This workbook helps navigate through sadness, what it means, and how it can show in many ways. The activities in this book show you what and how it can show up. Sadness is a feeling that we can experience in many situations. It helps you describe the many different ways sadness can feel and be.

Like what the workbook suggests, words can influence how we see our experiences. Sadness does have its triggers but can also just show up out of nowhere. Children who use this workbook will benefit by understanding more about sadness, how to deal with sadness, and how sadness can show up/form.

This is a very important book to try to address sadness in children. I do think there is good information present. However, some of the text seems a bit advanced for the 8-12 year old audience. Since it is pitched as a workbook I would have expected more activities and less straight reading.
Also, the text and illusrations are a bit glum. Some color may have helped this book tremendously,

3.5 stars

"The Glumm Twins Unhook from Sadness" is a workbook that walks the reader through experiencing sadness (and other negative feelings) and how to cope with those feelings in a healthy way. I think this book would be great for social workers and therapists who work with kids around the elementary school age. Teaching emotions and healthy responses vs negative responses through a story that children can relate to is a good way to keep young readers engaged while learning.

I liked the introduction and how it mentioned that this book isn't promised to cure your sadness or make it so you never feel sad again, but to help one work through it instead. Also, the continual highlighting of "the power of words" is an important theme. Additionally, I appreciated how it is notated that even adults (like parents) will feel sad or disappointed sometimes - this helps teach kids that everyone has those feelings. Lastly, the use of acronyms and chart activities to go through the motions of addressing feelings and finding good solutions was a great addition to the workbook.

One critique I do have, is that there is little color or illustrations in the book. I think the story might hold the attention of the audience age intended better if more illustration was included. Without that, I probably wouldn't recommend this book for general classrooms or at home. Moreso keeping it for doctors' offices.