Grief Like Rain—Hope Like Sunshine

Paperback 8.5" x 8.5" with premium coated paper and color ink.

BACK COVER BLURB:

An unexpected rainstorm makes the world feel heavier after the father’s death. A child pulls on boots, grabs an umbrella, and carries questions too big for words. “Why couldn’t you stay? Will I forget your voice? Does God see how sad I am?”

The sky turns gray. Raindrops fall like tears and sadness becomes easier to hide in the rain. Yet God is near even in storms and so is the mother who reminds the child that rain also helps things grow strong. Sadness might not disappear, but hope rises like sunshine after rain.

Clouds dry their tears, sunlight sparkles on puddles, and the child learns that grief and love can live under the same sky and that we need rain like we need each other.

A tender story of a walk through the rain, remembering Dad, and finding the way home.

For ages 6 to 10, and anyone experiencing loss.

BOOK DETAILS:

Illustrated Children's Picture Book Paperback Format

•      Trim size: 8.5" x 8.5"

•      Page count: 40 pages

•      Interior: full color illustrations, high quality 150 GSM matte coated paper

•      Finish: matte interior, matte cover

•      Ink: premium color ink

•      Binding: paperback perfect bound

•      Suggested age: 6 to 10, and anyone experiencing loss.

Gift Edition coming in 2027

a gift edition 6" x 9" companion for ages 12 and up, and for everyone who grieves no matter their age. This “Gift Edition” of Grief Like Rain—Hope Like Sunshine tells the same award-winning story as the full-color picture book version, but with all new simple line illustrations over 80 pages for older children and adults. 

Perfect for family and homeschool read aloud times.

AUTHOR ILLUSTRATOR:

From her Iowa studio, Patricia Tiffany Morris, Illustrator & author of poetry, children’s books, and spec fiction, weaves God’s hope through storms of grief. Experiencing childhood trauma and loss, she writes to heal and give hope to a world that is broken and hurting.

With a background in art, choreography, and engineering, her two architecture degrees from Iowa State University sit beside an almost finished dance minor before she joined an architectural firm in her home state. She ran a successful arts and crafts business in the 90s for three decades, selling wholesale for a time to Hallmark stores and Amana General Store.

Fueled by Mac tools and whimsical Procreate brushes from her Iowa studio, Patricia thrives on story illustrations on her iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil and scribbles ideas in her sleep. She also designed the font readers will find in Grief Like Rain—Hope Like Sunshine.

AWARDS and PUBLICATIONS:

From her Iowa studio, Patricia Tiffany Morris, Illustrator & author of poetry, children’s books, and spec fiction, weaves God’s hope through storms of grief.

Her debut picture book, Grief Like Rain—Hope Like Sunshine, won 1^st in Children’s Literature and Best in Conference at WCCW (2023) and was named a double winner and double finalist for Children’s Book International (2024).

Her writing appears in

Guideposts, Lyrical Iowa, NFSPS, Grant Wood County Chronicle, and other anthologies. She has earned over 60 awards including winner of the SELAH Poetry Award in 2026 and finalist for a children's picture book in the 2026 Cascade Award Contest.

Patricia co-directs ACFW KidLit Contest and enjoys teaching and sharing ideas, tools, and resources with fellow writers.

ENDORSEMENTS:

Grief Like Sunshine Hope Like Rain is a beautiful way to introduce the concept that tears and pain are OK when it comes to mourning the loss of a loved one. It poetically, gently shows the reader we all have our own path in processing grief in our own way, in our own time. 

—Bitsy Kemper, author of 30 children's books including Best Friends With Grandma

“Grief Like Rain—Hope Like Sunshine is a gentle, hopeful, and healing work of art and poetry. Anyone who has lost a loved one, at any age, could find solace here. Reading it feels like a warm hug. The young protagonist does not preach, offer easy answers, or try to explain away grief. Instead, she simply shares her feelings with honesty and an open heart. Her words give readers a quiet space to process their own emotions and, perhaps, feel a little less alone. The artwork beautifully complements the story. Each page is softly comforting yet visually surprising, filled with playful shifts in perspective and a thoughtful interplay of light and shadow.”

—Starrla Cray, author and illustrator of Panda is Missing! and Yikes! It’s a Creepy-Crawly!

"It's okay to cry or talk or be quiet ... when people we love die." Grief Like Rain - Hope Like Sunshine is a thoughtful and reassuring text that will help any child dealing with the loss of a parent.

—Glenys Nellist, Award-Winning Children's Book Author of Love Letters from God Devotional and Little Mole Finds Hope.

Patricia Tiffany Morris has written something quietly extraordinary with Grief Like Rain—Hope Like Sunshine, and it earns every one of its five stars.

The illustrations, also created by Morris, fit the story perfectly and add warmth without softening the honesty. A rare and beautiful 5-star picture book, Grief Like Rain—Hope Like Sunshine is a must-have for any child, parent, counselor, or educator looking for a compassionate and hopeful guide through grief.

—Debs Daniels, founder of Lucy's Library Publishing and author of Lucy's Search for a Furever Home.

Deep, intuitive, honest. A beautifully rendered story chronicling a child’s heartrending questioning journey through grief. Powerful and relatable words skillfully woven among gorgeous illustrations awaken the senses and evoke emotion. “Does God know how sad I am? I’m invisible. Like Dad.”

This book gently ministers and shows children and adults how to navigate grief while holding on to hope. Grief like Rain, Hope Like Sunshine guides into an awareness of God’s comfort and loving ever-presence that carries through hurt to healing.

—Rachael M. Colby, faith inspirer, encourager, editor, speaker, multi-genre award winning author including her children’s picture book Tropical Dreams.

AUDIO NARRATION SAMPLE:

Coming soon.

Tears are not always wet™ is a trademark of Tiffany Inks Studio LLC