Kids Book Review | God, I Feel Sad: Bringing Big Emotions to a Bigger God by Michelle Nietert, LPC-S and Tama Fortner, Illustrated by Nomar Perez
* I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Zonderkidz. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to write a positive review. This blog post includes affiliate links. View my affiliate disclosure here.
God, I Feel Sad
BRINGING BIG EMOTIONS TO A BIGGER GOD
by Michelle Nietert, LPC-S and Tama Fortner
Published by Zonderkidz
Ages: 3 - 8
Kids have big feelings, but none of their feelings are too big for God. In this picture book from licensed counselor Michelle Nietert and Tama Fortner, young readers will explore what it means to feel their sadness and discover how to manage their emotions in a healthy way.
Sad is a feeling that can be hard, but if we listen to it, we can learn things about ourselves. In God, I Feel Sad, kids discover that it’s okay to be sad and that God is in all things, including sadness. With simple, accessible text, sad becomes an emotion that kids don’t need to avoid and instead something they can use to grow closer to God. The bright, emotive art by Nomar Perez will draw kids in, and a note in the back provides tips and techniques parents and caregivers can use to help young children process their feelings in a beneficial way.
God, I Feel Sad is perfect for:
Helping young kids develop positive ways to manage and name their feelings
Children dealing with changing emotions, new experiences, or loss
Family read-aloud time
Supporting good communication and mental health habits at an early age
God, I Feel Sad teaches kids ages 4 to 8 how to:
Identify the feeling of sadness
See signs of sadness in others
Recognize things that can make them feel sad
Embrace sadness without letting it overwhelm them
Talk to God about their feelings
My Thoughts:
As a parent of a highly sensitive child, we have read many books about emotions and feelings but this book is the first one that addresses a big feeling from a Christian worldview and my mama heart couldn’t be happier.
This book expresses every sentiment I wish to say to my daughter, such as God made you to experience feelings, it is ok to have feelings of sadness or disappointment and offers insight on how those emotions might come about, feel and look. The book is easy to understand even at the youngest ages and offers children hope and encouragement on how that feeling might come and go or stay plus gives practical advice on how to address the sadness including prayer.
One quote reads, “ Yes, sadness happens for a reason. But God doesn’t want you to feel sad forever. That’s why He offers you hope too. Hope is God’s promise to help you find your happy again… With each message of hope, God is saying, ‘I’m here with you and it’s going to be okay.’”
At the back of the book, there is a Dear Parent section that offers additional practical, useful advice to parents on helping young children identify and process their emotions.
I truly love this little book for the skills it helps to build and feel it will be a valuable addition to our bookshelf. A definite recommendation from our family to yours!
P.S. This would make a great addition to a preschool classroom or church library!
