Vanessa Vassar’s personal experiences with motherhood, loss, and hope inform her award-winning children’s book, Evan and the Skygoats, a beautiful portrait of childhood and healing.

 

 
 
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“A work of surreal folklore, via a dreamlike, goat-attended journey to the sky.

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— Publisher's Weekly
“This wise, frank book will bring unexpected smiles of solace to the grieving—while tapping into the magical and fundamentally mysterious wellsprings that flow toward healing.

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— Hampton Sides, Author of On Desperate Ground
“A book touchingly told and beautifully illustrated where the wonders of nature are used to illuminate and alleviate a family’s great grief.

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— Sheila Kohler, Author of Becoming Jane Eyre
 
 

Evan and the Skygoats follows three-year-old Evan on a transformative journey from his farm to a magical and surreal world in the night sky.

 
 
 
 
“Evan and the Skygoats is as gentle and imaginative as it is poignant.”
— Lauren LaRocca, The Santa Fe New Mexican Pasatiempo
“Vanessa Vassar’s depiction of the bewildering, yet still beautiful, world of a grieving child will speak truth to families in the midst of grief, as well as friends and community members who love those experiencing loss... Parents, schools and play groups should meet brave Evan and his Skygoats.

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— Jade Richardson Bock, co-author of Parenting Through Grief
“A magnificent and poignant story brought to life with magical illustrations. From the first page to the last, this book took my breath away. It’s sure to equally mesmerize kids and adults.”

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— Laurie B. Arnold, Author of Hello There, We've Been Waiting for You!
 
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evan and the skygoats is sold by barnes & Noble, amazon, and Indiebound. the book is also available for purchase directly from the author.

 
 
 

Based on her personal experience after the passing of her daughter, Vanessa has created lists of helpful advice for people who are grieving as well as people who are supporting someone grieving.