When Sadness is at Your Door

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 scary sensation.

In When Sadness Is at Your Door, Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. She gives it a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all of which helps to demystify it and distinguish it from ourselves. She suggests activities to do with it, like sitting quietly, drawing, and going outside for a walk. The beauty of this approach is in the respect the book has for the feeling, and the absence of a narrative that encourages the reader to "get over" it or indicates that it's "bad," both of which are anxiety-producing notions.

Simple illustrations that recall the classic style of Crockett Johnson (Harold and the Purple Crayon) invite readers to add their own impressions.

Eva Eland's debut picture book is a great primer in mindfulness and emotional literacy, perfect for kids navigating these new feelings--and for adult readers tackling the feelings themselves!

In stilul lui Harold si creionul purpuriu vine un manual de carte ilustrata in alfabetizarea emotionala si atentia care ne sugereaza sa abordam sentimentul de tristete ca si cum ar fi oaspetele nostru. Tristetea poate fi infricosatoare si confuza la orice varsta! Cand ne simtim tristi, mai ales pentru perioade lungi de timp, poate parea ca tristetea face parte din ceea ce suntem - o senzatie coplesitoare, invizibila si infricosatoare. In Cand tristetea este la usa ta, Eva Eland abordeaza stralucit acest lucru senzatia ca ar fi un vizitator.