Something Very Sad Happened
A Toddler's Guide to Understanding Death
Something Very Sad Happened is intended to be read to two- and three-year-old children to help them understand death and process the loss of a loved one.
When a loved one dies, it can be hard to know how to explain it to a young child, particularly if you are grieving the loss yourself. Written at a developmental level that is appropriate for two- and three-year-olds, the story explains death; lets children know that it is okay to feel sad; and reassures children that they can still love the person who died, and the person who died will always love them.
Since the two- to three-year-old child cannot read, this story is intended to be personalized; certain words are color-coded in red to cue to you to substitute with the appropriate names and pronouns for the person who died.
Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers with more information about talking to children about death, guidelines for answering a child’s questions, advice for attending funerals and visiting cemeteries, and ideas for commemorating the loved one.
| Format | Your Price | Add |
|---|---|---|
|
978-1-4338-2266-7
|
$16.99 |
| Interest Level | Preschool |
|---|---|
| Reading Level | Grade 2 |
| Genre | Picture Books |
| Copyright | 2016 |
| Publisher | Magination Press, American Psychological Association |
| Imprint | Magination Press — American Psychological Association |
| Language | English |
| Number of Pages | 32 |
| Publication Date | 2025-01-01 |
Author: Bonnie Zucker
Bonnie Zucker, PsyD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice. She received her undergraduate degree from George Washington University, her master’s degree from the University of Baltimore, and her doctoral degree from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago.
Illustrator: Kim Fleming
Reviews
Booklist
“Essential, powerful, and psychologically researched resource to equip adults to model healthy grieving and help children at this age with loss.”—Booklist
School Library Journal
“No one likes to think about it, and even fewer plan for it, but explaining death to a toddler can be a difficult task. . . . The author acknowledges that a book on death written just for little ones is a bit niche but emphasizes in the foreword the need to properly discuss this tough situation with young children. . . . An important book to have on hand for those who serve toddlers.”—School Library Journal