Kids Books About Sadness and Depression
Core emotions, like sadness, affect us all at one time or another, regardless of age. These are the best books I've found for sadness and, more seriously, depression. Books specific to crying are also included in this list. These books have the potential to help children feel less alone in those big feelings and gain ideas about how to help manage those big feelings. These are excellent for sharing together and utilizing as conversation starters.
If you need books about all the feelings, please check out this excellent book list, The Best Kids Books About All the Feelings. Anger and Fear are my other core emotions book lists currently available. I do also have a book list specific to anxiety, you can find at The Best Kids Books To Help With Anxiety. If you're looking for books to help more with grief, please check out Helpful Kids Books About Death and Grief. If your reader is experiencing trauma, please check Kids Books About Trauma and PTSD.
For this book list, like my other lists, I list them in order of most straightforward to more complex to help you choose what is best for your reader. Books are grouped by topics of sadness, crying, and depression. Depression books are last in this list today.
Books on Sadness
When I Feel Sad
by Child’s Play
Part of an excellent new board book series. The monster tells why it's feeling sad, how to be okay with it, and how it moved past the sadness.
Sad, Sad Bear
by Kimberly Gee
With simple, short text, a relatable storyline, and bold illustrations, this book is perfect for sharing feelings of sadness with the youngest readers. When Mommy has to go to work and Bear has to go to Cub Care for the first time, he feels sad and a little worried. Luckily, the day turns out better than expected!
I'm Sad
by Michael Ian Black, illustrated by Debbie Ridpathohi
Flamingo tells his friends, the girl, and Potato, that he's feeling sad. They listen to Flamingo's thoughts and questions and respond genuinely. After pausing after talking together, the girl and Potato decide Flamingo needs cheering up. They each share their favorite things. The favorite things end up not cheering Flamingo up, but in the end, they all decide they're okay with Flamingo and support him just as he is right now. Great for accepting and working through feelings, as well as being a good friend.
When Sadness is at Your Door
by Eva Eland
Today's rainy day made me think of this book gem I found a little while back. (I love finding books that can speak to kids and help out in tough times!) Excellent, simple language read and illustrations for young kids and adults alike. Relates sadness to being a person or being that is with you sometimes. What I love about this book is that it explains sadness in an easy way to relate to and understand, as well as ideas on coping with sadness.
Pocket Full of Sads
by Brad Davidson, illustrated by Rachel Mas Davidson
Bear's heart feels heavy, like his pocket's full of sads. When his cheerful friend Rabbit visits, she tries to figure out and fix the sads so they can go fishing. When Rabbit runs out of ideas, and Bear is still sad, what will they do?
Way Past Sad
by Hallee Adelman, illustrated by Karen Wall
When Jamie finds out his best friend is moving away, he is way past sad. Through talking about it, he’s able to move past being way sad. If you love this one, be sure to check out the others in this feelings series.
A Shelter for Sadness
by Anne Booth, illustrated by David Litchfield
Since Sadness came to live with a small boy, he built a shelter and welcomed it. A shelter for the Sadness to be small and quiet or big and loud, however, it wants to be. It can look out the window or draw the curtains if it wants. The shelter is strong against storms, and the outside space is welcoming if it wants to come out. The boy is there to be with its sadness whenever it needs him, including to discover the world again when it's ready. This beautiful and gentle story tells about the nature of sadness and can encourage mental health discussions for readers sharing it. It does not discuss why the sadness came in the story so that it can fit into many scenarios. A perfect story to share for anyone who experiences sadness, aka all of us, whether small or big feelings of sadness; this is a lovely read to look at working with the sadness that comes into our lives.
Rain Before Rainbows
by Smriti Prasadam-Halls, illustrated by David Litchfield
A girl and a fox travel together through challenges with courage and find extra support when needed by new friends. They make it through stormy times and find hope in the new day ahead. The lyrical text filled with hope to cut through the gloom and stunning illustrations full of color combine to make such a sweet, uplifting read. Great share for lifting up out of the gloom with a beautiful reminder that rain always comes before rainbows emerge.
Life Without Nico
by Andrea Maturana, illustrated by Francisco Javier Olea
Maia and Nico are best friends and have so much fun together. One day, Nico has to move far away for some time for his Dad's studies. When Nico leaves, Maia feels like there is a hole in her life, and a feeling of emptiness fills her up and follows her everywhere. Eventually, Maia gets a kitten, makes a new friend, and more, and brings happiness back into her life. When Nico returns, Maia is worried. Will there be enough room for Nico to join in her life with all the new things added?
BIG
by Vashti Harrison
Sadness about body image? Be sure to check this one out! Text and illustrations combine to make a powerful and moving story following a girl who grows up hurt by all the times someone refers to her as "big." Eventually, after her tears fall, she's able to change her perspective and advocate for herself.
Ten Beautiful Things
by Molly Beth Griffin, illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Moving can be hard for kids, leaving behind old friends and the old familiar. Lily is moving to Iowa to live with her Gram. The book doesn't say what happened to Lily's parent/parents/caregiver, just that she is moving away to live with her Gram. I love this aspect for the open interpretation for kids facing various situations. Through little details in the storyline, the reader can tell that this is not an easy journey for Lily; she has empty spots inside that nothing seems to fill along the way. Gram suggests they look for ten beautiful things along their journey for a break from the long drive. The game breaks up the silence and adds a bit of joy to the hard trip. They spot a gorgeous sunrise for number one, a wind farm for number two, a red-winged blackbird for number three, and more. When they make it to Gram's house, Gram points out the last number, ten, and perhaps the most beautiful finding of all—a super sweet read for moving, road trips, fostering, adoption, and more.
Books On Crying
Big Boys Cry
by Jonty Howley
Such a refreshing read, especially for boys of all ages! Pushing past the societal stereotype of "big boys don't cry," this book says with simple words and illustrations that it's okay for boys to cry.
Levi's papa is unsure what to tell Levi when he's scared for his first day of school and says, "Big boys don't cry." So Levi doesn't cry, but as he walks to school, he sees many big boys crying. All sorts of big boys are crying different tears: about leaving their family, beautiful music, becoming a new parent, and even breaking a gadget. Eventually, after all he had seen, Levi does cry. His school day goes well; when he gets home, he finds his papa crying and tells him it's okay to cry; his papa agrees. Cry, be sad or upset, feel that feeling because feelings are normal and everyone has them, even big boys.
Sometimes I Cry
by Jess Townes, illustrated by Daniel Miyares
A boy cries for many reasons after getting hurt falling off his bike or after laughing so hard after playing with his Dad. Embarrassment, disappointment, love, joy, whatever the emotion, crying is okay.
If You Cry Like A Fountain
by Noemi Vola
A cross between silly and validating, this one makes a fun read on hard days. A mix of ridiculous and true reasons how tears can help and why they're needed.
Relating crying to rain, this gentle book explains why crying is necessary to kids. Love how it explains some reasons why people might not like crying, how crying might vary depending on the feeling, and how, just like the rain, crying is natural and necessary.
Why Do We Cry?
by Fran Pintadera, illustrated by Ana Sender
"Mom, why do we cry?" Mario looks to his mother to answer this thought-provoking question. His mother thoughtfully answers with all the reasons someone might cry. We might cry from sadness, anger, fear, and so much more. I love the back with all the insight about tears!
Books On Depression
*Most books in this list do not specifically mention depression, but could easily be tied into a conversation about depression.
A Spark in the Dark
by Pam Fong
A cute story with multiple possible interpretations about a fish getting lost alone in the deep dark and how he makes it back out again. Love how it simply mentions various feelings the fish may feel when alone in the darkness. Depression isn’t mentioned, but could easily be tied in. Also, it would fit in well with the fear of the dark.
A Blue Kind of Day
by Rachel Tomlison, illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey
Coen is having a blue kind of day, a sobbing and sighing kind of day. Feelings that make him feel trapped. His family tries their best to help all day and waits until he is ready. Good one for overwhelming feelings of sadness or depression.
Dark Cloud
by Anna Lazowski, illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee
Abigail's dark cloud just appeared above her head one day and wouldn't go away. It followed her to school, at ballet, and even at her birthday party, dampening everything in her path. Eventually, she realizes her Dad understands and supports her, and she thinks of ideas to get rid of her dark cloud, like reading blue sky books and trapping it in sand castles. Towards the end of the book, Abigail learns how to keep experiencing her life, even with her dark cloud nearby. Since the text never uses the word depression, you could also read this one for the topic of sadness. The back of the book features an author's note explaining more about the book and giving references for supporting readers.
Arthur wants a balloon, but every time they walk past the balloon seller in the park on their way to visit Mama, Papa says no. Eventually, Arthur admits he wanted a balloon to bring back Papa's smile. Will his kind words be able to bring Papa's smile back? The illustrations with the coloring and body language show readers that Papa is upset throughout the book. The end of the book shows Arthur and Papa going to visit Mama in the hospital. Lots of potential for conversations about depression, hospital stays, and more.
In the Blue
by Erin Hourigan
When her Dad's bright yellow turns to a deep blue, a daughter is confused about why there's a change. No matter what she tries, she can't get her Dad to turn back to yellow. Her mom is around to help comfort her through this change. Eventually, after seeking help, the whole family returns to yellow again. She learns that no matter the color, he will always be her Dad. It takes an honest look at depression in a child-friendly way. There's an author's note in the back and resources for children and families coping with mental illness.
