When I Feel Sad

Plot Summary

"Sometimes I feel sad. I feel sad when someone won't let me play, or when I really want to tell about something and nobody listens. When someone else is sad, I feel sad, too. ... Sad is a cloudy, tired feeling. Nothing seems fun when I feel sad."

Children will take comfort in this story. Readers will recognize similar experiences in their own lives as this little guinea pig describes feeling sad when someone is cross or when something bad happens. Eventually our heroine realizes that feeling sad doesn't last forever.

Awards

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award 2003; The Best Children's Books of the Year 2003, Bank Street College

Reviews

"An excellent note to parents and teachers precedes this story, in which a guinea pig lists situations that cause her to feel sad. Children will relate to her feelings and the accompanying illustrations will draw them in to the story. ... Readers are reassured that 'everyone feels sad sometimes,' that there are ways to feel better, and that sadness eventually goes away. This is a well-constructed and useful resource for family and classroom sharing." School Library Journal

Associated Keywords
unhappy, sadness, emotions, feeling, emotion