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A Terrible Thing Happened: A Story for Children Who Have Witnessed Violence or Trauma Paperback – February 15, 2000

by Margaret M. Holmes (Author), Cary Pillo (Illustrator)

4.8 1,598 ratings

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A gently told and tenderly illustrated story for children who have witnessed any kind of violent or traumatic episode, including physical abuse, school or gang violence, accidents, homicide, suicide, and natural disasters such as floods or fire.

Sherman Smith saw the most terrible thing happen. At first he tried to forget about it, but soon something inside him started to bother him. He felt nervous for no reason. Sometimes his stomach hurt. He had bad dreams. And he started to feel angry and do mean things, which got him in trouble. Then he met Ms. Maple, who helped him talk about the terrible thing that he had tried to forget. Now Sherman is feeling much better.

Children who have witnessed violence or other traumatic incidents are at surprisingly greater risk for committing violence in the future than are children who have actually been involved in such events. The event might be a car accident, domestic or school violence, suicide, or a natural disaster such as a tornado, flood, or fire. Regardless of the type of incident, child witnesses often react by trying to forget or ignore the experience. When their feelings are pushed underground in this manner, these children may begin to feel bad in ways they don’t understand, and become angry as a result of feeling bad. It is this anger that can give way to violence.

Caring adults can make all the difference by helping children talk about and understand the experience. An afterword by Sasha J. Mudlaff written for parents and other caregivers offers extensive suggestions for helping traumatized children, including a list of other sources that focus on specific events.

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Reading age

5 - 9 years, from customers
Print length

32 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 3
Dimensions

8 x 0.25 x 8 inches
Publisher

Magination Press
Publication date

February 15, 2000
ISBN-10

1557987017
ISBN-13

978-1557987013
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From the Publisher

A Terrible Thing Happened book story for children who have witnessed violence or trauma banner ad

Sherman Smith saw the most terrible thing happen. At first he tried to forget about it, but soon something inside him started to bother him. He felt nervous for no reason. Sometimes his stomach hurt. He had bad dreams. And he started to feel angry and do mean things, which got him in trouble. Then he met Ms. Maple, who helped him talk about the terrible thing that he had tried to forget. Now Sherman is feeling much better.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An unqualified success. These illustrations serve the text extremely well, adding welcome touches of humor to the exposition of this very serious subject. ― Booklist

About the Author

Margaret M. Holmes writes inspirational and self-help stories for children for over 20 years. In addition to A Terrible Thing Happened, she is the author of Molly's Mom Died, Sam's Dad Died, and Charlie's Brother (a story for the siblings of a child with special needs who is being admitted to residential care). She lives near Des Moines, IA.

Cary Pillo, a Fine Arts and Design graduate from Washington State University, has illustrated many children’s educational materials and children's books, including A Terrible Thing Happened, Gentle Willow, Striped Shirts and Flowered Pants, and Tibby Tried It. She lives in Seattle, WA.

Sasha J. Mudlaff, MA is a third generation owner/employee of her family’s business, Hamilton’s Funeral Home, in Des Moines, IA, currently serving as the company’s vice president. Sasha is also the founder and Grief Consultant for Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss, where she specializes in working with grieving children and teens, having done so for over 25 years.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Magination Press; 1st edition (February 15, 2000)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1557987017
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1557987013
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 9 years, from customers
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.25 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #19,543 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books)
- #4 in Children's Books on Violence
- #37 in Children's Books on Death & Dying
- #371 in Children's Books on Emotions & Feelings (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 1,598 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

1,598 global ratings

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George Buttner

Well-Presented Story of Reassurance

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2016

Verified Purchase

"A Terrible Thing Happened" is a wonderful book for any child that might be coping with having witnessed something shocking or tragic, as well as a very nicely illustrated picture book. What actually attracted me to the book was its illustrations, but I was drawn in by the story as well.

The book is about Sherman, a young raccoon, who as the title suggests, witnessed something terrible. We don't find out what it was that Sherman witnessed, which allows the book to be used for a variety of situations. We do learn that keeping his feelings inside has affected Sherman in a number of negative ways, including feelings of anxiety, not sleeping well, and eventually acting out and hurting others. Fortunately, Sherman gets the help of a caring counselor at school. The language is simple but nevertheless straightforward and appropriately-detailed and the afterword section, "A Note to Parents and Caregivers," offers a number of a well-thought-out suggestions, as well as a list of other helpful reading material. The illustrations go well with the text, at times dark representing Sherman's feelings, but also very soft and tender, and bright as things start to look up. The counselor's office is presented as a very reassuring place that would be welcoming for a young child, with a soft, pastel-colored carpet, a vase of flowers, a small and tasteful display of stuffed animals on the top of the bookshelf and comfortable furniture.

One thing I really liked about this book is that despite the situation covered being very generic, the main character, Sherman, is not generic. Although it is somewhat subtle, he is given a personality. For example, we told that it is normal for Sherman to tease his sister. Perhaps not the most admirable thing, but nevertheless something that kids do. Also, when he is asked to draw a picture of how he felt when he is angry, it is said that it "seems strange" to him but that he did it anyway. Again, a subtle sign of personality, as for some children this may feel like a normal and natural way to express their feelings. Readers are also reassured that Sherman is not a "bad kid," that when he started getting into trouble at school for acting out, he felt bad, as this wasn't normal for him.

I think this book would be great for a variety of situations and audiences. Though it is clearly targeted at young readers, the story would resonate with anyone in a similar situation, as it is very well-presented. At the end of the book, readers are presented with a simple, reassuring message.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Henry Dahm Jr

Very helpful book

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2024

Verified Purchase

I’m sorry I needed this book for two of my students but it was exactly what they needed. They had some horrible things happen and they needed to find someone safe to talk about this with.

Helpful

Jessica T.

Great way to talk to kids about Traumatic events they have witnessed

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024

Verified Purchase

Talks about how kids try to deal with it, feelings they might feel, and how to talk to grownups (like therapists).

It has been a good resource for me as I help my own kids. It was recommended by their therapist.

Helpful

Sarah

Such a Useful, Practical Book for just about Anyone

Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2014

Verified Purchase

I love that this book is vague about what the actual problem is, never specifying what terrible thing the main character saw. I feel that this is helpful so that if something is bothering a child, that it might help them to think about what is bothering them instead of the character in the book. It expanded on all of the negative ways the terrible thing was affecting the main character and offered him hope of feeling better through talking to a trusted adult who could help him figure out his feelings about what he saw.

I love the line: "Sometimes parents help children figure out their feelings. Sometimes teachers or other grown-ups help. That is how Sherman met Ms. Maple." I love that line for a couple of reasons 1.) Not every child is raised by mom or dad - and it is nice to see that other adults are mentioned as other credible options and also 2) Although many parents are helpful, there are some who are not...or unfortunately may be the major contributor to the child's issues, so for these children it is important to offer other options.

Because you can't flip through the book online to see if you like it before buying it, I thought that it might be helpful to write it out below since it's relatively short:

Page 1) "Sherman Smith saw the most terrible thing. He was very upset. It really scared Sherman to see such a terrible thing."

P 2) "Sherman did not like feeling so afraid. He did not want to remember what happened. So Sherman decided not to think about the terrible thing he saw. Sherman thought that would make him feel better."

3) "At first the plan seemed to work. Sherman woke up every morning. He brushed his teeth and he went to school."

4) "Sherman played with his friends. He teased his sister and he walked his dog."

5) "Everything seemed all right for a while. But something inside of Sherman was starting to bother him."

6) "Sherman had to play more, run faster, and sing louder in order to forget the terrible thing he saw."

7) "Other things started happening to Sherman, too. Sometimes he did not feel hungry."

8) "Sometimes his stomach hurt or his head hurt."

9) "Sometimes he felt sad, but he did not know why."

10) "Sometimes he was nervous for no reason at all."

11) "Sometimes he did not sleep very well."

12) "Sometimes when he did sleep he had very bad dreams. The bad dreams scared Sherman."

13) "All of these things made Sherman angry. It seemed like Sherman was angry all the time."

14) "Sherman started getting into trouble at school. Sometimes he felt so angry that he did mean things."

15) "Getting into trouble so often made Sherman feel bad."

16) "Sherman did not understand all of his bad feelings. He felt confused.
Sometimes parents help children figure out their feelings. Sometimes teachers or other grown-ups help. That is how Sherman met Ms. Maple."
(Pic of Ms Maple appears to be in a school-counseling room type setting, but it does not specify).

17) "Ms. Maple helped Sherman think about his feelings. She listened while Sherman talked to her. They played while they talked. Sherman did not feel as mixed up when he talked to Ms Maple."

18) "Once when Sherman and Ms Maple were coloring, she told him to draw a picture of how he felt when he was angry. This seemed like a strange thing to draw, but Sherman did it."

19) "After that, Sherman drew lots of pictures. Pictures of the pain in his stomach. Pictures of the bad dreams he had. Pictures of the fear he felt."

20) "And at last, pictures of the terrible thing he saw. (Illustrations of the terrible thing he saw is a bunch of black, grey and red scribbles in the shape of a cloud)"

21) "Sherman and Ms. Maple talked about the pictures. He asked if the terrible thing he saw was his fault. Sherman said he worried a lot about that."

22) “No,” Ms. Maple told Sherman, “it was not your fault.”

23) "Nothing can change the terrible thing that Sherman saw, but now he does not feel so mean. He is not scared or worried. His stomach does not hurt as much,. And the mad dreams hardly ever happen."

24) "Sherman Smith is feeling much better now. He just thought you would want to know."

The illustrations in the book are great! Also, the "Parents and Caregivers" section in the back is insightful and practical.

472 people found this helpful

Helpful

Elise

Useful therapy tool

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2023

Verified Purchase

I use this book to help my child clients process trauma, and it’s been especially useful for my younger clients. This is a must have for every child therapist’s library! The storyline is wonderful in facilitating trauma processing, and the illustrations are engaging even for kids with the shortest attention spans.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Joe Jordbakke

Love it

Reviewed in Canada on April 21, 2024

Verified Purchase

Great book.

Yasmin

An effective book for children who have experienced trauma

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

As a child counsellor, I use this book frequently and is just the thing to help children make sense of the reactions they feel to witnessing or experiencing a bad event. It also reminds children it's not their fault what happened which is an essential message for them. Sometimes having this in a book makes the truth of this statement more 'official'.

B. Atenciano

children and PTSD

Reviewed in Spain on December 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

As a child therapist, working with trauma and violence, this book is one of my "must haves" in the consultation room. Kids get it at the first read, and helps them to understand what they are being put through.

Eddyline

This is a terrific book for working with children who have experienced trauma

Reviewed in Canada on December 11, 2019

Verified Purchase

I work as a psychotherapist treating children and youth and often utilize what I call therapeutic picture books to reinforce the work we are doing in each therapy session. Over the course of the last 10 years I have probably bought about a dozen copies of this book, because it has been so helpful in the treatment of trauma with children. We learn that Sherman the raccoon (the main character the book is about) has seen '"something terrible" and that all his efforts to forget what he saw are not only not working, but he is getting into lots of trouble because it gets harder and harder to not remember. Then along comes the trusty art therapist bear who helps Sherman process what he saw by drawing what he saw (only every represented with dark scribbles) and other things about that day. I highly recommend this book.

me 343

Great resource

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2019

Verified Purchase

I bought this as a conversation opener for the children I work with. It is a great story which investigates how we feel when we suppress our feelings/worries and that we can talk with someone about anything. The story is useful in any situation around trauma, as it is not specific about what the character saw, leaving it open to interpretation of the listener.
Would recommend.

3 people found this helpful

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