A comforting primer in emotional literacy and mindfulness that suggests we approach the feeling of sadness as if it is our guest.
Sadness can be scary and confusing at any age! When we feel sad, especially for long periods of time, it can seem as if the sadness is a part of who we are--an overwhelming, invisible, and scary sensation.
In When Sadness Is at Your Door, Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. She gives it a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all of which helps to demystify it and distinguish it from ourselves. She suggests activities to do with it, like sitting quietly, drawing, and going outside for a walk. The beauty of this approach is in the respect the book has for the feeling, and the absence of a narrative that encourages the reader to "get over" it or indicates that it's "bad," both of which are anxiety-producing notions.
Simple illustrations that recall the classic style of Crockett Johnson (Harold and the Purple Crayon) invite readers to add their own impressions.
Eva Eland's debut picture book is a great primer in mindfulness and emotional literacy, perfect for kids navigating these new feelings--and for adult readers tackling the feelings themselves!
Eva Eland is an award-winning author and illustrator with an MA with distinction in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. She has also studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her first picture book, When Sadness Comes to Call, won the Klaus Flugge prize and the V&A Award. Her books have also been longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award and shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards. Eva grew up in Delft, Netherlands, and now lives in Amsterdam with her husband and baby girl.
View titles by Eva Eland
A comforting primer in emotional literacy and mindfulness that suggests we approach the feeling of sadness as if it is our guest.
Sadness can be scary and confusing at any age! When we feel sad, especially for long periods of time, it can seem as if the sadness is a part of who we are--an overwhelming, invisible, and scary sensation.
In When Sadness Is at Your Door, Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. She gives it a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all of which helps to demystify it and distinguish it from ourselves. She suggests activities to do with it, like sitting quietly, drawing, and going outside for a walk. The beauty of this approach is in the respect the book has for the feeling, and the absence of a narrative that encourages the reader to "get over" it or indicates that it's "bad," both of which are anxiety-producing notions.
Simple illustrations that recall the classic style of Crockett Johnson (Harold and the Purple Crayon) invite readers to add their own impressions.
Eva Eland's debut picture book is a great primer in mindfulness and emotional literacy, perfect for kids navigating these new feelings--and for adult readers tackling the feelings themselves!
Author
Eva Eland is an award-winning author and illustrator with an MA with distinction in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. She has also studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her first picture book, When Sadness Comes to Call, won the Klaus Flugge prize and the V&A Award. Her books have also been longlisted for the Kate Greenaway Award and shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards. Eva grew up in Delft, Netherlands, and now lives in Amsterdam with her husband and baby girl.
View titles by Eva Eland
