This is a good book for a child to read to understand that people do feel sad and why sad feelings do occur. The book also lets a child know that comforting helps these feelings. The photographs that show sadness are excellent. A sad child would feel like they were looking in a mirror. The only part about the book that I did not like was that the family decided to take the child away from the home while the pet died and did not let the child attend the the burial. I think a child would understand death better and be able to release some grief by attending the burial. It's a chance to say "goodbye" that we all need.