Book Details

Publication Date: September 20, 2022

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-58985-012-5

eBook ISBN: 978-1-58985-013-2

Trim Size: 8.5 in. x 8.5 in. / 32 pages

Target Ages: 4-7 Years

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Just for Kids

Download a fun word search for kids to find hidden words from Finding Joy!

What Folks Are Saying …

“Synopsis: Helping children to find joy again after a loss is an imperative need for any child, especially when that loss involves a member of their family. In her latest children's book, "Finding Joy", author Raven Howell helps children navigate the painful (and often confusing) feelings that arise from the death of a loved one.

"Finding Joy" tells the story of a little girl and her adopted brother, John, who rescue a sweet old dog, Joy, from the local animal shelter. As the seasons slide past, the children learn how magical it is to have a pet friend by their sides -- romping through the winter snow, splashing through spring puddles, and picking autumn apples. But one day old Joy lays down to take a nap and does not wake up.

At first, the children are shocked, finding it difficult to process the feelings of sadness they experience in Joy's absence. But with the love and support of their parents, they learn to recall the good memories they shared with sweet Joy, even preparing them to welcome a new pet friend into the family.

Critique: Dealing with a sensitive subject in an effective, insightful, and understanding way, "Finding Joy" is ideal for helping young children deal with the loss of a loved one whether it is a family member or a beloved pet. While especially and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Life Skills picture book collections, it should be noted for young readers that "Finding Joy" is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.99).”

– James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review

“I am in the process of becoming certified as a Pet Loss Grief Specialist. This book is moving in its simple, honest approach to love and loss. I'll be happy to spread the word and suggest to families coping with the death of a loved one.”

– Kris Bush. Bellingham, WA

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Finding Joy was a great find indeed! The topic of a losing of a pet is shared in this story with respect and kindness. The characters are relatable for both younger and older children as they deal with a variety of emotions with their pet dog. The collage inspired illustrations are beautiful and engage the reader fully. I would recommend this book to any family that is dealing with the loss of a pet.”

– Kristin Hatton, Instructional Coach/Classroom Teacher

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Finding Joy was a perfect book for discussing grief with my son, as we have been going through our own loss. It was sweet and sensitive to the topic without being condescending. I appreciated the use of the word dead because so often books find fancy terms to coat the truth and it was refreshing to use the actual word. My son is a very practical kid and fancy words confuse him so we had an open conversation about death and it took away the mystery.”

– Jessica Hedaria, Teacher

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Author Raven Howell's new book, FINDING JOY, delicately explores the joys and sorrows of a child's life in an understated and masterful way. The whimsical illustrations by Pamela C. Rice beautifully accompany the narrative of introducing children to the reality of loss. Parents and caregivers will find this book a natural way to introduce the topic of loss and the recovery of joy after a painful event. I highly recommend FINDING JOY! Bravo, Raven Howell and Pamela C. Rice!”

– Deborah Edmisten, Author

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This book breaks down the stages of grief in such a great way for children to better understand. The illustrations are vivid but also calming, matching the tone of the story very well. I would use this book in my classroom for sure to bring up a tough topic and teach my students how to, and that it's okay to ‘find joy’ during some of the toughest times they could go through in life.”

– Chantel Mendonca, Aspiring teacher

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This is a wonderful book! It takes us through the process of grieving a loss from a child's perspective. I like the way the growing relationship is established between the children and their dog, Joy. In other books about death, the loss is sometimes introduced near the beginning of the book. In this book, the loss comes later. The author takes the time to show Joy and the children engaging in sweet, gentle, everyday activities over the course of a year. The passage of time is depicted with the changing seasons. Joy's death is unexpected, but we know that she has had a wonderful final year of life. While sad, there is a season for her death … and eventually, a season for new life, as the family adopts a kitten the following spring. The family retains their memories of their beloved dog, while able to move on from their grief with renewed ‘joy.’ The whole process is portrayed in a very natural and simple way. The illustrations are beautiful and really help to convey the warm relationship between the members of the family and their dog. There is also a very helpful resource guide at the end of the book called ‘How to Talk to Children About Loss.’ 'Overall, this is a great book, and I would be happy to have it in my library.

– Fabiola Banuelos, Teacher

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“After having two students experience significant loss this year, this book hits close to home. The author does a great job of encompassing loss in a way that younger students can understand and process. I love being able to use children's books to help us process different situations within our classroom community, and this hits it out of the park when dealing with loss. I will be adding this book to our classroom library.”

– Suzy Daugherty, Teacher

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Finding JOY is a very beautiful book about loss. I would definitely recommend this book. It approaches the topic of loss and death in a very beautiful and careful manner for young children. The illustrations were beautiful and enhanced the story. I would definitely add this book to my collection.”

– Maria Mendoza, Education Specialist

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“My students and I enjoyed Finding Joy … They felt it was a little young for them (6th grade) but would recommend it to anyone who lost a pet. They were captivated and caught off guard. No one said a thing for a minute after we were done reading it, but all said they would recommend it …”

– Stacey Blasdell, Teacher

The Creative Team