This is a beautifully illustrated story of a boy who drags around a dark suitcase filled with his pains, not knowing what to do with it or how to get rid of it. It's filled with all of the dark things in his mind -- his grandmother's death, hurtful things his father has said to him, and so on. Then a child opens the suitcase and Felix goes through a storm of emotions as he deals with it all, after which he feels light and happy. It's a story that is easy for children to understand even with the metaphors and with the fact that it is translated into English. This will be a good book to discuss with kids afterwards, great for kids who are healing from trauma or just to understand that we must all deal with our dark feelings if we don't want to be burdened with them forever.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

This was such a beautiful story about a young boy named Felix who carries his sadness and worries with him wherever he goes. I absolutely loved the vivid and unique illustration style, and found the entire theme of this book to be portrayed with just the perfect amount of heaviness to still be a good title for younger children. I will absolutely recommend this to our local library!

Felix After the Rain is a lovely story that examines feelings both bad and good and what happens when you hang on to those feelings or let them go. Felix starts carrying around a weight with him after his grandmother died. And the weight just kept getting bigger with each negative thing that happened to him. It took someone else to help him be able to let it go and feel free again.
I would love to see the conversations that come out from reading this book.

A clever children's book about depression, keeping feelings in, and how to release them. Felix After the Rain simplifies the idea of holding in our emotions by having our lead boy's emotions in a heavy suitcase that he carries all around. Some may feel this is too simple; but for a 5-year-old I think it's perfect.
The resolution is simplified as well; talk about your feelings and emotions, what upsets you, etc. and you'll feel better. It's as easy as any concept comes; and yet the majority of adults know it's really hard in practice to open up and let go.
Dunja Jogan has done a lovely job of conveying this complex topic and bringing it down to a simple idea any child can articulate. I think all children should be told that it's good to talk about their feelings, even the scary or dark ones, and that it's always okay to let them go when you're done.
Felix After the Rain really resonates with me as it speaks to those ugly thoughts and feelings in a simple way that I could see opening up a conversation with a child. I know I would struggle to find the words to explain how everyone feels poorly sometimes and what can be done to help. Luckily Felix can help any parent or caregiver a method to begin the conversation about the baggage that we all carry throughout life.

<i>Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.</i>