Why Do We Cry?

As Mario and his mother are reading on a park bench, Mario softly and thoughtfully asks, “Mom, why do we cry?” After thinking through her answer, Mario’s mother gives an equally thoughtful, meaningful, and poetic response that encompasses the wide expanse of emotions tied to crying. “Sometimes we cry because the sadness we feel is so great that we just can’t contain it.” His mother’s answers are deep and honest, leaving adults pondering, yet still concrete enough for a child: “Some people cry because shouting for hours doesn’t help,” and “We cry because . . . we don’t understand the world, and our tears go in search of the answers we need.” Whether describing seemingly insurmountable challenges, a need for healing, or not being able to express oneself through words, his mother describes all the reasons for tears, ending on a short, but positive note about crying due to happiness. Pintadera’s reflective text encompasses hard to express emotions, paired with Sender’s masterful illustrations gorgeously and uniquely portraying some abstract ideas. The comprehensive answer to a son’s question primes this story as a good discussion prompter about emotions and tears, especially with its more practical information at the back of the book about tears, complete with activity suggestions.