When it comes to grief and dealing with serious emotions, the more books out there tackling these topics the better. The illustrations are thoughtful and evoke the sadness and despair that grief can bring. As the book progresses, the girl learns that you don't always get the thing you want, but you work through the process of grief and ultimately get to a point where grief is manageable and you can see the light again. The only thing I didn't really like, maybe because I have dogs and have issues with germs, was the dog being cleaned before the puddle was used for the farmer's handkerchief and the paints. I do understand that grief is messy and you don't always come out unscathed on the other side. I think it's just a personal hang up I have with the book.
I highly recommend this for a child that is struggling in dealing with grief and finding the light again.

Grief is HARD, and this book offers an excellent description of what it's like along with hope for recovery. The girl in the book sees her grief as a worthless puddle but she learns how her experience can help others. There aren't enough good books about grief, especially for children. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

One day, the girl experiences a great loss, and this results in a great sadness. The sadness is manifested as a “Good for nothing puddle” that she can’t seem to his or get rid of. She begs God for help to remove her sadness, and in turn, the puddle, but she gets no answer. Over time, she meets a dirty puppy, an overheated farmer, and an artist with a problem she can help solve. She begins to realize that because of her own pain and experiences, she is able to help others. This book explains to children that even when our pain and losses affect us greatly, they do not define us, and something better can eventually grow with our healing. I would recommend this story for any families experiencing grief who need a way to relate to their children and help them understand what they’re feeling, and that healing IS possible. I received an arc copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a good picture book covering grief. I didn’t fully expect the semi religious aspect of it and that threw me off. But it’s a good story with a positive ending.

This picture book lives up to its subtitle: Finding Hope When You’re Stuck in Sadness. Despite the temptation to rosy up the past, children have always gone through so much; at least now, we can be honest and help them with their depression and sorrows. In this book, a girl loses someone she loved very, very much, and, naturally, she finds it difficult to deal with the pain. In this book, God teaches the girl that good things can come from bad.

Illustrator Abby Jartos’ amazing drawings absolutely make this book. Kudos to her!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Zonderkidz Books in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely book about a little girl that experiences grief for the first time, and how it impacts her and everything around her.
The puddle is used as a metaphor to explain grief,which she then uses it to help others and feel better about herself.
I don't think small children will really understand the connection so would be more l suited for older children, but that said it's a lovely story regardless.

I once heard someone say, you don't understand something, unless you can explain it to a three year old, and often I don't understand things unless it's explained to Me like a three year old. I believe this book will help not only children understand that good, can come from big feelings, but the adults who hold the space for them, and take them through this book. The best books, come from lived experience, and reading this you can tell, it comes from that place. Well done, well done. We thank you.

Grief takes on the metaphor of a puddle. As the girl laments the puddle, she finds ways to turn sadness into a gift, even though at first the big old wet sorry puddle drags her down. The puddle enables her to cuddle a puppy, use the water to helps a farmer, and an artist is able to wet his dry paints and paint a masterpiece. Still, the girl thinks God has forgotten her, but then she realizes that God is all around, all the time, and has never left her side.

Being stuck in sadness is a hard emotion to conquer, and the author has a good idea, but I don’t think just any young reader will understand the metaphor.

The illustrations are quite lovely although drab creating an air of seriousness.

I suggest if you are dealing with young ones experiencing loss, you should read the book a couple of times to see if it’s for your audience.

This book....is just great. It hits on the sadness that both kids and adults deal with in life. I just loved this book. Definitely a book every adult should read to their child.

The value of sadness and how to turn something that makes a girl feed sad and along, into a gift. The big wet sorry puddle drags the girl down. Then she cuddles a puppy, the water helps a farmer and an artist is able to wet his dry paints and paint a masterpiece. The girl thinks God has forgotten her, but she realises the God is all around all the time. A lovely book, that takes something very hard to explain and makes it clear, a true show of hope and turnaround,
The images are drab, I am sure this is deliberate but they don’t shout hope, or joy or the love of god.

I had a special interest in this book as my 8 and 5 year old lost their father less than a year ago. The metaphor of the puddle is not something I had come across previously. I do appreciate the metaphor but it may be difficult for some children to understand.

Thinking of my own children, I’m not sure they would be able to relate to it. We are religious and as an adult I do understand the message, but I think they may have a challenging time finding the “good” in the death of their father. I also did not wish to do anything to invalidate their feelings. Perhaps the ability to relate and understand is dependent on the child themselves, but for my children, they view it as their dad died and it’s 100% terrible.

The illustrations are quite lovely and the story flows nicely. This could certainly be a great resource for families dealing with grief, but everyone deals with it differently throughout their journey so it may not be for everyone as I mentioned above.

The message in this book is strong. This is about a grief-stricken child who turns her tears into gifts that she can share with other people. There is a religious theme in the book, but can be easily adapted for those non-religious.

The Good for Nothing Puddle , Finding Hope When You’re Stuck in Sadness, is written by Jana Jackson and illustrated by Abby Jartos. It is about a young girl who has experienced grief and loss and slowly learns how to find hope and beauty from pain. I loved the illustrations in the book as well as the topic and focus on faith and the feelings and thoughts we have towards God. I often work with young and adolescent children who struggle with grief and loss of their loved ones and I believe telling and listening to stories have a way of allowing us to understand these complex issues. This book was beautifully written, and I will recommend and read this story to children and families.