Tag Archives: Loss

The Thing at 52

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Ross Montgomery, illus. Richard Johnson. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books. (40p) ISBN: 9780711279148
The Thing at 52

The Thing at 52

I was immediately drawn to this book on NetGalley by the gorgeous cover of The Thing and the girl on the roof.

A warm and compassionate story of understanding the impermanence of things and attachments.

A girl befriends The Thing at 52 and becomes very attached to Thing, they grow together as friends and chosen family with the girl’s mum also part of this family.

They share all kinds of big and small adventures together, and when the girl realises that there are more Things in the world she helps to get them together to form a supportive community.

There is a realisation quite early on that all Thing’s must go at sometime and no one knows where to, and eventually The Thing at 52 goes.

The story then goes on to show that with resilience and support we can hold on to the memories of the Thing but also grow new memories of the people and Things that fill the space where they used to be.

I absolutely loved the illustrations from Richard Johnson, fun and full of warmth and compassion they go hand in hand with the text in a brilliantly supportive manner, in fact you could tell the story with the pictures and no words they were that good.

A great book to get talks about loss and growth from loss.

Thanks for the book NetGalley!

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The Laugh

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Fay Evans, illus. Ayse Klinge. Flying Eye Books. (32p) ISBN: 9781838740825
The Laugh

The Laugh

I received this a while back for a review, but found with everything that was going on it was just to much for me at that time.

The Laugh is a bright and lively book about loss and grief and about ways to remember someone you’ve lost.

It shows the process of loss extremely well, from the mother looking ill to using the word ‘died’ when the mother died. This is extremely important as children sometimes just don’t get the euphemisms that adults use around the subject of death.

The use of the sunflower as a motif throughout the book emphasises the warmth that the mother expressed along with the deadheading once the flower had died to symbolise the loss of the mother.

This deals with death in a very honest and straightforward way and explains that though there will be gaps there, there will be emptiness that the love and brightness that the other person inpired in you is still there waiting to blossom when the time is right.

A brilliant book and one I want on our shelves to recommend when required.

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Missing You

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Phellip Willian, illus. Melissa Garabeli, trans. Fabio Ramos. Oni Press. (120p) ISBN: 9781637152072
Missing You

Missing You

I picked this up at the same time as Tiny Fox and Great Boar without realising what either were about I was just drawn in by the wonderful art on the covers.

I also didn’t realise at the time that both were from Oni Press.

Reading a second book about family, loss, grief, and growth in as many days may have been a bit too much, but these were so well presented and thought out that it really wasn’t.

Missing You is about a young family who have lost their mother/wife and in the case of grandma, daughter.

As the young family are driving through a forest they come across an injured fawn which they take home and into their hearts to fill that gap.

Lion (the fawn) also grows and has their own thoughts and desires which don’t always mesh with those of the family and it is this tension which comes to a head that drives the conclusion of the story.

The art work throughout uses a soft, almost pastel palette for most of the book, except there are some dark and threatening passages that are enhanced by the appropriate palette.

Sweet, humorous, and supportive. Well written and drawn and suitable for a larger age range than to 8-12 suggested.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Tiny Fox and Great Boar: Dawn

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Berenika Kolomycka. Oni Press. (64p) ISBN: 9781637152058
Tiny Fox and Great Boar: Dawn

Tiny Fox and Great Boar: Dawn

My head has been in the bin recently and again I’ve been unable to read so thought let’s read an illustrated book and I like the cover art for this one so went here first.

I wasn’t disappointed as the art work throughout the book is stunningly beautiful and kept track with the tone of the book throughout, getting darker or lighter as needed.

The story is about two friends, tiny fox and great boar, continuing to explore the world and generally having a great time of it all, frolicking through forests and plains until they come upon a marsh.

In it they make a new friend with the nymph form of a mayfly who is looking forward to becoming a mayfly, but fox and boar don’t fully understand the lifecycle of a mayfly.

This book explores the meaning of death, loss, grief, and growth in a straightforward yet beautiful manner.

It shows that life is different for all of us and we should celebrate each others lives whilst realising we will miss them and that though we may be left behind the memories of others will always be there.

Warm and uplifting whilst also being truthful about death.

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