How are you feeling today?
I am definitely feeling Happy Sad
Happy after two wonderful days with my sister
Sad to have come away not knowing when we will see her again
Happy Sad is something I often feel as a bereaved mother
And as part of a family who are spread around the globe
Being together is always wonderful
But it never lasts for long
As we drove away from my sister yesterday
William and Bea were both so so sad
As they adore their cousins and get on so well with them
It is hard for children to navigate big emotions
And harder still when their feelings are mixed
When they feel both happy and sad
Pippa Goodhart has written the perfect book
To help little readers deal with mixed emotions
And to reassure them that feeling a little mixed up
Is perfect normal and they are most definitely not alone
In this story
Beautifully illustrated by Augusta Kirkwood
We meet Toby who loves living by the sea
One day when fishing in a rockpool
He catches a mermaid in his net
The mermaid is sad
Because the tide has gone out and left her behind
Toby takes the mermaid home to his family
Where he tries to make the mermaid happy
He fills the paddling pool for her
Finds some fish for her to play with and sing to
Toby does all he can to comfort the mermaid
And she appreciates his efforts very much
Toby makes the mermaid happy
But she also feels sad
As she misses the ocean
The waves, the wildness
The mermaid likes Toby
And has fun with her new friend
But she misses her sea friends
And her family
The mermaid is feeling both happy and sad
Happy Sad
Toby knows what he must do
He takes the mermaid back to the sea
The mermaid is happy to return to the ocean
But also sad to say goodbye to Toby
Toby thinks about going with the mermaid
But then he thinks of his own home, his own family
And then he understands
When he feels happy sad too
The two friends part understanding one another
And with lots of special memories to share
This is a lovely story
And would be wonderful to read with little readers
For Empathy Day on the 9th June
Thank you Little Door Books
For asking me to be part of the Book Tour
For the wonderful tale of Toby and the mermaid
Do check out the rest of the reviews coming up in the tour
I know exactly that feeling – Happy Sad. This sounds like a magical book.
Thank you for the expression ‘Happy Sad’, Jennie.
My husband passed away last autumn so I have probably got as far as ‘Not Bad Sad’.
‘Happy Sad’ has given me something to aim for over the coming months/years.
I will share this expression with another bereft friend. Thank you.