The Heart and the Bottle Kindle Edition

Gave this as a Christmas gift to my daughter. Sad storyline seemed inappropriate at the time. Then two months later my dad, her grandpa died. The story of the little girl feeling very sad and then finding joy after the loss of loved one not helped my daughter feel better. Will share this story with my nieces and nephews to help cope with our family’s heart break.

I originally purchased this book for my 3 year old son, however, after reading it, I knew that it was much more than a children's book. As a hospice bereavement counselor, this book is a wonderful addition to my professional library as well. In working with bereaved or grieving children, this book offers a simply story about loss, painful emotions, and enduring love. The story is simple enough for a youngster, but also profound enough for a teen or adult. Whether the loss is through death, divorce, or physical separation, this book has you covered. Thank you again Mr Jeffers for doing it right.

This little, poignant children's book help me through my intense grief after my wife of 40 years died in January. I still grieve but I choose not to put my heart in a bottle. I heartily recommend this book and have bought some as gifts for others in the throes grief. Indispensable for helping the grandchildren come to grips with what is hard for them to understand.

BEST for adults who are grieving... Such a beautiful book about not putting our feelings in a bottle for fear of being hurt again. I work with people in grief of all ages. Many of the younger children (under 6th grade) that I read it to did not understand the metaphor used throughout the book and most did not understand it that the chair is empty because the person who sat there died. But the adults.... they understand it and it helps them to normalize their grief experience and begin to figure out why they are not healing. We cannot protect our hearts from grief and grow through it... this book is wonderful but I would not call it a children's book. Believe me, if you are an adult in grief right now... read this CHILDREN'S book! If you work with people who grieve, you will want this book to share with them. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book so much!

I work as a child trauma expert, and this book is phenomenal. Perhaps the best I’ve seen aimed at child loss. A beautiful book visually, but also captures the science on how avoidance of emotions drives a trauma response, just in words that resonate with children. Amazing.

I bought this book as an adult for an adult friend who recently lost a parent unexpectedly. It was so appropriate to that situation and her 1-year-old son loves it too. It can be used for teaching important truths about life--such as loss and recovery--but also can be a sweet story for those young ones who are not yet privy to the more painful losses in life yet. It's really not a sad book, the way this review might make it seem, but is hopeful and encouraging and can be applied to multiple situations. The illustrations are adorable and the consensus from the three of us, old and young, is that we love this book.

A sweet book that I bought after my mom died. I’m 52 years old but I saw an article about the book and it just touched me. Beautiful illustration and I think it’s just right for an older child 10+

I was recommended this book for my child’s age group, four years old. It’s definitely for a much older child! It’s very short, not much to the story, you have to understand the visuals to make the story up in your own head. Would not recommend

A beautiful simple yet profound story of love, loss and ultimately of hope. With short sentences and exquisite pictures that speak more than a thousand words.A fathers love towards his daughter, and a daughters devoted love towards her father. He is constantly watching, caring and overseeing, guiding her, teaching her, instructing her in embracing and bringing to life before her the deep well and the excitement of riches of life, the universe and everything. Until he is no longer there, no longer sitting in his chair, and the pervasive darkness of grief descends upon his little girl. Who devastated locks away her heart, her ability to love.Yet she learns through another, someone smaller who still excited, and curious about the world teaches and practically assists in putting back her heart she had secured away into a bottle.Unselfish love brings its own reward. Although there is much happiness in receiving love, there is even greater happiness in giving or showing, love to others.That the epitome of love, pure, rich and a ceaseless flowing that love that will never end. When we begin to give our selves away, we find out immediately how good that is. Yet from a genuine caring heart.When we give joy we receive joy, when we give hope we receive hope, when we give love we receive love, and when we give mercy we receive mercy. Everything we give away multiplies itself. And we rediscover the joy, gift and privilege of being alive.

A wonderful book for a young child, we've read it so many times, it's lovely and heart-warming. A good way to introduce a concept of loss (death) in a very lovely, clever way that children can understand and apply in other life situations (like a loss of a toy or a pet). I will definitely keep this book for my children and grandchildren, it's a classic and is clever, funny and heart-warming just as you would expect from the author! <3

I really enjoyed this book and the emotional subtext, as well as the really lovely illustrations. However, it was a bit confusing for my 3 year old who can normally follow stories easily. It doesn't read that well when reading aloud and doesn't have much of a narrative.

Really beautiful. I bough this for my friend (age 36) who was going through a tough time and has been through one. The book is stunningly illustrated with a beautiful message. Very touching.

Children love reading this in therapy. So cleverly put together and illustrated beautifully as writer presents endings and bereavement cycle.