The Sad Dragon: A Dragon Book About Grief and Loss
Author: Steve Herman
Published May 13, 2019
Page Count: 42
Steve Herman has now written over sixty Diggory Doo the Dragon books that each deal with social-emotional skills. Of the ones I have read they have all been very good at teaching children about different emotions and behaviors and/or help children process what they are feeling during different situations they may be encountering.
This particular story sees Drew (the little boy who owns the dragon) and Diggory Doo (the dragon) discussing and talking through Diggory Doo’s history. The reader finds out that Diggory once lived with someone else before he was adopted by Drew’s family. The person he lived with passed away and Diggory still feels sad about it sometimes.
Reading Audience:
Amazon suggests 4 - 8 years old. I read it to a two-and-a-half-year-old and he listened but l doubt he grasped it.
Stuff to be aware of:
This is a book on loss and grief. It does discuss how a loved one passes away. It uses the word, “died” and there is a picture of a cemetery.
The person who died is referred to as “they.” I do not believe the author is using “correct pronouns,” but likely allowing the reader to insert a sex for this character based on who may have passed away in the reader’s life.
Heaven - the author does mention heaven several times. There is some artistic language used when talking about how we can feel our loved ones in God’s creation.
Overall:
While I have not read all of the books in this series, the ones I have read are very good at teaching their intended in a therapeutic and natural way. The author never lists denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance, (Five Stages of Greif) but in a way in which children will be able to understand leads the dragon in the story through all of them. The concept of how we never forget our loved ones is also addressed, which can mean sometimes we miss them. The author does a good job explaining how our love for the person never dies or goes away.
I also like that the author includes Heaven in the book. He mentions there is no sickness or pain there. There is a bit of artistic language that describes how our loved one still “walks with” us and how we can remember their endless love for us in the “stars at night.” This could be a little confusing to younger readers/listeners, but I would encourage using these statements to discuss with your child how God created all these things and they can remind us of Him and how He blessed us with the loved one we lost.
As with all books read aloud to children, this one should prompt questions and further discussion which is normal and healthy for children.
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