What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadow
Shadow is a children's picture story about the death/loss of a pet dog named Shadow, and how it affects both children and adults. Emphasis is how it affects a child or children as this is often the first time they learn about death, the death of a dear pet is palpable, and how to help a child or children cope. Grief is real and it is hard for children to cope as they have nothing in which to compare this new loss, thus the focus is on how it affects children and how to help them cope using strategies such as talking about the loss, drawing pictures of their pet, lots of hugs and love, and possibly plant a new tree or flower in memory of the lost pet. This story helps children know that grief is normal and they are not alone in the dealing with and healing process of this type of grief. In the back section of the story are parental tips on knowing how to help your child and yourself. Learning about grief and/or pet loss is essential for social development in all children. Children are better able to understand the grief process when the time comes for a relative to pass away. This concept and principles can be taught at an early age in situations where a child's best friend has a pet pass away or a family member.
36 pages, Paperback
Published February 16, 2025
6 people want to read
About the author
Mary L. Schmidt
19 books83 followersMary L. Schmidt is a multi-hyphenate and writes under her given name and a pen name, S. Jackson, along with her husband Michael, pen name A Raymond. She grew up in a small Kansas (USA) town and has lived in more than one state since then. At this time, Mary and her husband split their time between homes in Kansas and Colorado as they love the mountains and off road four-wheeling. Traveling is one of their most favorite things to do and Mary always has a book to read on her Kindle. Books are one of her favorite things. When she was younger, it seemed like every time she turned around, a new library card was needed due to the current one being stamped complete. Diving into a good book made any day perfect and you would be surprised at the number of books she read over and over. Mary has written 48 books thus far, and they range from art book, recipe book, children's books, several memoirs, and romance books. As a child, Mary drew paper dolls, and clothes for them, using watercolor as her medium when painting scenes, especially flowers. She continued with art in high school exploring a wide variety of mediums such as jewelry making, ceramics, leather works, drawing, painting and more! Her creative loves to be an amateur shutterbug and she has an online art gallery. In college, she went into the sciences, and received a bachelor's degree in the Science of Nursing. Throughout her nursing career, Michael assisted Mary in her work with The American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Cub and Boy Scouts, and sponsored children alongside his wife on music trips. Mary's nursing career was highly successful, and she hung up her nursing hat in December 2012. Mary and Michael love to read, fish, play poker, go Jeeping, and travel, especially to visit their grandson, Austin, and granddaughter, Emma. She has written 62 books with more in various stages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 13, 2025
You know that hush that falls when someone tells you something sacred? That’s what reading Shadow feels like.
It’s not loud or flashy. It doesn’t shout for your attention. Instead, it kneels down beside you—yes, you—and gently says, “This matters. Let’s talk about it.”
On the surface, it’s a story about a pet dog named Shadow who has passed away. But if that’s all you see, read it again. Shadow isn’t just about death—it’s about the moment children meet grief for the very first time, face-to-face, with no script and no armour.
What struck me most was the honesty. Schmidt doesn’t tiptoe around sadness. She doesn’t try to cover it in glitter or distractions. She simply invites children to feel what they feel—fully, freely, and without shame.
And then—oh, then—she offers comfort. The kind of comfort that isn’t a quick fix but a gentle holding of hands. Talking, drawing, planting flowers... small acts with big meanings. They don’t erase the hurt, but they honour it. And that’s where healing begins.
Illustrated with tenderness and accompanied by thoughtful parental guidance at the back, Shadow is as much a resource as it is a story. But more than anything, it’s a companion. A quiet friend for the quietest moments.
This is the kind of book you don’t just shelve. You keep it within reach—because you’ll want to share it when words fail and hearts ache.
Shadow is soft-spoken, but it will stay with you long after the last page—like pawprints in your memory and petals from a flower planted in love.
It’s not loud or flashy. It doesn’t shout for your attention. Instead, it kneels down beside you—yes, you—and gently says, “This matters. Let’s talk about it.”
On the surface, it’s a story about a pet dog named Shadow who has passed away. But if that’s all you see, read it again. Shadow isn’t just about death—it’s about the moment children meet grief for the very first time, face-to-face, with no script and no armour.
What struck me most was the honesty. Schmidt doesn’t tiptoe around sadness. She doesn’t try to cover it in glitter or distractions. She simply invites children to feel what they feel—fully, freely, and without shame.
And then—oh, then—she offers comfort. The kind of comfort that isn’t a quick fix but a gentle holding of hands. Talking, drawing, planting flowers... small acts with big meanings. They don’t erase the hurt, but they honour it. And that’s where healing begins.
Illustrated with tenderness and accompanied by thoughtful parental guidance at the back, Shadow is as much a resource as it is a story. But more than anything, it’s a companion. A quiet friend for the quietest moments.
This is the kind of book you don’t just shelve. You keep it within reach—because you’ll want to share it when words fail and hearts ache.
Shadow is soft-spoken, but it will stay with you long after the last page—like pawprints in your memory and petals from a flower planted in love.
December 12, 2025
Shadow is a gentle and thoughtful picture book that helps children face the loss of a beloved pet. The author explains grief in a simple, comforting way, offering children easy coping tools like talking, drawing, and remembering their pet with love.
Shadow, the playful long-haired dachshund, is full of charm and warmth, making her loss both touching and relatable. The story stays honest yet soft, helping children understand their emotions while enjoying bright illustrations and a reassuring tone.
One of the book’s best features is the helpful section for parents, offering guidance on how to support a grieving child. Shadow is both a sweet story and a practical resource, giving families comfort and clarity during a difficult time. Five stars.
Shadow, the playful long-haired dachshund, is full of charm and warmth, making her loss both touching and relatable. The story stays honest yet soft, helping children understand their emotions while enjoying bright illustrations and a reassuring tone.
One of the book’s best features is the helpful section for parents, offering guidance on how to support a grieving child. Shadow is both a sweet story and a practical resource, giving families comfort and clarity during a difficult time. Five stars.
November 22, 2025
Good Concept
Losing a pet is very difficult for young children. This book is intended to help ease that pain by sharing ideas your family can do to help ease the pain.
It is suggested there is a correlation between loosing a pet and losing a family member. While both can bring real sadness, I’m not certain there is a real parallel.
The use of the cross and prayer seems to relate this trauma to religious practices in Christianity. I felt this could have been more subtle and less in your face. Losing a pet is universal regardless of religious faith.
Losing a pet is very difficult for young children. This book is intended to help ease that pain by sharing ideas your family can do to help ease the pain.
It is suggested there is a correlation between loosing a pet and losing a family member. While both can bring real sadness, I’m not certain there is a real parallel.
The use of the cross and prayer seems to relate this trauma to religious practices in Christianity. I felt this could have been more subtle and less in your face. Losing a pet is universal regardless of religious faith.
March 18, 2025
Shadow is a sweet and sentimental picture book for kids depicting a family with two children who lose their beloved pet dog. Shadow is a playful dachshund who, at twelve years of age, reaches the end of his life. In addition to the story, which features bright colorful pictures, the book contains tips for parents so they can help their children deal with the loss of a dear animal friend. I believe parents who have pets as well as young children will find this book to be quite useful.
April 12, 2025
Losing a pet is like losing a member of the family. Often times the loss of a beloved pet is the first experience children have with death. Shadow, written by award winning author, Mary L. Schmidt helps children through the process of pet loss in a meaningful and heartfelt way. This book is a must read for families and especially children who are dealing with the death of a pet.
May 7, 2025
Grief is a curious thing. It sneaks up in the form of a missing paw print, an empty corner where a bed used to be, or the silence where a bark once echoed. Shadow by Mary and Michael Schmidt is not just a children’s book—it is a gentle, necessary guide through the uncharted territory of loss.
Children often experience death for the first time through the loss of a beloved pet. But how do they process it? What words can comfort them when their furry companion is no longer there? Schmidt’s book does something many avoid: it acknowledges grief, normalizes it, and offers a way forward.
The First Goodbye
History shows us that humans have mourned pets for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians mummified their cats; Romans etched epitaphs for their dogs. The pain of losing a pet is not new, yet we often struggle to help children navigate it. Shadow provides a roadmap, teaching kids that grief is real, valid, and—most importantly—manageable.
Take six-year-old Emily, for instance. She loses her golden retriever, Max, and doesn’t understand why he isn’t coming back. Her parents fumble for words. “He’s in a better place” feels hollow. But then they read Shadow together. They draw pictures of Max, plant a tree in his memory, and talk about their favorite moments. Grief doesn’t vanish, but it transforms into something gentler.
A Story That Heals
The book’s approach is both practical and profound. It suggests creative ways to process loss—drawing, storytelling, and planting flowers—while offering much-needed validation: “It’s okay to feel sad. It’s okay to cry.” Unlike many children’s books that gloss over hard topics, Shadow embraces them.
This is no accident. Studies show that children who learn about grief early are better equipped to handle future losses. A 2018 study by the Journal of Child Psychology found that children who openly discuss emotions form stronger coping mechanisms later in life. This book doesn’t just tell a story; it builds resilience.
Why Every Family Needs Shadow
Renowned psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross once wrote, “The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss… You will learn to live with it.” Shadow distills this truth in a way that young minds can grasp.
More than just a book, Shadow is an emotional toolkit. It reassures children that they are not alone. It reminds parents that silence isn’t always golden. And it teaches us all that love never really leaves—it just changes form.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every child had a guide like this for life’s first heartbreak?
-----------
Children often experience death for the first time through the loss of a beloved pet. But how do they process it? What words can comfort them when their furry companion is no longer there? Schmidt’s book does something many avoid: it acknowledges grief, normalizes it, and offers a way forward.
The First Goodbye
History shows us that humans have mourned pets for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians mummified their cats; Romans etched epitaphs for their dogs. The pain of losing a pet is not new, yet we often struggle to help children navigate it. Shadow provides a roadmap, teaching kids that grief is real, valid, and—most importantly—manageable.
Take six-year-old Emily, for instance. She loses her golden retriever, Max, and doesn’t understand why he isn’t coming back. Her parents fumble for words. “He’s in a better place” feels hollow. But then they read Shadow together. They draw pictures of Max, plant a tree in his memory, and talk about their favorite moments. Grief doesn’t vanish, but it transforms into something gentler.
A Story That Heals
The book’s approach is both practical and profound. It suggests creative ways to process loss—drawing, storytelling, and planting flowers—while offering much-needed validation: “It’s okay to feel sad. It’s okay to cry.” Unlike many children’s books that gloss over hard topics, Shadow embraces them.
This is no accident. Studies show that children who learn about grief early are better equipped to handle future losses. A 2018 study by the Journal of Child Psychology found that children who openly discuss emotions form stronger coping mechanisms later in life. This book doesn’t just tell a story; it builds resilience.
Why Every Family Needs Shadow
Renowned psychologist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross once wrote, “The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss… You will learn to live with it.” Shadow distills this truth in a way that young minds can grasp.
More than just a book, Shadow is an emotional toolkit. It reassures children that they are not alone. It reminds parents that silence isn’t always golden. And it teaches us all that love never really leaves—it just changes form.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every child had a guide like this for life’s first heartbreak?
-----------
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews