Michael Rosen's Sad Book by Michael Rosen & Illus by Quentin Blake

I don't know about you, but this whole coronavirus thing has me feeling a bit out of sorts. I love being home and I love my family, so I didn't think I would mind staying home all the time. But apparently it isn't as easy as all that. There is a difference between doing something because you want to and doing something because you have to. And then, there is the matter of routine--turns out they are handy things to keep around. 

Emotions. They can be sort of messy and unexpected right now. So this seems like an appropriate book for the moment. 

Of course, this book is much more deep than the sadness of "everything has changed and I am not used to it!" 

Michael Rosen lost his son.

And if you think that is a terrible beginning for a kids book, you are right. But kids are much closer to big emotions than adults who have worked hard to bring emotions under control. Their upset/sorrow over things is so much bigger than adults. 

They get it. 

This is Michael Rosen. As you can read, this is him being sad, but pretending to be happy so people won't dislike him for being sad. 

Sometimes sad is very big. It's everywhere. All over me. 

Eddie, his son. Who he is sometimes angry at for dying. 

Eddie doesn't say anything because he's not here anymore. 

I just want to think about it on my own.

Because it's mine. And no one else's.

The unexpected attacks of sad.

Ways he has found to cope with his sadness. 

Then he discusses other people's grief. 

Memories of Eddie

Sad will always be there. 

But there are times when it is not right in front of you--times when you can laugh and have good days. 

And other days when sad seems everywhere. 

I was sort of surprised by this book--such an honest look at grief for a kids book. People tend to paper over the lumps and uncertainties of sorrow for kids, but I think kids can accept things more readily than adults sometimes. This book will definitely prompt some questions and concerns, but those conversations need to happen at some point. Just be forewarned--don't read this book if you don't have time for questions right then. 

I hope your day/week is not as sad as this. I hope there are lovely moments and sunlight and calm. 

Stay healthy!