A Flood of Kindness, (Hardcover)

This poignant, and ultimately hopeful, story about loss and grief will help children learn to navigate their own feeings and develop a generosity of spirit toward others in need, the front insert jacket states in Ellen Leventhals childrens book, A Flood of Kindness. ~ What ~ This thirty-two-page oversized hardbound book targets children ages four to eight years old. With no scary scenes, it focuses on dealing with a tragedy and helping others in need. Detailed, full-color illustrations grace the pages with an easy-to-read font size. Designed to help deal with displacement, the tale is about a young girl named Charlotte who is scared when floodwaters force her family and her out of their home. They go to a shelter and are given warm clothing and food. Having only her beloved teddy bear with her, they return to a ruined home and have to go back to the shelter. Another girl gives her a book, and Charlotte learns to give up something she loves to help another one in need. ~Why ~ This is a nice book to read to a young child who is going through loss or grief, especially if it involves storm damage, flooding, or living in a shelter. I like that the ending encouraged thinking about others who are in the same situation and helping them. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not like books that have a natural disaster or catastrophe may not want to have their child read something that might alarm them. Some may be fearful of impending doom or that a flood could happen to them. Others may think the book is a little depressing. ~ Wish ~ While I understand the concept of helping a child work through their feelings and emotions during a trying event, I wish the book contained more uplifting facets. ~ Want ~ If you are looking for a book to help guide a child that is dealing with an upheaval in their lives, this read may help them consider others going through the same problem and helping. Thanks to Hachette Book Group, WorthyKids, and the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.