What has play got to do with suffering? 

Annie F. Downs has built her career on having fun. Her New York Times bestseller titles include That Sounds Fun, Remember God, and 100 Days to Brave. Her new book for kids seems very different from the fun-loving Downs. 

Downs explains how the death of her nephew TJ led her to write a children's book to help kids (and grownups) understand suffering and loss at the same time as the love of God. 

In this episode, Downs tells us what surprised her about how kids respond to this kind of suffering and what that taught her about getting rid of fake platitudes, about what to do when someone you love is hurting, and about how to genuinely grieve while still recognizing a world of joy, hope, and even fun.

• Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include:
• Where Did TJ Go? By Annie F. Downs
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
• Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
• Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself by Judy Blume

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