Bad Bye, Good Bye
Deborah Underwood, Author
Jonathan Bean, Illustrator
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Fiction, 2014
Suitable for ages: 4-8
Themes: Moving, Packing up a household, Saying good-bye, New home and friends
Opening: “Bad day/Bad box/Bad mop/Bad blocks/Bad truck/Bad guy/Bad wave/Bad bye.”
Book Jacket Synopsis: Change is hard. And when you’re moving away from your old home and your old friends, GOOD BYE can feel like BAD BYE. But could your new town hold surprises that turn BAD BYE into a GOOD BYE again? BAD BYE, GOOD BYE is perfect for moving day or any of life’s tough transitions.
Why I like this book: Deborah Underwood uses minimal text in the form of two-word phrases on each page to tell this heartwarming story about a family moving. Jonathan Bean’s colorful collage-like watercolor illustrations show the roller coaster of emotions the boy and girl feel as pack up their home, say goodbye to friends and travel by car to a new city, house and school. The story has a nice rhythmic feel as well as rhyming. “New house/New hall/New room/New wall.” For some children change is harder than for others. This book will be a great comfort for children on the move this summer to new homes before the next school year begins. BAD BYE, GOOD BYE can be used when there are other physical changes and separations (divorce, job or military) and grief.
Deborah Underwood is the New York Times best-selling San Francisco-base author of The Quiet Book and The Loud Book. Visit Deborah’s website.
Jonathan Bean’s illustration accolades include the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the Ezra Jack Keats Award. Visit Jonathan’s website.
Book Giveaway: I will be giving away one copy of BAD BYE, GOOD BYE. All you have to do is leave a comment and indicate whether you’d like to be in the drawing. I will announce the winner next Wednesday, June 25.
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