Out to Sea - Helen Kellock

A charming and sensitively written story about learning to cope with anxiety and grief featuring the beautiful illustrations of award-winning artist Helen Kellock. Out to Sea follows the journey of a young girl named Lara who is so sad after the death of her grandmother that her tears flood her room, her house, her town, and eventually sweep her out to sea. Adrift, she struggles to overcome her sadness until she discovers a pearl at the bottom of the ocean that triggers happy memories of her grandmother and the times they shared. With that pearl tucked in her pocket and the realization that she’s not alone, Lara finds the strength to pick up her oars and row herself back home. Beautifully illustrated and written with sensitivity, this moving tale of social and emotional learning expresses the experience of anxiety and grief and shows readers how they might ride the waves of emotion without losing perspective.