Annie and the Wild Animals

A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling lonely after a friend moves, or is grappling with the temporary loss of a pet. The story follows a young girl named Annie, whose cat disappears as winter sets in. To cope with her loneliness, she tries to befriend the wild animals in the nearby woods by leaving out corn cakes, with gentle and humorous results. As the seasons change from winter to spring, the story unfolds with a comforting and joyful resolution. Ideal for children ages 4 to 7, this book is a wonderful tool for validating feelings of sadness and demonstrating that difficult feelings, like winter, eventually pass and can give way to joyful new beginnings.