Review of How to say a Good-bye!

[Tasha Marie Poole Sullivan]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "How to say a Good-bye!" by Dr Maria Stylianou.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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How To Say A GOOD-BYE! is a wonderful book to read to any child who is struggling with the loss of a loved one. I give this book five out of five stars. The editing was perfect, as I found no typos or errors. The illustrations were wonderfully done. I loved how the pictures looked mildly like caricatures and were very colorful. This lent a lightness to what can be a very heavy and hard-to-talk-about subject. The font is quite large on the electronic version that I read, which made it very easy and enjoyable to read. Short and simple sentences make the book easy to understand, even for younger children.

The story is about several children who have all experienced a loss and end up meeting at a playground by chance. When one child, John, notices another is sitting alone, he asks the second child to come play. After finding out the second child, Pete, is sad, he starts asking questions. John gives some advice to Pete to help him feel better. Shortly after that, the third child, Zoe, is invited to talk with them. Zoe brings another element of loss to the conversation, which is anger. The three children talk and share their feelings and what makes each of them feel better when they experience these emotions. This conversation puts all three children on the path to healing.

Loss is a big part of life and one of the hardest we have to deal with. Even as adults, we do not always handle things in a healthy manner or know what to say to others who are having a hard time. Sometimes it takes the innocence of a child to put things in perspective and speak a truth that we all can understand. Losing someone you love, whether it is a person or a beloved pet, is tough and it’s ok to feel sadness, loneliness, or even anger.

I recommend this book to any family with children who is going through a loss. I wish I would have had this book 8 years ago when my dad passed away and I was trying deal with my own emotions and the hurt and pain my children were feeling.

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How to say a Good-bye!
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[Mark Lazarus]

It sounds like a thoughtful and compassionate story that handles grief in a way children can understand. I appreciate how it encourages open conversations about emotions and healing. While I’m not currently dealing with a loss, I can see how it would be a comforting and valuable read for families navigating difficult times.

[Gabriela Contreras Gonzalez]

I lost my father at a very young age. I cannot remember how my family and I dealt with the loss, and I know there are several types of loss, but at the same time I wished I had had access to this type of book when I lost my father.