I dont know how I feel about the content or even if I agree with it but overall the writing was okay & I liked the pictures.

As the mom of a pre-teen, this book is invaluable and the fact that this was more like a workbook for the child, where they could work through it like a diary, was perfection.

Because even as an adult, I have also felt the way Kyle has. And the questions that are asked on each page, could make for great bonding and understanding between adult/parent/guardian and the child. The book goes through the motions of how Kyle ended up going from "normal sadness" to depression and the events that took place. Including, what he stopped doing to groom or pass school.

I appreciate the rawness and honesty in this book, that helps younger people find the necessary words to express their emotions. But that it also shows them that even though they are young, their emotional and mental health and wellbeing matter.

This is a book I would recommend to ANYONE that has children or works with/interacts with them on a regular/routine basis.


I volunteered to read a copy of this ARC through NetGalley

An essential tool in helping your children to think and talk about their feelings. In an interactive format, this encourages the reader to express how they would react in emotionally vulnerable situations. It encourages to speak up about ones feelings and is a guide on how to cope and where to seek help from. Very informative and helpful.

4.5/5 Rounding up to 5 stars! Thank you, NetGalley, Boys Town Press Publishing | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and Members' Titles for eARC of Managing Sadness by Bryan Smith.

When it comes to talking about feelings, I would def prefer physical books instead of ebooks. This is a wonderful book to read repetitively for my boys. I want to make sure that there are ways to regulate and feel their feelings. My youngest is still struggling with expressing his feelings and is unable to communicate them clearly.

The last few pages of this book are some great tips. I'll be on the lookout for this book on publishing date!

Managing Sadness, written by Bryan Smith, is a fictional book written for elementary school aged students. This books main character is Kyle, who struggles with being bullied at school, and when he experiences a loss, he just can’t seem to come back to who he is. Luckily Kyle is able to find some help in some classmates who are looking out for him, his parents, and his school social worker.
I feel that this is a great resource and book for children. The book also includes self care and positive self talk ideas, and can be used as a workbook for the reader as well. Definitely recommend!

Managing Sadness by Bryan Smith is a wonderful book if you are looking to help your child with bullying and/or depression. The worksheets that are included in the book are extremely educational and helpful for both parents and kids. I really loved the positive things you can say to yourself. If your child is struggling with their emotions, not just sadness, you should check out this book and the sheets that come with it you help you guide your child through all of their new emotions.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A cute and clever book for children who are experiencing sadness, regardless of reason (in this book, the main character is bullied).

Nice advice, photos and information for young people. Five stars from this enthusiastic reader (wish we had books like this when I was a kid).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of Managing Sadness by Bryan Smith.

This was a great story/toolkit to review with my 8 year old foster child. I wish all schools had a Mrs. Bell!

The prompts are thought provoking for young children without seeming corny or over the top.

My kiddo enjoyed seeing Kyle work through similar feelings and see that things can get better.

This book is about a 4th grade boy named Kyle and what made him sad. The boys he hung out with at recess made fun of him. His pet died. He began to wonder if anyone actually cared, then he started to care less about himself.

I love the actionable steps and the interactive questions and activities. I love that they showed it takes time. I appreciate the author showing the kids responding negatively to Kyle when he told them how he felt.

Unfortunately, not every school counselor is like Mrs. Bell. This book said the kids teased him or made fun of him, but does not use the word bully. Perhaps the author saw the word “bully” or “bullying” as a trigger word. Or perhaps the author did not view what the kids did as bullying. This book does not show the reality that some kids face that the first adult they talk to does not help. Sometimes kids have to talk to multiple adults before they get the help they need and deserve.

I received a free advanced copy though NetGalley and this is my honest and unbiased review.

Managing Sadness: A story and activities to empower children (Paperback)
by Bryan Smith
Social emotional learning resource.
This book shows a sample story of multiple causes of depression in children's lives. From bully proofing, to grief. The book has pages of questions and activities for children. The story has a lesson plan system, allowing the children to build their own journal to help with these difficulties.

I would recommend this book as a printed paperback instead of ebook. There are parts where you have to write how you feel and reflect which is wonderful for my boys. Feelings are hard to share and this is nice format for reflections on how you feel. I definitely will be purchasing this book for my kids.

Parents, teachers and guardians should never ignore or neglect a child if they are trying to let you know that they are not feeling okay. Nothing is more important I feel.

This is such a helpful book for all the younger kids as well as for the adults who are taking care of them.

In this book, a little boy makes a mistake while playing sports and he is being bullied by the other kids. He starts feeling lonely and rejected.

The book provides you so many important practical tips and lessons for the kids who feel similarly: what they can do, who to approach and how to deal with such situations.

I love how the book provides a lot of interactive exercises.

The best are the last few pages on “99 coping skills” and “101 positive things to say to myself”.

Such an incredible book!

Thank you, Boys Town Press Publishing, for the advance reading copy.

I think that this is a great book and resource for both children and parents! I appreciated the narrative of the story, first acknowledging feelings of sadness but then transitioning into looking at what makes you happy/excited.

I really think the journaling aspect of this book will be so helpful to both children and their parents. It can be hard to convey feelings (at any age!) so having direct questions and prompts to guide these thoughts was a great touch. Including resources and extra information for the parent is great too.

Overall I wouldn’t hesitate at all to recommend this book!

i think this book is very important for kids who struggle with feelings like sadness to know that it's okay and that help is a possibility should it be needed, kids emotional states need to be taken just as seriously as anyone else and i'm glad this book shows that

Great book for an elementary kid to read. Talks about self affirmation, dealing with bullies, and helpful things to try.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This was a very cute book. One thing I enjoyed about it is that it teaches children that it is ok to be sad. Some people (wrongly) try and tell little children that they shouldn't be sad, and this is very dangerous for their mental health. I thought the book went about this in a gentle way. I also thought that illustrations were very nicely drawn. This is a very important book for children to read, so I highly recommend parents and teachers purchase it for their collection.
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I really enjoyed reading this book with my 8 year old. I love the journaling prompts that allow kids to put their feelings on paper and teaches them ways to cope. The positive prompts at the end of the book are so great for children to practice their affirmations. Such a great book!

A good, understandable "self help" book for young people working to manage sadness. The text and the exercises are commendable and the coping techniques will no doubt assist. A very kind and carefully guiding book, with the understanding shown by a therapist/parent. Recommended.

I loved this book and definitely would use it in my toolbox for working with my own children and clients on overcoming sadness. It also has some really great tools for bullying in here. I love how this is told through a children’s story with pauses for questions and discussion throughout, contains worksheets, activities, and a list of coping skills and positive affirmations.

Follow Kyle as he learns to cope with feelings of sadness and disappointment.

This is such an informative and well thought out book. Not only does it have the main story it also has activities/questions which run alongside the narrative. These questions encourage your child to really think about how they are feeling. The promotion of self reflection and how to develop coping skills is very clever as they are such important skills for your child to develop.

I would highly recommend this book as it could be read independently or with your child to open up wider discussions.