Crying Is Like the Rain: A Story of Mindfulness and Feelings

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A gentle metaphor for understanding and processing anxiety and sadness.
Is it possible we've misunderstood crying all along? That's the discovery one big sister sets out to share with her little brother, as they walk to school and get caught in a storm. Along the way they explore sadness, loneliness, fear, frustration, anger and more, through gentle metaphor. Their journey examines our tears revealing how they begin, why they happen, and what to do with them?

 

Throughout the book, the message received is that we are safe in our emotional experiences and that feelings, like the weather, come and go. This is an empowering story about navigating and understanding our feelings as a healthy, important, and very natural part of our lives. Have you ever noticed you feel differently after you cry? That's because Crying is like the Rain.



Centering on a child getting walked to school by an older sibling, Feinberg uses the changing weather as an extended metaphor for fluctuating emotions. Textural illustrations by Kellogg provide a sprightly backdrop to the characters' journey. Two consecutive spreads--one depicting clear skies as the duo traverse a rural road, the next depicting the gathering storm as a man tending his sunflowers waves to the siblings--stand out, the perspective shift reflecting characters' reactions to the weather. While some passages feel heavy-handed ("When you are worried or upset, / scared or lonely, or something deep/ within feels off balance, there is/ a storm building inside you"), the book stands as a reliable entrée for adults to support young readers' emotional processing. Back matter includes mindfulness activities and advice for caretakers on how to discuss feelings with children.-- "PW"
"Crying is Like The Rain is a timely gem! This simple and profound book does an exceptional job of helping people of all ages understand that our emotions don't need to be judged or shamed or shut down. Rather, if we just remember that it's all weather we can allow the storms to come and go and celebrate the beauty that emerges as a result. This is an essential read for anyone interested in new ways of understanding child development, emotional well-being and conscious parenting. Consider this a family primer for the evolution of humanity." - Carrie Contey, PhD Human Development Specialist

"What a gift to humanity! Learning about and embracing our feelings as children would help prevent so many of the challenges we face as adults. Crying is Like the Rain should be required reading in all elementary classrooms and for all parents, it would help create a kinder, more compassionate, loving and joyful world. In fact, this book will speak to individuals of any age as they do the important work of emotional healing and reparenting themselves."- Elicia Miller Founder of Core Emotional Healing

"Crying is Like the Rain is a stunning, descriptive, expansive book - an important book - which offers language, understanding, and tools to help navigate emotions. The beautiful images tell the story of a particular child's struggle while the far-reaching words make the story relatable to any circumstance. The story takes us on a journey into the healing process of accepting feelings and allowing them to flow through us, without judgement or fear of other people's reactions. There is a lovely activity at the back of the book, which offers practical support in making this wisdom a part of daily routines. This book is a gift to the emotional wellbeing of children and adults alike, perfect for every home, classroom, and library!" - Julia Spector Mancini Parent Yogi Writer PeaceMaker

"The natural wonder of weather allows child counselor Heather Hawk Feinberg to present an outward manifestation of emotions, even the difficult ones. Crying is Like the Rain opens the inner lives of children, not unlike the I Am books by Susan Verde, by providing assurance during the sometimes overwhelming experience of human feelings. This affirming book can be revisited again and again during family discussions, with benefit to kids and parents alike."- Many Jo Shelton Writer Editor Publisher


Feinberg delves into the topic by addressing the reader directly with questions and using direct address to pull them in. The beginnings of storms can feel uncertain. Some storms are loud and thunderous; some storms are relatively gentle. Sometimes " the storm feels like it will never end, but it always does". And of course, "crying is like the rain". It helps release pent-up emotions, oftentimes giving a sense of calm at its end.-- "Kirkus Reviews" 


Crying is like the Rain marks the debut book of Heather Hawk Feinberg, founder of Mindful Kids, and reads as a love letter to her twenty-five years of experience educating and counseling families of all-ages. The story is due to be released at a time when many children have been out-of-school and so, those who anxiously await their return, may identify with Kellogg's charming illustrations that tell the tale of a little boy who is tearfully bound for his first day of school. Described as a story of mindfulness and feelings, Crying is like the Rain seeks to support children in their lifelong journeys of identifying, understanding and coping with their ever-changing emotions by drawing comparisons to the weather in an intelligent yet accessible way.

There are many messages that can be taken from the story: we are not our feelings; our emotions come and go but should never be ignored; it is important to express ourselves; and even the worst storms come to an end. These lessons in emotional awakening can be reinforced by the excellent suggested activities at the end of the book, helping adults connect to their children through play and dialogue. As a teacher of younger ones, I will most certainly be using Crying is like the Rain in my classroom. --Ellie Egleton "Armadillo Magazine"


Heather Hawk Feinberg is a counselor, writer, mother, and the founder of Mindful Kids (www.mindfulkidscommunity.org), a nonprofit organization that creates pioneering resources for social and emotional learning. She works with individuals, families, and organizations across the globe. Heather's calling is guiding children (and the child inside each of us) to discover our voices, access our power, and connect to our knowing. This is her debut book.

Chamisa Kellogg (Portland, OR) is a RISD-trained artist whose work is inspired by nature, myths and fairy tales, and the nebulous line between reality and imagination. She has drawn and designed for magazines, books, apps, social innovators, and educational materials.

 

Target Age: 6-8

Tilbury House Publishers

Pub Date: August 24, 2021

0.15" H x 9.91" L x 9.01" W

36 pages

paperback