‘How to Say A Good-Bye!’ by Author Maria Stylianou: The Children’s Book Every Grieving Family Needs

Providing Comfort Through Grief

“How to Say A Good-Bye!” by Maria Stylianou offers an uplifting story about three friends—Pete, John, and Zoe—and how they handle the sorrow that follows losing someone close. Though it’s a children’s book on the surface, it isn’t just for young readers. It also guides parents who long for gentle words to help them and their kids process life’s painful farewells. This delicate approach makes each page feel like a calming whisper, inviting families to share tender moments and honest conversations about loss.

Readers observe how the story’s characters sort through confusion and heartache, and in doing so, they may experience their own sense of relief. Each friend in the book shows a unique reaction: one might cry in silence, another might ask endless questions, while the third might search for more tangible ways to stay close to the person they’ve lost. The variety of emotions encourages children to feel normal in their grief, and it helps adults see that sadness can appear in different forms. Nobody is alone, and everyone can find comfort in a safe space that honors their feelings.

A Toolbox for Soothing Conversations

This isn’t just a colorfully illustrated tale. It’s an invitation for parents to pause and reflect: “What can I say when my child is grieving?” Some parents feel they’re missing the right words… they might even wish someone else would do the talking. But the book shows that parents are perfectly capable of consoling their children. Short, heartfelt phrases can make a real difference. Even gentle repetition of simple words can soften the weight of sorrow over time.

Dr. Stylianou’s professional background in educational psychology shines through in subtle yet powerful ways. She’s seen adults grapple with difficult changes and try to guide their little ones through the same struggles—while feeling uncertain themselves. Loss might come with the arrival of a new sibling, the disappearance of a favorite stuffed animal, or the death of a grandparent. In every instance, the emotional burden is real. This story acknowledges that truth and helps families name their pain, so they can start to ease it.

The book draws upon the idea that speaking about the departed can keep their presence alive in the hearts of those who remain. Readers realize that expressing memories and emotions leads to greater understanding of how love shapes our responses to loss. The words themselves become a gift… a way to connect, console, and honor someone’s importance, even when that person is gone.

Embracing the Journey of Mourning

Freud’s concept of the “work of mourning,” introduced during the First World War, emerges gently here. He recognized how crucial it is to give voice to grief. Without words, the pain may feel unbearable—like a silent weight pressing down. The story of Pete, John, and Zoe offers a safe path for children and grown-ups to explore this emotional terrain. By watching these young characters lean on each other, readers see how conversations about death, longing, and love can ease the journey.

Accepting a loved one’s absence calls for patience and time. The steps aren’t rushed. Instead, they happen through quiet reflection and meaningful dialogue. As families experience these moments, they realize that enduring memories can help fill the painful void. People don’t forget their loved ones… they carry them in a gentler place, a place that eventually makes room for both sadness and joy. This duality might feel bittersweet, yet it’s also a reminder of how deeply we care.

When parents read with their children, they recognize the power of simple reassurances. Those soothing words gain strength through repetition. Kids absorb them, store them, and later use them to comfort themselves. Receiving reassurance from a parent is more than just a coping skill—it forms a bridge between personal grief and collective healing.

About Dr. Maria Stylianou

Dr. Maria Stylianou, the creative mind behind “How to Say A Good-Bye!”, has spent her career studying how children and adults process emotion and behavior. She pursued her undergraduate, honors, and master’s degrees at the University of Natal in South Africa. Later, she earned her PhD in developmental psychology from the University of Liverpool in the UK. A post-doctoral role at the University of Central Lancashire allowed her to explore social and emotional intelligence in children who felt isolated. She also served as a lecturer at that institution before relocating to Cyprus.

In Cyprus, Dr. Stylianou taught part-time at the University of Nicosia and Neapolis University, though she eventually decided to commit herself entirely to her private practice in Nicosia. There, she performs psychological assessments for children, adolescents, and adults, and offers psychotherapeutic support as well as parental counselling.

“How to Say A Good-Bye!” is available through Amazon and on howtosayagoodbye.org. Parents, educators, and caregivers looking for an empathetic guide to grief may find solace in these pages. Dr. Stylianou’s background helps shape a narrative that respects the complexity of heartache yet remains approachable for all ages. Readers are reminded that love is never lost—it evolves, transforms, and continues to inspire us to find new ways of treasuring the people and moments that matter most.

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!