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Bitter Melons: A Children's Book About Coping with Trauma and Difficult Feelings After a Trauma (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
"What a touching story for Mother's Day!" - Society for Behavior SciAnts
Bitter melon is a vegetable known for its bitter taste. It is widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. The story of Bitter Melons is about a little girl who had a childhood that everyone had envied but experienced the trauma of losing her father and having to move to a new city when she was thirteen, and how this trauma deeply affected her subsequent life when she chose to avoid the painful experience and grief. She spent most of her time escaping from something she couldn't change. Until it was too late, she did not realize that she had missed so much time that she could have spent with her mother, who had always been loving and supporting her.
Bitter melons are a metaphor that represents painful experiences and difficult feelings in life. Using a simple story, the author conveys a profound avoiding such experiences and feelings will lead to more pain and regrets. Only bravely accepting them will help us live a meaningful and value-driven life and love those who matter to us currently.
The story is grounded on evidence-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Bitter melon is a vegetable known for its bitter taste. It is widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. The story of Bitter Melons is about a little girl who had a childhood that everyone had envied but experienced the trauma of losing her father and having to move to a new city when she was thirteen, and how this trauma deeply affected her subsequent life when she chose to avoid the painful experience and grief. She spent most of her time escaping from something she couldn't change. Until it was too late, she did not realize that she had missed so much time that she could have spent with her mother, who had always been loving and supporting her.
Bitter melons are a metaphor that represents painful experiences and difficult feelings in life. Using a simple story, the author conveys a profound avoiding such experiences and feelings will lead to more pain and regrets. Only bravely accepting them will help us live a meaningful and value-driven life and love those who matter to us currently.
The story is grounded on evidence-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
34 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 24, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 3, 2022
Beautiful emotions dealt in a lovely way
It is a book for children, but so much more. It is written in a language understandable for children, but deals with very difficult topics. Starting from dealing with the death of a loved one, denial, the inability to accept situations leading to withdrawal, being friendless, the book deals with all of it well.
'She would be a princess no matter what'. The line captures the essence of the story wonderfully well. The illustrations were lovely, but the story itself was beautiful and necessary for all children and even adults. Excellent short read.
It is a book for children, but so much more. It is written in a language understandable for children, but deals with very difficult topics. Starting from dealing with the death of a loved one, denial, the inability to accept situations leading to withdrawal, being friendless, the book deals with all of it well.
'She would be a princess no matter what'. The line captures the essence of the story wonderfully well. The illustrations were lovely, but the story itself was beautiful and necessary for all children and even adults. Excellent short read.
September 22, 2022
Great learning book for children!
A beautifully written, child friendly book that captures different events and emotions experienced in every day life and how we deal with them. There are some massive life occurrences such as starting school, university, death that we have to face and this book reinforces the message of support and unconditional love that parents give to their children throughout these difficult times. It is beautifully illustrated with bright, vibrant colours and each picture can start a conversation with children and parents when reading together which enables greater explanation and therefore ensures understanding. It's a great learning tool, even down to telling the time with the click on the wall. Great to return to time after time.
A beautifully written, child friendly book that captures different events and emotions experienced in every day life and how we deal with them. There are some massive life occurrences such as starting school, university, death that we have to face and this book reinforces the message of support and unconditional love that parents give to their children throughout these difficult times. It is beautifully illustrated with bright, vibrant colours and each picture can start a conversation with children and parents when reading together which enables greater explanation and therefore ensures understanding. It's a great learning tool, even down to telling the time with the click on the wall. Great to return to time after time.
February 2, 2024
Dealing with loss
Life can bring bitter melons when everything seems to be going perfectly. You can't just ignore them. You have to deal with it (eat them) every day. A mothers love and perseverance help her daughter finally start dealing with the loss of her father. Great book to help explain grief and loss to children.
Life can bring bitter melons when everything seems to be going perfectly. You can't just ignore them. You have to deal with it (eat them) every day. A mothers love and perseverance help her daughter finally start dealing with the loss of her father. Great book to help explain grief and loss to children.
January 8, 2023
incredible story and illustrations!
Deeply moving in its depiction of a girl’s experience after the loss of her protective father, the complex story teaches how traumatic feelings can overwhelm us and stunt our emotional growth unless we learn to deal with and accept them. Also moving is the writer‘s authentic description of the mother’s loyalty and steadfastness towards her daughter. I highly recommend this book to any family dealing with loss or some other traumatic experience.
Deeply moving in its depiction of a girl’s experience after the loss of her protective father, the complex story teaches how traumatic feelings can overwhelm us and stunt our emotional growth unless we learn to deal with and accept them. Also moving is the writer‘s authentic description of the mother’s loyalty and steadfastness towards her daughter. I highly recommend this book to any family dealing with loss or some other traumatic experience.
September 12, 2022
What I like about this book was that it teaches children about trauma, grief and tragedy, and the constant inclusion of the bitter melons suggests that eventually we all will experience this. A child will definitely find parts of the book that are familiar: parents who adore them, parents who push food on them that they refuse, tragedy that strikes unexpectedly. Most pages have a surprise, but consistent inclusion of certain things is comforting and children will enjoy it.
February 29, 2024
A moving book about overcoming grief. The story is about a girl who grows up with loving and supportive parents, but then suffers a deep loss and must learn how to cope. Eventually, she does learn to accept her situation despite how difficult and bitter it is. This is a great book that teaches kids acceptance through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which uses short and easy-to-understand stories to help kids learn to regulate emotions and deal with the ups and downs of life.
April 22, 2024
Parents accept kids no matter what
Parents accepts how their kids behave no matter what. The little girl did not like a certain type of food but her mom kept on trying to get her to try it and always looked at her daughter as a princess even though in my opinion the girl did not always show kindness to her mom until her mom was no longer in her life. A good story to help kids understand their parents and even death.
Parents accepts how their kids behave no matter what. The little girl did not like a certain type of food but her mom kept on trying to get her to try it and always looked at her daughter as a princess even though in my opinion the girl did not always show kindness to her mom until her mom was no longer in her life. A good story to help kids understand their parents and even death.
August 14, 2024
A taste of life’s hard lessons
This book is an exploration of how trauma and grief can shape a persons life, and many ways. We may only regret later. The metaphor of the bitter melon perfectly encapsulate the stories theme making the protagonist’s journey, both relatable and heartbreaking. The ending leaves a lingering sadness that reminds us of the importance of facing our pain before it’s too late!
This book is an exploration of how trauma and grief can shape a persons life, and many ways. We may only regret later. The metaphor of the bitter melon perfectly encapsulate the stories theme making the protagonist’s journey, both relatable and heartbreaking. The ending leaves a lingering sadness that reminds us of the importance of facing our pain before it’s too late!
September 9, 2022
This is a great book about dealing with loss and tragedy. Sometimes, life throws some tragedy our way and there isn’t much we can do about it. This book touches on the loss of a parent and the struggle afterwards. It’s a great read for a child who may be dealing with a similar issue. The illustrations are beautiful. I highly recommend this book.
September 28, 2022
Love this!
This is a great book about learning to deal with difficult feelings after trauma and also to appreciate what we have. No matter what we should always appreciate what we have because it can be lost in an instant. But sometimes it can be a process because we need to deal with the difficult feelings before we learn to appreciate what we have.
This is a great book about learning to deal with difficult feelings after trauma and also to appreciate what we have. No matter what we should always appreciate what we have because it can be lost in an instant. But sometimes it can be a process because we need to deal with the difficult feelings before we learn to appreciate what we have.
October 6, 2022
So sad but worthy
This is story really pulls at your heart strings. It is a lesson in life, how to deal with growing up, challenges, losing of loved ones and being there for each other. And remembering no matter what that your always family and sometimes in life we all eat the bitter lemons. Highly recommended and the illustrations are beautiful.
This is story really pulls at your heart strings. It is a lesson in life, how to deal with growing up, challenges, losing of loved ones and being there for each other. And remembering no matter what that your always family and sometimes in life we all eat the bitter lemons. Highly recommended and the illustrations are beautiful.
October 30, 2022
A girls that is always a princess
It's a beautiful story about a girl who is always seen as a princess to her parents. When the mother became old and sick she decided to eat the bitter melon. Her mother also felt the loss of the husband yet persisted to raise her daughter up. It's a great book!
It's a beautiful story about a girl who is always seen as a princess to her parents. When the mother became old and sick she decided to eat the bitter melon. Her mother also felt the loss of the husband yet persisted to raise her daughter up. It's a great book!
October 28, 2022
No happy endings
This was a touchy story, I'm glad she went to school and managed to get herself out of poverty.
But I would have been happy if she improved her mother's lifestyle.
This was a touchy story, I'm glad she went to school and managed to get herself out of poverty.
But I would have been happy if she improved her mother's lifestyle.
November 6, 2022
beautiful
A touching story with beautiful watercolor illustrations. A very good story with important lessons to learn from. We enjoyed it. The ending is open-ended so I guess it’s meant for parents to discuss the ending with the kids as well as the moral of the story.
A touching story with beautiful watercolor illustrations. A very good story with important lessons to learn from. We enjoyed it. The ending is open-ended so I guess it’s meant for parents to discuss the ending with the kids as well as the moral of the story.
December 29, 2022
Children coping with Trials of life
Great book with vivid illustrations! It is a book about life and the trials that families go through. It teaches children to be strong and be able to pivot when encountering struggles.
Great book with vivid illustrations! It is a book about life and the trials that families go through. It teaches children to be strong and be able to pivot when encountering struggles.
January 16, 2023
Lovely little book which tackles quite mature topics in a way that children will understand and appreciate. With messages of love, acceptance, change and so much more. Beautiful illustrations enhance the book. Highly recommended for children.
March 26, 2023
A must have for every teacher and parent!
What a sweet story!
This is a beautifully written picture book that helps children go through the pain of losing someone they love. I found it very useful, and I have added it to my teaching book list.
What a sweet story!
This is a beautifully written picture book that helps children go through the pain of losing someone they love. I found it very useful, and I have added it to my teaching book list.
February 4, 2024
Deep Sad Book - Help With Coping After a Loss
Wow, this book is deep and a little depressing, but could be good for someone coping with a loss and difficult feelings like the girl and her mother in the book. Recommended for an older child who has experienced a trauma or loss.
Wow, this book is deep and a little depressing, but could be good for someone coping with a loss and difficult feelings like the girl and her mother in the book. Recommended for an older child who has experienced a trauma or loss.
May 2, 2024
The story of a girl and her parents, her childhood, her loss and the changes that come with the death of a parent. This beautifully illustrated book is painful, and touching and so, so real. Sharing this with a child or even an adult in your life would be a wonderful gift.
April 19, 2025
Maybe I didn't get it? But this book was super confusing and so focused on eating bitter melons. I didn't get the metaphor that it was trying to convey and I didn't really feel like the main character ever accepted the "bitter melons."
October 3, 2022
A great book!
A great book that illustrates what you miss out on when you don't deal with grief and you tried to avoid it. The illustrations tell the story perfectly.
A great book that illustrates what you miss out on when you don't deal with grief and you tried to avoid it. The illustrations tell the story perfectly.
October 13, 2022
Beautiful Illustrations
Cute and beautiful illustrations. Very good for parents with small little kids to read. They will surely love looking at the illustrated pages.
Cute and beautiful illustrations. Very good for parents with small little kids to read. They will surely love looking at the illustrated pages.
August 3, 2023
Lovely
A sweet book with a hidden message that parents will love us no matter how we are just like the bitter Mellons. Loved the illustrations. Highly recommended.
A sweet book with a hidden message that parents will love us no matter how we are just like the bitter Mellons. Loved the illustrations. Highly recommended.
May 14, 2024
Something’s are just bitter.
This story follows a girl and her family as they face life’s challenges. Along the away bitter greens are a constant.
The lesson being the more things change they stay the more they same.
This story follows a girl and her family as they face life’s challenges. Along the away bitter greens are a constant.
The lesson being the more things change they stay the more they same.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews