The Goodbye Book

by Todd Parr

Overview

From New York Times bestselling author Todd Parr comes this poignant and reassuring story about loss. 

With his colorful illustrations, playful humor, and inclusive storytelling, beloved author Todd Parr has long been a favorite among young readers and caregivers. His books promote an essential message of love and acceptance that is inspiring, empowering, and accessible.
 
It’s hard to say goodbye to someone.
You might not know what to feel.
But you’ll remember that there will always be someone to love you and hold you tight.

Through the lens of a pet fish who has lost its companion, The Goodbye Book tells a touching and hopeful story about saying goodbye to someone you love. Addressing the host of emotions children experience, Todd reminds readers that it’s okay not to know all the answers, and that someone will always be there to support them. An invaluable resource for life’s toughest moments.
 
English–Spanish bilingual edition, The Goodbye Book / El libro del adiós, also available for purchase.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316404976
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	11/03/2015
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	91,944
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Todd Parr has inspired and empowered millions of children around the world with his bold images and positive messages. He is the bestselling author of more than sixty books, including The Goodbye Book, The Family Book, The I Love You Book, and It's Okay to be Different. He lives in California.

Hometown:

Berkeley, California

Date of Birth:

July 9, 1962

Place of Birth:

Rock Springs, Wyoming

Education:

High school diploma

Website:

http://www.toddparr.com

Editorial Reviews

09/28/2015
With this deceptively simple look at coping with loss, featuring a fish in a fishbowl whose companion disappears, Parr adds to the list of universal issues he has explored, including family, thankfulness, love, the environment, and peace. Parr speaks to children in their own language, pairing easily interpreted pictures with empathic text that leaves ample room for interpretation and personalization—this is a book that could easily be used as a lead-in to discussions about death, a family move, or less dramatic separations. Acknowledging that “It’s hard to say goodbye to someone,” the direct and supportive narrative traces the fish’s initial reactions to the other fish’s disappearance (including sadness, anger, confusion, and denial), which give way to a gradual recovery as time passes (“You’ll remember all the fun you had”). The reassuring message that “there will always be someone to love you and hold you tight,” reinforced by a picture of a boy holding the fishbowl, drives home the idea that, while goodbyes are often difficult, they aren’t insurmountable. Ages 3–6. Agent: Liz Stahler, Suppertime Entertainment. (Nov.)

Publishers Weekly

"An honest but gentle look at the grief that comes with saying goodbye. An essential purchase for all early childhood collections."—School Library Journal

"With its accessible style and kindhearted text, The Goodbye Book will serve kids as a sympathetic friend during trying times."—USA Today

From the Publisher

2015-08-26
Bestselling author Parr turns his trademark combination of boldly colored, simple illustrations and matter-of-fact, streamlined text to the topic of loss. Without ever mentioning the word death, Parr presents a story in his illustrations of a goldfish who is missing his green fish friend; a redheaded child and a black-and-white dog are also looking sad, and a photo of the missing fish is framed on the table. The text speaks directly to readers, moving from the opening sentence, "It's hard to say goodbye to someone," to an exploration of some of the varied feelings readers might have and how they play out in behaviors. The book manages to address many of the aspects of grief: you may not feel like eating or sleeping, or you may pretend it never happened. But eventually, you'll start to remember all the good times you shared with the one you are missing, though not all your days will be good. The goldfish is a good guide on the journey, with just enough anthropomorphization for kids to identify with it but leaving some ambiguity so children going through many types of loss can relate—perhaps the fish friend just moved to a new home? With very few props, a line mouth, and a dot eye, Parr manages to give his fish a wide range of emotions and behaviors. An excellent guide to grief for a multitude of situations. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews