When I was about 11 years old
My sister was 8
We met a French boy on holiday
He did not speak English
We did not speak French
But we played together every day
For three weeks
In the campsite swimming pool
I don’t think we even knew his name
But I have remembered him for 35 years
And the fun we had that summer
Holiday friends

This summer we have had a wonderful time
With a Ukrainian family
Who came to stay within our extended family
Mum, a daughter and son
The same ages as Edie and Bea
The children quickly became firm friends
And we have had a lovely time getting to know one another
Now as the summer ends
And the war in Ukraine seeming stable especially
In Kyiv where they are from
Our new friends have decided to go home
Of course we are so happy for them
That they can return to their husband and father
That they can return to their home
Their school and friends
But my goodness me we are going to miss them
Yesterday we said our goodbyes
And there were lots and lots of tears
We have all grown very fond of one another
I do so hope that we will meet again

We have talked to the children
About all the ways that we can stay in touch
And how we hope the war will soon end
And we can visit Kyiv
Or perhaps they can come back here
For a holiday
It does not help little hearts
That are hurting right now though

Tonight with Edie I read the book
Say Goodbye … Say Hello
And she says that this story
Has helped her a little bit
It has helped her to understand
That goodbye does not have to be forever
And there will be new friends for her here
And for the children back in Ukraine
It has shown her the connections
That can be kept through letters
And through memories of our magical summer

Say Goodbye … Say Hello
Tells the story of Stella
Who on starting school
Makes friends with Charlie
The two are firm friends
And go through lots of changes together

As the seasons shift
They move from outside play
To cosy dens indoors

From stick armed snowmen
To splashing in puddles
From sunny summer days
To campfires under starry skies

From goodbye to hello
Goodbye to hello
Showing little readers that all things change
Things come
Things go
That good things can come after bad
That sad goodbyes can lead to happy hellos

Stella and Charlie experience
Life’s ups and downs together
Losing Stella’s pet goldfish
And celebrating it’s life together
The two friends show little readers
That joy can be found
In finding the courage to join in
In trying something new
In not giving up on something old

This book is beautifully illustrated
Showing the delight young children take
In their friendships with one another
In showing the love between little ones
And their friends
And the magic in the moments that they share
This tender book
Takes children by the hand
And reassures them that they are not alone
When big changes happen

Because …
“… sometimes, when you least expect it
A goodbye comes along
That really feels like the end.
Sometimes goodbye is the last thing
You want to say.
Like when goodbye to holding tight …
… is hello to letting go.”
When your little ones heart is hurting
It can be hard to find the words
To make them see that they will be okay
That things will be alright
That “… no matter what …
Goodbye to today …
… is hello to tomorrow.
Because every goodbye …
… leads to a hello.”

I am so very grateful to
Cori Doerrfeld
For creating this brilliant and beautiful book
That has helped heal Edie’s heart a little
As she has said goodbye to her friends
A perfect picture book for helping little ones
Deal with change
Face new situations
And understand that loss can lead
To new, exciting and wonderful things

Even in losing Tilda
We have found positives
New friends
Rainbow babies
A greater appreciation of the little things
As my best friends has always told me
Good things come out of bad
And it is true
And this book is filled with hope and happiness
After heartache, hard things and hurts
Perfect for helping children process their emotions
And talk about their feelings

One for every home, library and school
One to heal the hurtiest of hearts x