
Reach for this book when your child is facing a transition, experiencing a loss, or simply asking big questions about why things change. Drawing from the poetic wisdom of Ecclesiastes, this book helps children understand that life is a beautiful cycle of opposites: laughing and crying, keeping and throwing away, being born and dying. Bob Barner's vibrant torn-paper collages turn these ancient verses into a tangible, accessible experience for young children. While the text is rooted in scripture, its message of balance and timing feels universal. It is an excellent choice for providing comfort during times of grief or as a gentle introduction to the rhythms of nature and human emotion. Parents will appreciate how the bright, joyful artwork balances the more serious themes, making the concept of 'a time for everything' feel like a reassuring promise rather than a scary reality.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewThe book directly addresses death and mourning, but does so within the context of a natural cycle. The approach is religious in origin but presented with a universal, spiritual tone. The resolution is hopeful, emphasizing that even sad times are a natural part of a larger, purposeful whole.
An inquisitive 6-year-old who has just experienced the death of a pet or a grandparent, or a child who feels overwhelmed by big emotions and needs to know that 'this too shall pass.' It is also perfect for families who want to introduce spiritual concepts through art.
Read it through once to anticipate questions your child might have about death and loss on the 'time to die' and 'time to mourn' pages. The collage art is very friendly, but the words are profound and may spark immediate questions about mortality. Be prepared to offer comfort and reassurance. A parent might reach for this after hearing a child ask, 'Why do things have to die?' or seeing a child struggle to move on from a disappointment.
Preschoolers will focus on the vibrant animals and weather in the illustrations. Elementary-aged children (6-8) will begin to grasp the philosophical connection between the opposites and may find comfort in the idea that sadness is temporary.
Unlike many books on grief or change that use a narrative story, this book uses poetry and abstract collage to normalize the entire spectrum of human experience. It is one of the few books that successfully bridges the gap between a Sunday school resource and a high-quality art book. """
The book provides a visual interpretation of the biblical passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Each spread features a couplet of opposites, such as 'a time to be born, and a time to die' or 'a time to weep, and a time to laugh,' illustrated with bright, textured paper collages that depict children, animals, and nature scenes.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.