Важка торба

by Sarah Surgey, Лариса Іванкович (Illustrator), Таня Стус (Translator)

Маленька Енід тягне важелезну торбу, ношу власної втрати — смерть близької людини. На початку подорожі торба навіть більша за Енід й нести цей вантаж нестерпно. На шляху в дівчати трапляються різні люди. Вони розділяють з нею цей тягар, пропонуючи поділитися горем, питаючи в Енід про почуття. Наприкінці в торбі не лишилося важких речей, тільки спогади, що будуть із дівчинкою завжди. Через повномасштабну війну в Україні все частіше доводиться говорити з дітьми про смерть, зокрема близьких, друзів і родичів. Безумовно, такі розмови складні. Дорослим допоможе історія Енід, а ще кілька рекомендацій із цієї книжки.

Розмови з дітьми про втрати, особливо про втрати близьких, часом нестерпно важкі для дорослих. Проте говорити треба, хай як крається серце.

Авторка, Сара Серджей, має великий педагогічний досвід, зокрема опікується ментальним здоров’ям дітей як волонтерка. Вона щиро пропонує руку допомоги. Її книжка, створена у формі історії-притчі про дівчинку, яка втратила улюбленого дідуся, полегшить розмову з дитиною про смерть. Тут також є поради, як говорити на цю тему з дітьми різного віку.

Персонажка книжки, маленька Енід, навчить, як ділитися горем і як, переживши його, залишити світлі спогади.

Книгу українською мовою створено спільно з БФ «Голоси дітей». Дякуємо працівникам фонду за допомогу і рекомендації батькам, які викладено в кінці книги.

Genres: Picture Books, Death, Grief, Childrens, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2024

Reviews

[Halina Hetman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Книга, що прагне розповісти дітям про проживання горя, з порадами щодо спілкування на такі теми для дорослих наприкінці. Мені дуже не сподобався стиль ілюстрацій, а також редакторська робота (ім'я головної героїні в моєму виданні на деяких сторінках написано з помилками).

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly beautiful story about grief that would likely really help a child going through grief but if you read it to a child not going through it, they will be very confused and sad. However, the story was beautiful and the illustrations were as well so I’m giving it 4/5 stars ⭐️

[The Diverse Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Introducing The Heavy Bag by @sarahsurgeywriter – a touching tale of grief, friendship, and healing. 🌈💔

Meet Enid, a little girl who carries her grief like a heavy bag, filled with items that remind her of her beloved grandfather. 🎒💭 But as Enid journeys through her grief, she discovers the power of friendship and the importance of sharing her burden. Along the way, she meets friends who offer support and understanding, helping her to lighten her load by accepting the items that weigh her down. 🤝💖 Through heartfelt storytelling and beautiful illustrations, The Heavy Bag reminds us that we don’t have to carry our burdens alone – and that sharing our grief can lead to healing and connection. 🌟

Let’s journey with Enid as she discovers the strength of friendship and the beauty of letting go. 💕📖

I am happy to join @cardinalrulepress on their #booktour for The Heavy Bag. Parents, teachers, and counselors will definitely benefit from owning this book to use as a social emotional lesson. This book is a great tool to validate someone’s feelings after losing a loved one.

✨I received an ARC of this book for my review.

#ChildrensBooks #GriefSupport #Friendship #HealingJourney #arc #cardinalrulepress #bookfluencer #bookstagram #kidsbookstagram #childrensbookstagram #Grief #sel #selbooks #socialemotionallearning #socialemotional #socialemotionalbooks #theheavybag #supportsystem

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heavy Bag: One Girl's Journey Through Grief by Sarah Surgey is a book for dealing with grief through a child perspective. Grief is not always the easiest topic to present to a younger audience or even discuss in general. This book broke down grief into a way to physically symbolize the weight on feels when holding their grief all to themself. Showing the power friends can hold to relieve you grief when you share the burden that grief can have when carrying everything alone. Prior to starting the book, it has a question page of different questions to ask yourself in different parts of the book. It also has. a lage at the back that showed the different grieving stages. It allows the person to understand the phase of grief that may go impact the during a trauma. I thought this book was well thought out and would be really helpful for parents to use as a guide when dealing with situations that sometimes leave us speechless.

Thank you, librarythings, Cardinal Rule Press, and Sarah Surgey, for allowing me the opportunity for an early release in exchange for an honest review.

[Donn Swaby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is very touching and brilliant in its set up: a little girl named Enid who's grandpa has died carries objects in her bag for activities she never got to do with him. These objects (a boat, (a telescope, aa boat and biscuits) As Enid's encounters others, she shares the objects with him, lightening her load and making her feel better not just physically, but also emotionally. In this way, the objects represent Enid's unprocessed emotions of grief that actually begin to be processed, initiating the healing process.

One particularly endearing moment comes when Enid wonders "what if..." and replays scenarios in her head and its such a relatable and human show of vulnerability.

This book would be great for any child that's lost a parent or loved one, as the back matter goes into detail regarding the stages of grief and an exercise to create your own heavy bag with objects connected to the memories of loved ones.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

May I share with you a new release that everybody needs at some point in their lives, especially when dealing with grief and loss?
In the story,”the Heavy Bag,” a little girl is dealing with extreme grief at the loss of her grandfather recently. She packs all the things in her backpack that remind her of her grandpa and goes for a walk. While she is on the walk, family members and kind neighbors offered to help take part of the burden for her, and she unpacks her memories of Grandpa, and what was special to him. I really liked the metaphor of having a bag that we carry around with us when we’re grieving. Because the bag never goes away completely, not even by the end of the story— but the weight has lessened as she learns to rely on others to help her carry on.

[Evalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the advanced reader copy of this book. This book may be a good introduction to the stages of grief for a child, and how it is okay to ask that other people in your life carry the burden of missing someone so dear after their death with you. That it is okay to still want to remember them fondly, and mourn all the things you did not get to do together. (This was my biggest feeling of grief as a child, too.) It shows them that no one is alone in this loss, if not purely because death comes for us all one day.

[Mandy Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Cardinal Rule Press for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review. A children's picture book with a very important message that even adults can learn. Grief is a heavy burden to bear but you are never alone in that journey. Enid went through all the stages of grief but what mattered the most was that she thought she was alone but in actuality she was not. When you get rid of the heavy stuff you are able to understand and enjoy the memories.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! Grief and sadness are difficult to explain to children. This story makes these emotions tangible and offers a quietly powerful message by using a familiar and relatable item.

Great back matter and discussion questions will definitely help start dialogue for children who have suffered a loss.

I am thankful to have been given an advanced reader copy of this book and have already suggested it to several friends and colleagues.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an elementary school counselor, I love using books with my students to connect with them, teach a skill, and provide support. There are not many grief books available that I have found impactful and helpful. This book is incredible! It leaves the reader/child knowing they can trust adults with their pain and that they don’t need to carry it alone! I am so excited to add this book to my counseling library and use for years! Thank you!!

[Sujin Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect book for children dealing with the loss of a loved one. It deals with death in a gentle, poignant way that will touch the hearts of children and adults. My eyes welled up with tears while reading the book. Even though the book focuses on dealing with grief, the lesson has a broader message by showing kids how sharing our negative emotions can help us feel better. This important lesson is something all kids can benefit from.

[Brenna Jeanneret · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important and kid-friendly take on grief. Sarah does a beautiful job of inviting the reader along on this difficult journey while making sure to hold the reader's hand until they've made it safely to the end. Coupled with Larisa Ivankovic's emotional illustrations this book is the perfect addition to any home dealing with loss.

[Michelle Schaub · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Heavy Bag uses a beautiful and tangible metaphor to make the concept of grief accessible to young readers. A wonderful social emotional book to help children understand and cope with grief and have springboard for conversations. Just like Enid’s load is lightened by talking to others, reading and discussing The Heavy Bag will help lighten grief-bearers’ loads.

[Ramona Recommends · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED The Heavy Bag. I just lost my mom last year and I could relate to all of the words that Sarah used to describe the heavy bag. Grief is a real thing and sometimes it is hard to take feelings out of the bag to share with others. I highly recommend gifting this book to anyone (child or adult) who is grieving a loved one.

[Cheryl Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a children's book about dealing with the loss of a grandfather however it could be any loss. I think it would be a wonderful way to get a child to understand and start talking about loss. I can imagine any child dealing with loss wanting to read this story over again.

[Cindy Schrauben · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an important book! Presenting such a valuable lesson without feeling didactic is a feat and Surgey has mastered it beautifully. The emotional pull is real and the illustrations add perfectly to the sentiment.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for any child who loses someone. When Enid's grandpa dies, she was so sad. Different people help her lighten her "load" as she carries her special memories of him in a bag.

[Camille Maring · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's incredible how this book resonates with both kids and adults navigating grief. It teaches a powerful lesson: letting go of emotional baggage during the journey of grief brings peace and acceptance.

[Jacqueline Nyathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very touching tale of a little girl struggling with grief after losing her grandpa. A lovely lesson for children in how she finds relief by sharing the burden with caring members of her community.

Thanks to Cardinal Rule Press and Edelweiss.

[Kim R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written book, at an appropriate level for children to learn and understand, handling grief and relying on community to help when things are "heavy."
#arcreader

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a little girl carrying grief, then lightening her load by talking to people about her grief.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on grief

[Melissa Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a precious book about handling grief!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE HEAVY BAG takes readers on a journey through the five stages of grief as experienced from a young girl’s perspective. Enid is having a hard time letting go of her grandfather, so she carries many memories inside her bag. The bag grows heavy as she carries it on her own, but realizes with help from some friends…she doesn’t have to carry so much. A beautiful book that presents grief in a way that is understandable for younger readers with the reminder that they’re never alone as they walk this road. Back matter includes resources and activities that take readers beyond the book, and questions caregivers can ask before, during and after reading. This would be great in an SEL curriculum!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book about sadness and letting others help you with the load of heaviness when you've had a loss.
Enid has lost her grandfather and as she journeys with this loss, she meets other special people who can each help with a little bit of her loss. As she shares her grief she comes to realize that sharing that grief with others doesn't erase that loss, but helps her to move forward.

This book has some some wonderful resources. A Before Reading, While Reading and After Reading set of questions. These questions will help guide a discussion on what grief is. Also included is a description of the five stages of grief and an activity to try with younger ones.