The Good for Nothing Puddle: Finding Hope When You’re Stuck in Sadness is actually an enjoyable story that shows depression, sadness, and grief in an unusually positive light without downplaying, ignoring or shaming it. However, the inclusion of God might turn some readers off as that part is an important part to the wrapping up of things and the message that the author wants to give. With that being said, I did enjoy the process of our main character figuring out that the puddle she has found herself in (that was created by her sadness) might not be so useless after all and if one tries, things can work out well.
The illustrations are sweetly colorful, simple and even when things are dark and gray, there is a hint of hope hiding inside of them. Abby Jartos made illustrations that are clever and simple, but accent the theme without taking over the narrative.
Some readers might things some of Jana Jackson’s story is a little selfish by putting our young girl in the spotlight of helping people while she needs help (she is grieving the loss of a person who was dear to her, which causes her to become immensely sad and fall into a depression), but it can be realistic and relatable to the right reader as well. The mixture of things, especially with the addition of the spirituality makes this work.
I was able to read this via an online reader copy, but it is not due out in the public until February 2025.