Hello! Good-bye!

Name: Hello! Good-bye!
ISBN: 9780688143343

For children navigating new social situations or struggling with good-byes, this book gently explores the many ways we connect and part.

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About This Book

A parent might reach for this book when their child is feeling anxious about social transitions, like the first day of school, or struggles with the big feelings around hellos and good-byes. Aliki's classic book is a gentle and reassuring survey of the many ways people connect and part. It uses simple language and warm illustrations to show a diverse range of greetings and farewells, from hugs and high-fives to formal bows and phone calls. Perfect for ages 3 to 7, this book normalizes separation, builds social vocabulary, and opens a conversation about how we show we care, even when we have to say good-bye for a little while.

Friendship & Social Curiosity & Wonder Making Friends Empathy & Kindness First Day Family & Siblings Friendship & Loyalty

What Parents Should Know

Sad ThemesMild

Gently depicts the brief sadness of saying good-bye, which is always framed as temporary.

Sensitive Topics

The book's core topic is separation, but it is handled in a very gentle, secular, and matter-of-fact way. All the good-byes depicted are temporary and low-stakes (e.g., leaving for school, the end of a playdate). The resolution is always an implicit or explicit future hello, creating a hopeful and reassuring cycle. There is no mention of permanent separation like death or divorce.