Something Sad Happened helps children process their feelings after experiencing the death of someone they love and provides comfort through the story of Sunny the bluebird.
Sunny is a little bluebird who loves to sing happy songs until the death of Wren. Sunny's heart hurts because she misses her friend, and she doesn't feel like singing anymore. But Sunny's Mama and forest friends gather around her, teaching her how to share her sadness with God and others. Sunny learns to remember what she can count on about God's love and care and all the love she shared with Wren.
Darby A. Strickland uses the story of Sunny to help parents and caregivers walk with children through the complexities of grief and the questions that come with a loss. A special section at the end of the book gives parents tips for helping their children express their sorrow to God and offers ideas for remembering a loved one.
AUTHOR
Darby A. Strickland, MDiv, is a faculty member and counselor at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). She is a contributor to_Becoming a Church That Cares Well for the Abused_and Caring for Families Caught in Domestic Abuse and is the author of Is It Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims, the Comfort for Children in Hard Times series, and the minibooks When Children Experience Trauma and Helping Your Family Grieve. She writes regularly for the_Journal of Biblical Counseling. Darby and her husband, John, have three children.
ILLUSTRATOR
Thas Mesquita is a Brazilian illustrator and 2D artist working across children's publishing, visual development, and animation. She is passionate about stylized shapes, exuberant nature, earthy colors, history, and captivating characters. She is always looking forward to stories full of heart, adventure, and fantasy! Thas has worked with many publishers and animation studios both in Germany and Brazil. She now lives in Germany as a full-time artist and illustrator.
“Darby has given us a great approach for ministering to grieving children. Reading Sunny's story introduces children to common reactions to loss and asks questions they might not be able to formulate on their own. And her final comments to caregivers offer more valuable insights about how to help little broken hearts in a Scripture-informed way. Thank you, Darby, for remembering our children.”
Jeff Forrey, Senior Writer/Content Developer, GriefShare.org
“As much as we'd like to protect our children from the effects of life in a fallen world, we can't. One day, someone they love will die, and their tiny hearts will experience tremendous grief. Thankfully, Darby Strickland's gentle and helpful book guides little ones (and their adults) through the deep waters of sorrow, leading them to the unshakeable truths of who our good and kind God is. This is a book you may hope you won't need, but you'll be very glad you have.”
Megan Hill, Managing Editor, The Gospel Coalition; author of Sighing on Sunday: 40 Meditations for When Church Hurts; pastor's wife and pastor's daughter, mother of four
“In this beautiful book, a seasoned counselor and mom gives parents and grandparents a tender aid to slow us down and help us listen and talk openly with our children about the pain of loss. Best of all, she points all of us to the comfort of God found ultimately in the promises of Jesus. I love this book!”
Paul Tautges, Pastor; counselor; author of several books, including A Small Book for the Hurting Heart, Remade, and Anxiety: Knowing God's Peace
“When a loved one dies, knowing how to comfort children is not always intuitive. Darby's newest book provides both a resource for parents and a story that beautifully ministers to little hearts. Through Sunny's honest pain and the care she receives from her community, children hear it's ok to be sad, even as they learn to receive the comfort from the promises Jesus has made to them.”
Lauren Whitman, Faculty & Counselor, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF); author of When Parents Feel Like Failures and A Painful Past
“Loss cuts into our life and leaves us reeling. If it's true for us as adults, how much more so for children. Darby Strickland's new children's book, Something Sad Happened, helps children understand and express their grief. Through an engaging story, children will learn of God's love and care for them in the midst of their sorrows. Something Sad Happened is gentle and inviting, biblical and Christ-centered. It is a helpful and needed resource for parents of grieving children.”
Christina Fox, Author of Tell God How You Feel and The Great Big Sad: Finding Comfort in Grief and Loss
“Mama doesn’t have easy answers to the suffering of grief. Instead, she embraces her daughter in her mourning and grieves together with hope in Jesus. True to form, Strickland refuses to leave parents without first offering an abundance of practical ideas to honor and remember their loved ones. Thank you for this gift, Darby.”
Aaron Sironi, Faculty & Counselor, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF)
“In this sweet and tenderly worded book, Darby teaches children that it’s not only okay to express feelings of sadness and grief, but that they can bring them honestly to Jesus, who holds their tears and comforts them with his promises and presence. Grieving parents will likely find their own hearts encouraged in the process.”
Sarah Walton∫ Author of The Long Road Home; coauthor of Hope When It Hurts
“Guiding children through a significant loss is one of the heaviest responsibilities a caregiver can bear. Darby's book gently persuades little ones that God desires to be near to the broken hearted. This book will comfort each of you as you grieve together.”
Jenny Solomon, Cofounder of Solomon SoulCare; author of Reclaim Your Marriage
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Darby A. Strickland
Darby A. Strickland
Darby A. Strickland
David Powlison
Marty Machowski
Jonathan Gibson
Bob Kellemen
