the metaphor of the waves as feelings and dealing with grief is a real asset for art therapy as a tool. I highly recommend this one!

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Book Review: The Rabbit Listened


From the Book Jacket: When something sad happens to Taylor, all the animals think they know how to help. One by one they come, but nothing they say makes Taylor feel better. Until the rabbit arrives...and the rabbit knows just what to do. The Rabbit Listened is about healing heartaches big and small, and taking the time to listen. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is a comforting book for learning how to cope when you are feeling upset and sad. Sometimes it just takes someone listening and validating your feelings. This story is a light for children and might serve as an encouraging message that it's okay to express your feelings. 

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Book Review: The Day War Came



From the Book Jacket: Imagine if, on an ordinary school day, after a morning studying tadpoles and drawing birds, war came to your town and turned it to rubble. Imagine you lost everything and everyone, and you had to make a dangerous journey all alone. Imagine that there was no welcome at the end, and no room for you even to take a seat at school. And then imagine that a child, just like you, gave you a gift, something ordinary but so very, very important. 

Inspired by true events, this deeply affecting book evokes the experience of a young refugee and shows the hope a simple act of kindness can bring in the wake of the devastation of war. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is such a moving book and really evokes strong emotions. Although it's hard to read about the suffering that children endure as refugees, I felt hope at the end of the story because of the goodness of children and people. We can heal suffering through kindness. We can push hate away by connecting to one another through our humanity. Such an amazing representation of what is going on in our world though the eyes of a child. 

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