A poetic picture book about being able to say goodbye to those we love, while holding them in memory.We continue to be told that there just aren't enough books available for children on loss and grief. This book offers a story that is about not only the death of a beloved old person, but also the duality of life itself, composed as it is of light and dark. Indeed, the story is just as much about the coexistence of these two things as about loss. Accessible, gently frank and philosophic, this book should have strong appeal in the school and library market as well as among all professionals who work with children, along with their caregivers. A strong, lovely text makes this book a standout. A large need exists for books like this. Very well conceived in regard to the audience -- the children -- it is meant to reach.
Winner of the 2016 Mildred L. Batchelder AwardA Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of 2017A Choosing Therapy Best Grief Book for Children for 2022
"Now comes a fine addition to the most intelligent and imaginative children's books about making sense of death - the crowning jewel of them all, even." -- Maria Popova, Brain Pickings
"Rich and affecting." -- Mark Levine, The New York Times
"In this empathic picture book, [...] Pardi creates a cozy, lived-in ambiance in her pencil and watercolor art." Publishers Weekly
"The removal of any parental buffer in this episode reinforces the salutary suggestion that children are resilient enough to be in death's presence without fear. [...] Gentle, wistful reading for times of imminent loss." Kirkus Reviews
"Now comes a fine addition to the most intelligent and imaginative children's books about making sense of death - the crowning jewel of them all, even." -- Maria Popova, Brain Pickings
"Rich and affecting." -- Mark Levine, The New York Times
"In this empathic picture book, [...] Pardi creates a cozy, lived-in ambiance in her pencil and watercolor art." Publishers Weekly
"The removal of any parental buffer in this episode reinforces the salutary suggestion that children are resilient enough to be in death's presence without fear. [...] Gentle, wistful reading for times of imminent loss." Kirkus Reviews