Barnaby Bright and the Goodbye Wobble

Every morning, Finn the goldfish swam up to say good morning. This morning, the little glass is quiet, and something heavy and still settles deep in Barnaby Bright's chest...

The Wobble is back — blue again, and just as impossible to ignore. This gentle story returns to the same sadness the Wobble carried in Book Five, but heavier and more lasting: the first goodbye to a beloved little friend.

With Mom by his side, Barnaby learns that some big feelings don't disappear with a single breath — and that's okay. Together they find a tender way to remember Finn: a drawing taped above the bed, and a small orange marigold planted right where the little glass bowl used to sit.

Why families will love this book

Barnaby Bright and the Goodbye Wobble offers a rare, honest way to talk with young children about the death of a small pet — often a child's very first encounter with loss. No animal is ever shown dying; only the quiet, empty bowl marks what happened, and the story deliberately shows grief settling rather than vanishing, modeling patience instead of a quick fix. The remembrance ritual at its heart gives children (and grown-ups) something real to do with a hard feeling.

Perfect for children who are:

• Processing the loss of a small pet for the first time
• Learning that sad feelings can stay a while, and that's still okay
• Comforted by gentle, honest language rather than euphemism
• Ready for a shared remembrance ritual — drawing, planting, or another small tradition

Book Sixteen of the Barnaby Bright series. Ages 3–6. 32-page full-color softcover picture book, 8.5×8.5". This book is not a substitute for professional support.