The Good for Nothing Puddle: Finding Hope When You're Stuck in Sadness

In this powerful picture book about a girl experiencing loss, The Good for Nothing Puddle helps children explore the nature of grief and loss and leads them to find hope and redemption from pain.

When a girl loses the thing she loves the most, her tears gather into a puddle around her feet that follows her everywhere she goes. At first, she tries her best to make it go away, but it is inescapable. She even cries out to God to take it away. Eventually, a puppy, a farmer, and an artist stumble upon the girl and her puddle. Each one finds the puddle extremely useful in their own way and slowly the girl begins to understand that her “good for nothing” puddle might just be good for something after all! As she learns to accept her grief, she begins to find happiness again. Filled with moments of sorrow and joy, The Good for Nothing Puddle is a powerful metaphor for dealing with difficult emotions and navigating grief while holding onto faith.

The Good for Nothing Puddle:

• Is for children who have experienced loss of any kind, big or small
• Was reviewed and endorsed by a Christian counselor specializing in child therapy
• Teaches children as well as adults how to find hope in darkness
• Is filled with lively and dramatic illustrations
• Is great for families as well as Sunday school classes and church libraries, and anyone struggling to find God amid sadness

Jana Jackson is a writer and UpStreet Production Director for North Point Ministries. She creates content and environments that inspire children to develop a faith of their own. She lives on the Chattahoochee River just outside Atlanta, GA, with her four daughters and dog Bleu. The Good-for-Nothing Puddle is her first book.

Abby Jartos is an illustrator and designer with over two decades of experience. She currently leads an environment and experience design studio, as well as serving as creative director for a Southeast-based content creation company. She lives outside of Atlanta with her two children. The Good-for-Nothing Puddle is her first book.