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Reviewed by Rachel Inbar for Readers' Favorite
In Finding Joy by Raven Howell, we meet a young girl who quickly tells us about her first and second happiest days. The first is the day her giggly brother John (who likes peas) is adopted and the second is the day her family adopts Joy - a friendly old dog -from the animal shelter. We are taken on the family's adventures with Joy through all the seasons, jumping in snow piles in the winter, splashing in puddles in the spring, cuddles after summer camp, and going with the children to pick apples in the fall. One day, when Mom comes to pick up the children, she arrives alone as Joy isn't with her. Mom tells them the sad news that Joy has died. John no longer wants to eat peas and the girl voices her feeling that Joy’s death is unfair.
Raven Howell's Finding Joy is a bite-sized story for younger children. While reading, it is easy to imagine how the family enjoys spending time with Joy and how she quickly becomes part of the family. Her death, although sudden, is peaceful and inevitable from old age. The illustrations by Pamela C. Rice show how the children bond with Joy. A resource at the end of the book by Denise A. Angelo guides parents to understand grief through their children’s eyes. It also includes practical tips for things one can do, such as placing a picture of the person who died in a special place and how to act during the different stages of grief.
