Sophie's New Song: A therapeutic story for children with absent parents, Paperback

Sophie gets a Bad Feeling sometimes. It surfaces whenever she thinks about her mom who isn't a part of her life. Sophie always pushes her thoughts and questions about her mom out of her mind, but today is different. It's her birthday, and she faces more reminders at school when she has to make her family tree. In this relatable and hopeful story, Sophie goes on a journey of self-discovery, captured perfectly with expressive illustrations, as she finds a new way to cope with her mom's absence.

The circumstances of having an absent parent can vary, and this book would appeal to families in different situations such as when a parent becomes absent after divorce or separation, incarceration, or a problem with addiction. Children in these situations might be like Sophie where their parent might come in and out of their life, or they may have never met their parent.

This book benefits children by

• normalizing the experience of having a parent who is absent.
• providing a language for children to talk about their feelings.
• helping children and families communicate about a difficult topic.

Sophie's New Song also includes a Note to Parents, Caregivers, and Professionals that provides helpful discussion questions and information on positive coping skills for children and families.