When Sadness Comes to Call: questions to ask and activities to try
When Sadness arrives, give it a name and spend some time together. When Sadness Comes to Call is a gentle, prize-winning book about welcoming sad feelings.
What age is it for? When Sadness Comes to Call is best for ages 3–7. Good for: Welcoming sadness and letting it be.
When Sadness Comes to Call (Eva Eland)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Welcoming sadness and letting it be
Read it calmly. Talk about what your child does when sadness visits, and what they might try from the book.
What it helps with
- Accepting sad feelings
- Naming emotions
- Calm ways to cope
- Feelings pass
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Who came to visit?”
- “What did Sadness look like?”
- “What did the child do with Sadness?”
- “What helped?”
- “Did Sadness leave?”
- “What do you do when you’re sad?”
5-minute activities to try together
Sadness visit
Draw what your child's sadness looks like.
Comfort list
Make a list of things to do with sadness: a walk, music, a cuddle.
Free printables: When Sadness Comes to Call worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
The Rabbit Listened (Cori Doerrfeld)
- Best for
- Sitting with difficult feelings
- Age
- 4-8
Beneath (Cori Doerrfeld)
- Best for
- Feelings hidden beneath the surface
- Age
- 3-7
Rain Before Rainbows (Smriti Halls and David Litchfield)
- Best for
- Hope through hard times
- Age
- 3-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.