In this heartfelt episode of Reading With Your Kids, we’re joined by the incredibly thoughtful Lindsay Bonilla, author of the beautifully powerful picture book The Hole. Inspired by the tragic loss of a friend’s child, Lindsay opens up about her journey of creating a story that gently guides children and families through the hard-to-talk-about feelings that come with grief and loss.

We talk about why it's so important to have honest conversations with kids about death, and how picture books can offer a safe, age-appropriate space to begin those conversations. The Hole follows a young child navigating life after losing a sibling — and shows us that even when we can’t make things “all better,” we can help kids feel seen, supported, and maybe just a little bit lighter.

Lindsay shares the personal moments that shaped her storytelling, the healing power of silence, and the profound impact a simple sentence like “I don’t feel good, but I think I feel better” can have on a hurting heart.

If you’re a parent, teacher, counselor, or just someone who wants to help kids process tough emotions, this episode is for you. In this episode, we explore:

How The Hole was born from real-life grief

Why it’s okay — and necessary — to talk about death with kids

The healing magic of storytelling and silence

How empathy and connection help us fill “the holes” in our hearts

We also listen back to a conversation we had in August of 2024 with Chris Starssel about her new book Courageous Clooney

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I Don't Feel Good, But I Think I Feel Better

Reading With Your Kids Podcast