Tim's Goodbye

by Steven Salerno

A touching picture book about a group of children who must say goodbye to a dear friend.Margot is sad because her beloved pet, Tim, has died. She and her friends band together to give him a proper sendoff. Melinda brings her French horn. Vincent brings balloons. Otto wears his best hat. When all gather together, they celebrate Tim's beautiful, simple life as they send him on a surprising farewell journey to a special place above the mountains and beyond the clouds.And Margot has a feeling that Tim is happy once again.This tender story from Steven Salerno also features his beautiful illustrations, with a simple color palette and classic feel. Tim's Goodbye is sure to strike a chord with readers who have experienced a difficult farewell.

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

40 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 17, 2018

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and simple story about a funeral for a pet. The illustrations AND the sentiment are both lovely.

[Alice Ball · Rating 2 out of 5]

Margot's friends gather around her in support over the loss of her pet. The tenderness and community she feels from her friends is great! Dislike sending her turtle into the air with balloons - no need to release balloons into the wild anymore for any reason! Also, on the last page, it's as though Margot's grief has simply disappeared. Would be nice for children to see that it is okay to continue feeling sad, and that it can be natural for grief to continue in waves.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readers won't be sure exactly whom Margot is mourning as she grieves the loss of Tim. But a various friends gather to help ease her pain and celebrate his life, they will realize from the text but mostly from the illustrations that Tim was her beloved turtle. What appears to be a stone or mound of earth in the opening pages actually turns out to be Tim's shell. Some youngsters will find comfort in the way Margo's friends rally around her, putting Tim in a box, covering him with flowers, and then sending him into the air where he could finally reach a place where he could enjoy all the activities turtles do. After the simple ceremony, Margot imagines Tim in the sky among the stars and is no longer sad. I liked this story a lot, but I wish it hadn't ended with Margot waltzing away. After all, for some individuals it takes quite a long time to recover from a loss, and sadness doesn't go away quite so soon. I suppose the idea here is that a loss needn't incapacitate someone, but i would have liked the book to end with Tim enjoying himself in the hereafter, in his turtle vision of what Heaven might be like. The use of plentiful yellows as a back drop on the book's pages as well as in its images is an interesting choice for a book about death, loss, and grief. This would certainly be a good title to share with someone dealing with his/her own loss. It could also provide a good place to start to explore questions about what happens after death or different ways each of us has for coping with our own grief or that of others.

[Kit Feral · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm torn with this. I liked the sweet support from friends, the ceremony of mourning, and the art. I don't like encouraging releasing balloons into the sky and I don't like that she was just suddenly fine at the end. grief doesn't really work that way. I would have preferred that she just felt a bit better or at peace, not that she happily skipped off into the sun seemingly to be totally over it. I feel that would be a better message for children dealing with grief. I mean, I'm an adult and still sometimes sad about my childhood pets, it certainly didn't end the day they were buried!

[Brindi Michele · Rating 2 out of 5]

this came across as sort of awkward....

[Ro Menendez · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story to help readers cope with the loss of a loved one. Margot's pet turtle Tim has passed away, her sadness is lessened by the solidarity her friends shower on her. They show up and together they give Tim a farewell to celebrate how important he was to Margot. After the farewell, we see Tim heading towards the stars and words describe the place where he is off to, a perfect haven for turtles. Margot's story will facilitate conversations about how sharing one's grief might bring relief and how we can offer such relief when someone we know has suffered a loss.

[Michelle Normand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with other reviewers that this is a very sparse story about loss, but that is sort of what I like about it. I feel like this book leaves a lot of room for conversation between and adult and child. It's like a beautiful ice-breaker for a very difficult topic.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and sweet story about losing a pet.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique take on the loss of a pet. Might need an adult to help interpret what's happening from page to page, though.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

A girl mourns the death of her pet turtle and says a final goodbye.

After the death of Margot's pet turtle Tim, Margot and her friends hold a funeral for him and bid him a final farewell.

This picture book tackles the death of a beloved pet as well as the ensuing grief. It does an excellent job of showing how close relationships can help a person cope with loss.

I wish a balloon release hadn’t been part of the story since that this is destructive for the environment, and it is a harmful practice to encourage. The balloons physically took the turtle up into the stars, which was puzzling. Is it a metaphor for the turtle’s soul going to the animal afterlife?

The main character also got over her grief very quickly and was fine at the end of the story. Since children can mourn their pets for years, a better ending would have shown Margot still carrying some sadness but moving forward.

[Dierdre · Rating 3 out of 5]

A tender story of a girl losing a pet. Her friends rally around her and give a touching send-off to her pet turtle. At the beginning, you don't know who or what Tim is, but it is gradually revealed and you see that Tim has been there the whole time. I would have preferred a different send-off for Tim. Besides the environmental impact, realistically, a turtle that size wouldn't be carried away by a few balloons. The sentiment is nice, but wrapped up a little too neatly. I don't think she would have happily skipped off not being sad anymore at the end. It could have ended with her being a bit more reflective and at peace instead of happy. I did enjoy the illustrations and the use of blues and yellows.
Overall, a nice introduction to loss of a pet.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simplistic. The yellow-saturated illustrations seem more jaundiced than hopeful in this story of loss and grief, which creates cognitive dissonance between the sadness one normally feels in the wake of loss and the cheerfulness one is forced to feel through the manipulative use of this power color. The girl’s grief fits neatly in a little blue shoebox and is carried off by a trinity of blue balloons to a netherworld where the turtle is washed away by a wave of blue. Poof! The sadness vanishes without the girl experiencing the true colors of grief—the reds of denial and anger, the oranges of bargaining, the deep blues and purples of depression, the greens of acceptance—on the color wheel of a full-spectrum life.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why is this author trying to teach children (any readers, really) that it's okay to box up a dead pet and send it into the sky attached to balloons?!? That's horrible! Eventually that box would drop and someone would discover that dead animal... it might even land on them.

Also, grief doesn't simply stop or end after saying goodbye to a loved one, as the author wants the reader to believe.

[Viviana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably shouldn't send your deceased turtle into the air. Just in case someone thinks it's ok and some poor soul gets a surprise in their backyard, picnic table, or just for wildlife safety / balloon litter for goodness sakes

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim’s Goodbye by Steven Salerno. PICTURE BOOK. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2018. $18. 9780374306472

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE.

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Margot is sad because her turtle Tim has died. While mourning, Margot’s friends gather around with gifts and service. Together they say goodbye to Tim and after he is tied to balloons and sent off, Margot feels okay again.

The illustrations are reminiscent of picture books of the 50s and done is yellow, white, and touches of blue. There aren’t a lot of words, but there is a deep and tender story here of loss and friendship and feeling joy again. At the right time in a reader’s life, this could be a powerful book.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Tim’s Goodbye by Steven Salerno, a story about how we deal with loss.

The day is bright and sunny, but Margot doesn’t feel it. Margot is sad because Tim is gone. She tries to feel happy with the sunshine, but she can’t, so she simply sits and feels. She leaves for a moment to be alone. Melinda arrives then, with her French horn, and Roger brings a box. Vincent holds balloons and Otto wears his best hat. Buddy the dog is there, faithful to Margot in her time of need. The friends contribute what they can – the box, the balloons, flowers, a song. Then Margot delicately places Tim – her late pet turtle, who has been slyly visible to the reader along – into the box with the flowers, and watches his balloon-powered rise into the sky. Later on, she thinks of Tim swimming among the stars, with warm sun to bask in and cool waters to swim, “forever a happy turtle”. She feels Tim’s peace, and it makes her happy too.

Oh, this was really quite something. Heartbreaking, uplifting, comforting, and dear all at once. The way the progression of Margot’s grief unfolds – first her sadness and need to be alone, then buoyed by the support her friends give, and at last her acceptance of Tim’s death – is a subtle and powerful way of letting kids know that mourning is just that: a process. Furthermore, in her friends’ gentle and thoughtful actions, it shows young children how they can be there for someone who is dealing with loss. Finally, the non-denominational depiction of Tim’s beautifully serene afterlife will give children comfort for their own losses. All of this is drawn in timeless, minimal, beautiful illustrations in black across soothing tones of yellow and blue. This is pure, powerful, and perfect in its simplicity and earnest heart. Wonderful, and Baby Bookworm approved.

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Losing a pet is very painful, and many children know that pain. It's never easy, but this picture book uses simple text and illustrations to show how good friends can help each other through their grief. Margot is sad because of the death of her pet turtle, Tim. Each of her friends has a way of helping her honor her pet and honor the sadness that she feels. By playing a French horn, bringing a box in which to place the turtle, laying flowers on top of the deceased pet, and finally helping to send Tim on his way they all help Margot say "goodbye". This would be a nice book to have on the shelf to help during these sad times for kids.

[Christine Turner]

When Margot's pet named Tim dies, she and her friends band together to give him a proper sendoff. With flowers, a French horn, and balloons, they say goodbye to him with love. This tender story from Steven Salerno also features his beautiful illustrations, with a simple color palette and classic feel. Tim's Goodbye is sure to strike a chord with readers who have experienced a difficult farewell.

Subject: Death -- Juvenile fiction.
Grief -- Juvenile fiction.
Funeral rites and ceremonies -- Juvenile fiction.
Turtles as pets -- Juvenile fiction.
Pets -- Juvenile fiction.

[Francis S. Poesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the classic picture book feeling the illustrations give this book. If I didn't know it was new I would have thought it was a classic I had somehow missed seeing my whole life. The story is sweet and gentle and would be especially good for a child mourning a pet's passing. It is still good for other's though as it shows how friends can help make such a time better. Recieved an advance reader's edition with no strings attached.

[Arminzerella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margot is sad about the death of her pet turtle, Tim. Her friends comfort her and they have a funeral and send off for Tim that makes everyone feel better. Bright colors - lots of yellow - keep it from being too sad. While it's not terribly realistic (or environmentally friendly) for a Tim-sized turtle to be carried off by 3 balloons, it's still a rather sweet idea to imagine him in "a place where he basked in the warm sun and swam in cool waters, forever a happy turtle.

[Teresa Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main appeal to this book is that it is about a girl dealing with the death of her pet. There are not many books like that for young readers. After Margot's pet, Tim, dies, her friends come together to give him a sweet and proper send off. Their friendship helps to comfort Margot. It is a good reminder that though life can be sad at times, kindness can help us heal.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book about grief doesn't address any nuance of feelings -- there is sad, and then there is not sad anymore. It also presents an incredibly unrealistic solution to the problem of grief, which I realize is supposed to be somewhat metaphorical, but I don't think it's a particularly helpful way to address death and mourning with small children.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story covers a difficult subject; when Margot's pet dies and her feelings and action. The action Margot takes and her friends and her dog's reactions are shown. The group of friends work together and takes action to say goodbye to Tim, Margot's pet. Quiet story with different reactions from kids who read it.

[Donna Dobihal Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this story: it's tender and touching but the ending is difficult to believe, albeit sweet. Still, a sunny approach to a difficult topic that a child who has lost a pet may relate to.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the quintessential US American handling of death: sadness, comfort, and eventual joy. The book is beautiful in its sparse illustrations and in its presentation of a child-run funeral (which I remember having several for animals in my neighborhood as a child).

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about a funeral for a pet turtle, designed primarily to help the reader through the grieving process. The story is very simple and the illustrations employ a simple color palette the compliments the story nicely.

[Mary Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a decent message about grieving the loss of a pet, but it's very simplistic, even for a picture book. I'm not fond of the young protagonist unintentionally polluting by "sending Tim away in the sky" in a box attached to helium balloons, either.

[GothicGiggleCiCi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story with simplistic but sweet illustrations. Like another reviewer mentioned, I do wish that at the end, it was encouraged to still feel sad. The loss of a pet is very painful, even for adults, so it’s important for kids to know that feeling sadness is still a part of processing grief.

[Aliza Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, but simplistic story of saying goodbye to a beloved pet.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching farewell to a beloved turtle.