Samantha Jane's Missing Smile - A Story About Coping with the Loss of a Parent

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Mimi

A children’s story follows Samantha Jane, “Sammy Jane,” who loses her smile after her father dies. On a sunny day, she tries to hold back tears while making shadow puppets on her front steps. Her kind neighbor, Mrs. Cooper, invites her to come pick berries, recalling Sunday mornings they shared with Sammy Jane’s dad. Through supportive conversation and remembrance, Sammy Jane begins to express her sadness and gradually feel better.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time55 min

AccessFree to download

Summary

Sammy Jane's loss and feelings

Mrs. Cooper's invitation

Remembering her father

Finding ways to cope

Children's Janes 2007 # samaunthaMi8ingsmie Story copyright ◎2007 by Julie Kaplow and Donna Pincus.Illustrations and Note to Parents copyright ◎2007 by Magination Press.All rights reserved.Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976,no part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any formor by any means,or stored in a database or retrieval system,without the prior written permission of the publisher. Published byMAGINATION PRESSAn Educational Publishing Foundation BookAmerican Psychological Association750 First Street,NEWashington,DC 20002 For more information about our books,including a complete catalog,please write to us,call I-800-374-2721,or visit our website at www.maginationpress.com. Editor:Darcie Conner JohnstonArt Director:Susan K.WhitePrinted by Worzalla,Stevens Point,Wisconsin Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kaplow,Julie B. Samantha Jane's missing smile:a story about coping with the loss of a parent/written by Julie Kaplow and Donna Pincus;illustrated by Beth Spiegel. P.cm. Summary:"With the help of her mother and her neighbor Mrs.Cooper,Samantha Jane is able to talk about how sad she is since her father died and tofind ways to remember him,and then she begins to feel better.” ISBN-13:978-1-59147-808-9(hardcover:alk.paper) ISBN-13:978-1-59147-809-6(pbk.:alk.paper) ISBN-I0:I-59147-808-1(hardcover:alk.paper) ISBN-I0:I-59147-809-X(pbk.:alk.paper) [1.Death—Fiction.2.Grief—Fiction.3.Fathers and daughters—Fiction.] I.Pincus,Donna.II.Spiegel,Beth,1957-ill.ⅢI.Title. PZ7.K12947Sam 2007[E]—dc22 2006036869 # A Story AboutCoping with the Lossof a Parent written by Julie Kaplow,Ph.D.,and Donna Pincus,Ph.D.illustrated b=Berth Speieel .C Inmemory ofJoe,Geme,and fterl一Jk In memory ofSlvia andM0ie-D SOamantha Jane's friends call her Sammy Jane.Sammy Jane has long brown hair that she likesto twirl around her finger when she gets bored.Her face turns rosy in the summer sun.And her eyes sparkle whenever she smiles. But Sammy Jane hasn't been smiling much lately. Sammy Jane lost her smile about a month ago. That was when her dad died. She hasn't found much to smile about since then. Today Sammy Jane is sitting outside on her front steps.It's a sunny day,and she's makingshadow puppets with her fingers on the sidewalk.Sammy Jane is trying not to cry.She misses her dad very much. Sammy Jane's next-door neighbor walks out of the front doorof her house.Mrs.Cooper has known Sammy Jane since shewas a little baby. “Sammy Jane!"she calls out."Would you like to come overand pick some berries?"Sammy Jane and her dad used to pickberries every Sunday morning in Mrs.Cooper’'s garden. Sammy Jane looks at the ground and shakes her head no.

FAQs

Who is the main character in the story?

The story centers on Samantha Jane, also called “Sammy Jane,” who has not been smiling since her father died.

When does Sammy Jane start losing her smile?

She lost her smile about a month ago, right after her dad died.

How does Mrs. Cooper help Sammy Jane cope?

Mrs. Cooper reaches out with kindness and invites Sammy Jane to come pick berries, bringing back shared memories from before her father’s death.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Mimi