POCKET FULL OF SADS

What do you do when you’re feeling sad and nothing makes it better?

Round, brown Bear has a heart that “feels heavy, like my pocket’s full of sads.” Bear compares it to a toy that breaks right away or to the feeling of watching their best friend sit with someone else. Bouncy, cheery Rabbit arrives to take their pal fishing and finds Bear downright glum. Refusing to believe Bear’s sadness is serious, Rabbit proceeds to blurt out solutions—think of something happy, exercise, find a hobby, and more—to no avail. Frustrated, Rabbit finally plops down next to Bear, and together they just sit. But the longer they sit, the better Bear feels, comforted by the presence of their friend. Both Bear and Rabbit learn that sometimes doing nothing together is the best thing of all. Gentle text captures the contrasting personalities of energetic Rabbit and more low-key Bear, expertly paired with rich, eye-catching illustrations set in warm browns, blues, and greens. As Bear and Rabbit sit together, the dark background around them slowly recedes and then disappears, a visual metaphor for Bear’s gradual transformation. Rabbit’s frustration is expertly depicted as well, with dramatic angles and bold colors. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A lovely, age-appropriate introduction to the healing power of companionship and acceptance by a true friend.