Sunsets & Sardines: A "Sunday Spotlight" Children's Book Review

It’s time for another  “Sunday Spotlight”, where I highlight a children’s book that I genuinely love, sharing my perspective as both a mom and a counselor. You’ll find an honest review, along with simple and meaningful ways to weave social-emotional learning (SEL) into story time, whether you’re reading at home, in a counseling office, or in a classroom.

At the end of each post, I include a link to purchase the book if you’re interested. These are affiliate links, but there is never any pressure to purchase. Clicking and buying through them does not add any extra cost to you or affect the author; it’s simply one optional way to support this blog.

This Week’s First Pick: Sunsets & Sardines: A Story of Unconditional Love, written by Heidi Elle and illustrated by Daniel Wlodarski

This charming story follows Sally, a sweet and determined girl whose deep love for sardines leads her on an adventure with her two loyal friends, Boris the Bat and Goat. As the trio sets out on their quest to find sardines, Sally experiences moments of frustration, disappointment, and excitement. When things don’t go quite as planned, she’s faced with a choice, and ultimately discovers that shifting her focus toward fun, friendship, and togetherness brings unexpected joy.

At its heart, this is a story about unconditional love, perseverance, and learning what truly matters when plans change.

Faith-Inspired, Gently Told

This story is faith-inspired, but presented in a warm, subtle way that feels inclusive and approachable. The overarching theme of setting out with a goal, encountering challenges along the way, and reflecting on what matters most communicates unconditional love in a way that feels natural and meaningful.

For families who believe in God, this book can open the door to thoughtful conversations about life’s ups and downs, gratitude, and being loved through both joyful and difficult moments. For families who don’t share this faith perspective, the story still stands beautifully on its own, offering universal messages about love, resilience, and connection. The author does a wonderful job of weaving in gentle faith-based elements without making them feel exclusive, allowing families of all backgrounds to enjoy the story together.

A Note on the Illustrations

The illustrations are absolutely delightful. From the cover alone, you get a sense of the warmth and whimsy that carries through the entire book. The playful characters, expressive details, and rich, inviting colors draw readers in and make the story feel alive. The artwork complements the narrative perfectly, encouraging children to linger on each page and fully immerse themselves in Sally’s world.

From a Counselor’s Chair: Social-Emotional Learning Connections

From a social-emotional learning perspective, this book offers so many meaningful entry points. One of the most powerful themes is unconditional love, celebrating the people (and sometimes animals!) in our lives who walk alongside us through both big and small challenges. And yes, even something as simple as being out of sardines can feel huge to a child. This story gently validates that what feels hard to a child is hard, even if it looks small to an adult.

This book can also be a wonderful tool for helping children who are going through a tough time recognize that good things can exist alongside disappointment. While working with children in a variety of settings, often during some of the most challenging moments of their lives, I’ve seen how powerful it can be to help kids identify sources of joy and support, even when circumstances are difficult.

As you read, you might pause to explore questions like:

• How did Sally feel when things didn’t go as planned?

• What helped her feel better?

• Who are the people (or pets, or comfort items) in your life who help you when things feel hard?

• What are some small joys you can notice, even on a tough day?

Children might identify a person, a special place, a favorite stuffed animal, a friend, or a pet, simple but meaningful anchors that help build emotional awareness, gratitude, and resilience.

Ways to Expand Learning with Sunsets & Sardines: A Story of Unconditional Love

Here are several simple, effective ways to extend learning and support social-emotional development using this book:

1. Feelings Along the Journey (Emotional Awareness)

As you read, pause at key moments in Sally’s adventure and invite children to identify how she might be feeling.

Try this:

• Ask: “How do you think Sally feels right now?”

• Offer feeling words like excited, frustrated, hopeful, disappointed, and joyful.

• Invite children to share a time when they felt similarly.

2. When Plans Change (Flexibility & Coping Skills)

Sally’s experience is a great example of what happens when things don’t go as expected.

Try this:

• Discuss: “What was Sally’s plan? What changed?”

• Ask: “What could you do if something you really wanted didn’t work out?”

• Create a short list together of coping strategies (take a breath, ask for help, find something fun, change the plan).

3. My Support Team (Relationships & Belonging)

Boris and Goat stay with Sally throughout her journey, an excellent opportunity to explore safe relationships.

Try this:

• Have children draw or name their own “support team.”

• This could include people, pets, teachers, friends, or comfort items.

• Talk about how these supports help when feelings are big.

4. Finding the Good Things (Gratitude & Resilience)

Even when the sardines don’t work out, Sally still experiences joy and connection.

Try this:

• Ask: “What good things happened for Sally, even when she was disappointed?”

• Invite children to share or draw 3 things that bring them comfort or joy.

• Emphasize that joy and hard feelings can coexist.

5. Big Feelings, Small Problems (Perspective-Taking)

This story gently validates that children’s challenges are real, even if they seem small to adults.

Try this:

• Discuss how being out of sardines felt like a big problem to Sally.

• Ask: “What feels big to you, even if others think it’s small?”

• Reinforce that all feelings are important and worthy of care.

Tip for Adults:

Revisit the book over time. Children often notice new emotions or themes as their own social-emotional skills grow, making this a story that continues to support learning long after the first read.

If you need more ideas, reach out to me!

Final Thoughts

Overall, Sunsets & Sardines is a heartfelt story that naturally invites conversations about feelings, flexibility, support systems, and finding joy, making it a beautiful addition to any home, classroom, or counseling space.

Want to See a Book Featured?

For “Sunday Spotlight”, my goal is to review 1–3 children’s books each week. If you have a book you’d love to see featured, are a children’s book author yourself, or know an author who might enjoy having their story reviewed, I’d love to hear from you.

Feel free to reach out anytime at guidedbygiggles@gmail.com 💛

Let’s keep celebrating stories that help kids grow, one giggle (and page) at a time.

Click the picture to grab your copy of Sunsets & Sardines: A Story of Unconditional Love