Crying Is Like the Rain

Heather Hawk Feinberg built something genuinely useful here: a picture book that uses a rainstorm as a living metaphor for the full spectrum of children's difficult emotions. Sadness, loneliness, fear, frustration, anger — each is named and normalized, and the core reassurance that feelings, like weather, pass on their own is delivered gently rather than rushed. Chamisa Kellogg's illustrations carry the emotional weight well, and the caregiver back matter with mindfulness activities gives adults real tools for the conversation afterward. Educators and child therapists have taken notice, frequently recommending it in school and clinical settings. The one caveat is age: the metaphorical framework assumes some abstract thinking, which may slip past the very youngest children. For the four-to-eight range and their caregivers, it's an excellent resource.