A Gentle Tale of Friendship and Loss
“How to Say A Good-Bye!” by Maria Stylianou offers a tender glimpse into the journeys of three little friends—Pete, John, and Zoe—as they grapple with the heartbreaking experience of losing someone dear. This book speaks directly to children who feel overwhelmed, guiding them through the shadows of grief in a language they can understand. It welcomes parents into its comforting pages too, offering a place where they can gently learn how to support their children and themselves. Some pages feel like a soft hug, others like a quiet invitation to speak feelings out loud—feelings that may otherwise remain silent and heavy.
This story’s simplicity doesn’t minimize its purpose; it carries deep meaning within its compact form. Readers find that the characters’ emotions mirror their own, helping them feel less alone. Children realize they’re not the only ones who struggle with sadness, and parents discover ways to phrase the unspoken. The author, a seasoned educational psychologist, knows that brief, relatable dialogues can encourage both kids and adults to share emotions without hesitation or fear.
Healing Words for Children and Adults
The book’s aim resonates beyond its vibrant illustrations. It helps parents who long for the right words but can’t quite find them—those moments when they catch themselves saying, “I don’t know what to do… I don’t know what to say.” They often hope someone else will guide their child through tears, but this book insists parents have a voice that matters. After all, reading together can cultivate a sense of unity. Little ones feel recognized in their sorrow, and adults grow more confident in offering comfort.
Dr. Maria Stylianou wrote this tale to address a very real challenge: people sometimes want to support each other, yet they freeze when grief appears. By weaving simple conversation starters into the narrative, she eases the pressure on families. Children take in soothing words and then learn to repeat them for themselves. It’s a loving cycle—hearing and using those same phrases fosters self-soothing over time.
“How to Say A Good-Bye!” provides a sense of solace not just for the big life transitions, but for smaller losses too. Whether it’s a vanished pet or a beloved toy gone missing, the book acknowledges that sadness can come in many ways. It doesn’t reduce the weight of these experiences. Instead, it creates an atmosphere where parents and children can face them with steady hearts.
The Power of Mourning
Freud’s concept of the “work of mourning” introduced in Mourning and Melancholia shows up here in a gentle form. He spoke of loss during the bleak era of the First World War, highlighting how crucial it was to put feelings into words. Finding those words, though, can be an uphill climb. This book gives families a boost, making the process of talking about painful absences a bit easier. It reminds readers that expressing longing for someone who’s gone keeps memories alive—it also helps them hold a loved one close, even when that person isn’t physically there.
Over time, accepting the truth of loss brings a gradual peace. Nobody is forced into rushed healing. Instead, the book quietly illustrates that, through conversation and reflection, children and adults can discover a place in their hearts where they carry their loved ones. That tender space allows them to move forward without losing what was once cherished. It’s bittersweet yet revealing—it opens them up to the fullness that once existed and the emptiness they now feel. By understanding this duality, the bereaved find a path to keep loving memories alive.
“How to Say A Good-Bye!” responds to everyday struggles encountered in private practice as well. Dr. Stylianou often meets parents who seek solutions when children feel excluded by a new sibling or heartbroken by an absent friend. They all yearn for meaningful guidance. This book’s gentle words land softly, helping them convey empathy again and again. Repeated reassurance can shape a powerful bond—children feel heard, while parents grow stronger in their capacity to nurture.
About Dr. Maria Stylianou
Dr. Maria Stylianou, author of this comforting children’s tale, has devoted her career to understanding how people think and feel. She was educated at the University of Natal in South Africa, earning her undergraduate, honors, and master’s degrees before moving to the University of Liverpool in the UK to pursue her PhD in developmental psychology. Her post-doctoral work at the University of Central Lancashire explored social and emotional intelligence in lonely children. She lectured there before relocating to Cyprus, eventually teaching at the University of Nicosia and Neapolis University. Now, she works exclusively in private practice in Nicosia—guiding children, adolescents, and adults through psychological assessments, psychotherapy, and parental counseling.
Her book, “How to Say A Good-Bye!”, can be found both on Amazon and via howtosayagoodbye.org. Parents, educators, and anyone touched by loss may find its pages a welcoming space to pause, reflect, and heal. The gentle guidance within these chapters doesn’t erase sadness—it fosters understanding, lightens the weight of grief, and lets readers move forward with treasured memories still glowing in their hearts.
We had the privilege of interviewing Maria Stylianou. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hi Maria, It’s great to have you with us today! Please share about your book with our readers.
Hi, ‘How to Say A Good-Bye’ is a tiny tale about three little friends, Pete, John, and Zoe, and how they each come to terms with the loss of a loved one. While this is a children’s book written for children, it also aims to help parents find the words to soothe themselves and their children when dealing with loss.
As a psychologist in private practice, I often see how much parents struggle to deal with their children when there has been a loss in the family. This book is a way to help them find the words to impart to their children to help soften the loss as much as it can be, of course.
Any message for our readers?
Sometimes, to help children, parents need to help themselves by coming to terms with their own difficulties in dealing with any issue like loss, and then once they have processed it themselves, it will be easier to find the way, the words to help their children to deal with a very difficult life lesson.
Thank you so much, Maria, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!