Help Children Deal with Grief & Sadness with The Good for Nothing Puddle: A Review

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own. 



Grief is something that we are all hit with at some point in our lives... but as parents, how can we help our children navigate those big, confusing emotions? Today, I'm sharing a book that might help: The Good for Nothing Puddle by Jana Jackson, illustrated by Abby Jartos. Take a look:

In this powerful picture book about a girl experiencing loss, The Good for Nothing Puddle helps children explore the nature of grief and loss and leads them to find hope and redemption from pain.

When a girl loses the thing she loves the most, her tears gather into a puddle around her feet that follows her everywhere she goes. At first, she tries her best to make it go away, but it is inescapable. She even cries out to God to take it away. Eventually, a puppy, a farmer, and an artist stumble upon the girl and her puddle. Each one finds the puddle extremely useful in their own way and slowly the girl begins to understand that her “good for nothing” puddle might just be good for something after all! As she learns to accept her grief, she begins to find happiness again. Filled with moments of sorrow and joy, The Good for Nothing Puddle is a powerful metaphor for dealing with difficult emotions and navigating grief while holding onto faith.

The Good for Nothing Puddle:

• Is for children who have experienced loss of any kind, big or small
• Was reviewed and endorsed by a Christian counselor specializing in child therapy
• Teaches children as well as adults how to find hope in darkness
• Is filled with lively and dramatic illustrations
• Is great for families as well as Sunday school classes and church libraries, and anyone struggling to find God amid sadness

I was recently given the chance to check out a copy for myself. While my kids are now beyond the age where they really read picture books, this was such a beautiful book. We loved the artwork, with the hints of color feeling just right for the story. Beyond that though, it really was a beautifully written story about grief and one that I think will definitely be able to help children deal with their grief and sadness... and to not feel so alone in that. Honestly, I think there is something in this story that even adults can take something away from. Whether for your own personal library or your church, this is a great addition to both. 

You can learn more through this podcast if you're interested (talk about the book starts at around 11:00). 



You can purchase your copy here.