This is an all-ages book that should be in every TCK’s library, even though it is formatted like a children’s book. It tells the story of a little boy who decides to banish everything that makes him sad, only to find that without all those things he’s… sad! Realizing that the things that make him sad also make him happy, he reclaims everything & lives happily & sadly ever after. A funny story with a powerful message about the paradox of TCK life–that joy & sadness go hand-in-hand.
“The Boy Who Didn’t Want to be Sad” is a great book for kids (and teens and adults) who are tired of all the goodbyes and losses of a mobile life. Whether it’s moving or being left behind by friends who move away, it can seem easier to stop investing because it hurts. This book reminds us that what brings us sadness is also what brings us joy.