*Something Sad Happened: Helping Children with Grief by Darby A. Strickland

Something Sad Happened is a childlike look at what grief feels like, how we cope with it, and what the Bible has to say.

*Something Sad Happened: Helping Children with Grief by Darby A. Strickland, illustrated by Thaís Mesquita. New Growth Press, 2024. 32 pages.

Reading Level: Picture books, ages 0-8

Recommended for: ages 0-8

Sunny, a little bluebird, loves to sing. She sings all day long, from morning to night. But when she loses her friend Wren, Sunny doesn’t feel like singing. Her tummy hurts. Her heart hurts too. Sunny misses Wren and doesn’t understand why Wren had to die.

Sunny asks questions a child would ask, but adults ask the same questions when a beloved person dies. We might phrase it more elegantly, or—more likely—not admit that our tummies hurt or that we don’t understand. Stickland gently provides answers for the questions she can and turns our eyes to Scripture over and over. Owl and Sunny’s mother help Sunny grapple with death and its effects even as readers do the same. We, like Sunny, are reassured that it’s okay to cry and grieve. That Jesus Himself cried. That God will never leave us or forsake us.

The illustrations are sweet and gentle, full of woodland creatures children will enjoy “meeting” in the pictures. Back matter includes more resources for parents and care givers if they must help a young child wrestle through losing a loved one. Although this is very much a “book with a message,” it’s a very well-done one. Death cannot be fixed by a book, but a book like this offers a solid tool for those who need it as part of the process.

Bottom Line: Something Sad Happened is a childlike look at what grief feels like, how we cope with it, and what the Bible has to say. This is a must for church libraries!

*indicates a starred review

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Review: Something Better Coming by Megan E. Saben is a triumphant reminder that this earth is not the end of the story for Christians!
• Review: Something Scary Happened is another excellent resource for children by Darby Strickland; it covers fear.
• Review: Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley is a tender (albeit secular) exploration of love in the midst of loss.

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