Giving children books about changes and what to do when they miss someone is a topic I gravitate towards. Even if your kids aren’t in preschool they will enjoy the beautiful illustrations with bright colors and intuitive facial expressions. As a teacher I appreciated the diversity of the preschool with skin tones and glasses and teachers. Life is always changing so if it’s a new school or a camp, remembering that you are loved is the first step to feel confident in your body and space.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

To start my review, I'd like to extend a thanks to the author, Melissa T. Shultz, the illustrator, Lilia Miceli, the publisher, Familius, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read What Will I Do If I Miss You? a children's picture book about going to school, experiencing new things, and missing your adult. I will share my review to Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon as well upon release.

This was a very sweet book about experiencing new things, and finding methods of bravery even when you're anxious or scared. Alex, the main character of the story, is nervous about going to school for the first time and meeting new people, new teachers, and being in a new setting. Alex's mom helps him with a method to soothe his anxiety and ground him in his ability to manage in the moment. By placing his hand on his heart and feeling his heartbeat, Alex is reminded that he has support from his family and will be able to do scary things. These kinds of big feelings often need strategies to manage them, and children most of all. I loved the story, the illustrations, the message, and the ending was sweet. I would definitely recommend to any child who may be going to school for the first time or experiencing a life transition, but any children can benefit from learning self-soothing and grounding techniques. Would be a lovely addition to any collection. Thanks again!

A little boy just started school and its a little nervous because what will he do if he misses his mom? well, mom always knows what to do..
This is honestly a beautiful read, the drawings are beautiful, it showcases school as a fantastic adventure and you get to make friends along the way, and its okay mom will send her love if you ever miss her.
I found this book particularly beautiful, heartwarming and would recommend for younglings who need a little reassurance, and to their parents too!
Thanks NetGalley for providing this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

A child is starting school and is scared- what if they mis their mom? Mom give them great advice on how to handle those moments and the child learns how to relax and make friends at school even while missing mom.

No notes! as someone who had separation anxiety as a child this is the book I needed! So much respect to Melissa T. Shultz!!

What Will I Do If I Miss You? is a sweet and reassuring picture book about a child named Alex who feels nervous about being away from his mom at school. To help ease his worries, they come up with a simple way to feel close to each other, even when they're apart. Inspired by a true story, this book is perfect for families facing the first day of school or daycare, offering comfort and connection through love and imagination.

This was sooooo precious!! It made me emotional, it reminded me of when I started 3rd grade and I cried because I had to leave my mom. The illustrations are so beautiful. I can’t wait to get this for my nieces it’s perfection and so sweet!

For a girl who once struggled with separation anxiety, this book was a joy to read! It perfectly captured the feeling of going to school for the first time, and missing your parents! The message was so beautiful and sweet. The illustrations were absolutely stunning!

This was seriously sweet and full of warmth! It brought back memories of when I was little. Just like Alex, I used to worry about being away from my mom and missed her a lot whenever I had to go to school. The hand over the heart gesture really stood out to me. It’s such a simple but meaningful way to stay connected, and honestly, it carries a message that sticks with you. Plus, the artwork is absolutely lovely. I love how soft and warm it feels. It matches the mood of the story so well and adds to the overall charm. Definitely something worth picking up, especially if you’re into stories that gently tug at your emotions.

A sweet story about facing new challenges such as starting a new school. It would have been nice to see his dinosaur come to school with him it felt like it was only there at the start and brought back at the end of the story.
The short story helped to confirm for children what to do when we miss those we love and also reaffirmed the steps such as letting them know it’s time to go, who will pick them up etc
Lovely illustrations that helped share what was going on in his mind.

My 3-year-old struggles with daycare drop off, and I have been looking for strategies to help him settle. He loves this book. We have started reading this before bed and daycare.

I will be ordering a copy for myself and the daycare. This is such a great book for kids with separation anxiety at drop-off ♥️

This book was cute. I really enjoyed how the child was illustrated using the technique his mother taught him throughout the day. He was missing mom a lot. However, when he finished his first week of school and he made friends, it was sweet how he told his mom he may not use her technique as much because he needed both hands to play with his new friends. A sweet moment between mother and son.

This is a cute book for kids who are about to start kindergarten and may be worried about leaving their mom behind for the first time ever. It offers a good idea, playful and comforting at the same time, that could help during the first few days. Very nice illustrations too.

I wish this book was around before my son started preschool! Such a sweet book, and perfect for any littles going to school and being away from their parents for the first time. I’ll definitely be reading this to my littlest before he begins school in another year

What Will I Do If I Miss You? by Melissa T. Shultz was such a sweet children’s book and the illustrations by Lilia Miceli were gorgeous.

This book is perfect for anyone who has a child nervous about their first day of school. I highly recommend it to parents, daycares and school libraries.

I thought it was clever how the mom used their heartbeats as a way to stay connected to one another. Anytime he missed his mom he just needed to stop and feel his heartbeat and that would signal his mom to know that he misses her. Such a sweet message and simple way to teach a young child how to slow down and ground themselves when they are feeling anxious.

I loved and appreciated so many different aspects about the book. I really liked how the author broke down what a typical day of school will look like. It not only helps the child to know what to expect during their day but also adds a layer of safety because the child will also know what not to expect even down to who will be picking them up after school.

With soft watercolors and expressive faces, this book gently walks through separation anxiety with warmth and reassurance. The visuals wrap you in comfort, like a hug in picture book form.

This was so heartwarming! Made me tear up a little. This is such a good story to read with a child starting preschool or kindergarten. I loved the heart signal they came up with and I loved how towards the end of the story the boy needed to use it less and less as he said he needed his hand so he could play with his friends. Just like life, and as they get older they get more independent. Definitely recommend!!

I read this with my 4 year old daughter and this book captures the big feelings of separation anxiety with so much warmth and understanding. Whether it’s a child heading off to school, daycare, or just spending time away from a loved one, this story offers the reassurance they need in a way that feels safe and calming.

The language is simple but powerful and the illustrations are soft, cozy, and full of emotion. It feels like a gentle hug in book form.

As a parent (or teacher or caregiver), it’s so helpful to have a tool like this to start those tricky conversations. The message isn’t just “you’ll be okay”—it’s “your feelings matter, and there are ways to cope.” And that makes all the difference.

Highly recommend this for any child struggling with goodbyes, transitions, or just big feelings in general. It’s one of those books you’ll end up reading again and again.

Thank you Familius for providing this ARC via NetGalley!

Soo cute!! My son is in fifth grade but I still needed this little lesson. What a great way to connect with young readers and ready them for school.

Love the colors and whispy images. They felt so comforting and content.
I would recommend this book for kids ( and parents) having a tough time leaving their caregivers for school.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!!

How cute!! I love the idea of a heartbeat being their signal, I’ll have to remember this when my son gets older and goes off to school.

As a working mother who had a child starting preschool soon -this was adorable and tugged at my heart strings. I will definitely be buying this book before she starts school to help ease her nerves about going