When Sadness Comes to Call
Age 4+
Family & Home Stories Personal & Social Issues: Self-Awareness & Self-Esteem Picture Books
When Sadness arrives, try not to be afraid: give it a name, listen to it and spend some time together. Maybe all it wants is to know that it’s welcome. This beautiful debut by new author-illustrator talent Eva Eland takes a poignant but uplifting look at dealing with uncomfortable emotions.
"Gentle and profound... a poignant look at a difficult emotion" THE BOOKSELLER
“…this powerful picture book inspires empathy and action” KIRKUS, starred review
Creators
Eva Eland is a Dutch Author Biography and Illustrator Biography who lives in England. She earned an MA with distinction in children’s book illustration from the Cambridge School of Art, and has also studied at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and the School of Visual Arts in New York. When Sadness Comes to Call is her first picture book. Eva grew up in Delft, Netherlands, and now lives in Cambridge with her fiancé.
Reviews
Helping children understand their own and other people’s feelings is a vital building block for building a more empathetic society. This lovely book sensitively explores the emotion of sadness, and the importance of accepting it. For anyone living or working with children, It’s a great springboard for sharing how to handle feelings.
EmpathyLab
Both gentle and profound, Eland’s assured debut takes a poignant look at a difficult emotion.
The Bookseller
This poignant picture book helps children to recognise and understand difficult emotions… A contemplative and ultimately uplifting tale, which will be a welcome addition to any home or school bookshelf.
BookTrust
…[a] contemplative, soft-textured story
The Guardian
An important book that should be shared with children and adults of all ages. Reminding us to be mindful of our feelings, When Sadness Is at Your Door helps children understand the place that sadness has in our lives. The illustrations are beautiful and fit the story perfectly, and they don’t make sadness seem scary or like something bad that needs to be driven away. I can see myself sharing this book with adult friends and family members going through difficult times as well.
American Booksellers Association
In a deeply sensitive story, Eland personifies Sadness as a pear-shaped, mint green–colored character. The “you” in the story is a quiet child rendered in simple lines. Sadness is the child’s constant companion, but after communicating with Sadness (“Listen to it. Ask where it comes from and what it needs.”), the figure no longer seems like a burden. The two take a walk in the forest, listening together to the sounds of trees, and exchange a warm hug. At last, the child wakes to Sadness gone: “Don’t worry—today is a new day.” Sadness, Eland expresses, need not always feel like an intrusive guest—rather, it’s one whose arrival warrants attention, reflection, and care.
Publishers Weekly, starred review
Lovely and inspiring
Books For Keeps
In an age where the pressure to be permanently happy can be overwhelming, this book oozes empathy and empowers young readers to understand their emotions.
Storytime Magazine
Full of compassion, this is a gentle yet honest exploration of mental health for young readers.
Library Mice
An important book that should be shared with children and adults of all ages
Bookmarks USA
