My Friend Is Sad

Reach for this book when your child is struggling to cheer up a friend or feels overwhelmed by someone else's big, sad emotions. It is a perfect tool for teaching young children that simply being present is often more important than putting on a big performance to fix a problem. Through the story of Piggie's comedic and failed attempts to distract a melancholy Elephant Gerald, children learn about the nuances of empathy and the value of companionship. Mo Willems uses minimal text and expressive illustrations to make the complex social concept of supportive friendship accessible for preschoolers and early elementary students. It is an essential pick for building emotional intelligence and normalizing the fact that everyone has 'off' days.