{"product_id":"the-owl-and-the-ladybug-michael-reed-9798242316386","title":"The Owl and the Ladybug: Helping Children Understand Loss","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Owl and the Ladybug\u003c\/b\u003e is a gentle, beautifully illustrated story designed to help children begin understanding grief, sadness, and loss in a way that feels safe, calm, and reassuring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen loss enters a child's world, feelings often arrive before words-sadness, confusion, and a quiet heaviness that can be difficult to explain. Through the tender friendship of \u003cb\u003eLila, a thoughtful little ladybug, and Kole, a kind and steady owl\u003c\/b\u003e, young readers are welcomed into a peaceful forest where emotions are honored, questions are allowed, and no one has to face grief alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Lila begins to feel a heaviness she doesn't fully understand, Kole offers something simple but powerful: companionship. Their quiet conversations gently show children that grief is a natural response to love-and that feelings do not need to be rushed, fixed, or hidden.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRather than offering easy answers, the story models presence, listening, and emotional safety, giving children permission to feel exactly what they feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter the story concludes, the book continues with \u003cb\u003eguided activities\u003c\/b\u003e that help children explore their own thoughts and emotions in a calm, supportive way. These pages encourage reflection, conversation, and emotional expression at a pace that feels comfortable for each child.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eChildren are gently encouraged to: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e- Put confusing feelings into words\u003cbr\u003e- Understand that sadness and love can exist together\u003cbr\u003e- Feel reassured that their emotions are normal and welcome\u003cbr\u003e- Build emotional awareness in a safe and supportive way\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCreated for children ages \u003cb\u003e4-12\u003c\/b\u003e, this book can be read independently or shared together, making it a meaningful resource for \u003cb\u003eparents, caregivers, educators, counselors, and therapists\u003c\/b\u003e supporting children through grief or big emotions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMichael Reed is an author, speaker, and certified grief coach whose work focuses on grief, healing, and resilience. After losing his wife and two daughters in the 2016 Gatlinburg wildfires, he dedicated his life to helping others navigate loss with honesty and compassion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe is also the author of \u003cb\u003eThe Million Stages of Grief\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eThe Million Stages of Healing\u003c\/b\u003e, books that explore how adults understand grief and rebuild life after devastating loss. \u003ci\u003eThe Owl and the Ladybug\u003c\/i\u003e extends that work to children, offering families a gentle way to begin conversations that are often difficult to start.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is not a story about moving on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is a story about learning how to feel, remember, and live-with love still present.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Michael Reed\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798242316386\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Independently Published\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/31\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 76\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.00h x 8.00w x 0.20d","brand":"Michael Reed","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48437648785663,"sku":"9798242316386","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_f49f0916-dfd8-4484-a821-3f8adde8705d.jpg?v=1777163151","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-owl-and-the-ladybug-michael-reed-9798242316386","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}