For it is
this father’s undying love that has borne magic, mystery and wonder in
abundance with the birth of picture book, Tiny Dancer.
‘Tiny Dancer
is about making each moment count and living life to the full.’
A tortoise may live for over one hundred years. An olive tree, up to five thousand. But a mayfly lives for just one day.
This accessible,
thoughtful rumination on the nature of life’s biggest mystery explores both life
and death.
Long or
short, every life on earth comes to an end some day.
But what
happens when we die?
The last
few years have seen a number of picture books that broach the subject of death,
grief and loss in various ways. Gone adds to this list with its
wonderful, clear message and bold illustration style.
While it deals with an episode of history that is
both terrifying and confronting, the format and the narrative from a child’s
perspective means it is less so for younger readers, while still delivering
factual information.
Peter Lantos, a Hungarian Jew, was 5 years old when he and his parents were deported to Bergen-Belsen, where his father subsequently died.
Through many adverse and frightening situations, Peter and
his mother survived Belsen, and while they were liberated by the US Army, they
were, by that time, in Magdeburg which became Soviet occupied territory.
Edited by Emily Larkin and Lynne Stringer who each have
stories included, the anthology also contains a fantastic offering from KBR’s
own Shaye Wardrop among other excellent narratives.
Reading this book is a little mind-blowing, and kind of like riding a roller-coaster (in the best ways of having the breath sucked out of your lungs for fun).
Most of the stories combine fantasy with mechanics,
allowing readers to explore the wonders and horrors of science, technology and
magic.
It’s told
from the perspective of two teenagers, Kat and Liam, who were step-siblings for
just 48 hours when they were five and their respective parents briefly married
in Vegas.
This story
contains all the important elements of a teen thriller: action, thrills, lust,
spills, twists, power, fortune, fame. And of course, a little bit of gender-fluid
snogging on the side.
With a complex storyline that will reward readers’ attention to detail (I suggest an intensive rather than extended reading period for this work), the book is pacy and well-written.
Thank you to ALL who entered. We were moved by your your feel good answers.
Grief, loss, depression, anxiety, uncertainty. Big hard-to-deal-with feels that demand big help.
This Is Not A Sad Book is that help. In short, it’s a lighthouse of hope, explanation and tactics to apply when one finds oneself or someone they know, in a dark, scary, perilous place.
In a scrap yard filled with abandoned vehicles and all manner of broken items, a young girl tinkers with bits and pieces.
Although the word death is not used, it's fairly clear what's happened.
The narrator describes the journey the girl and her dog take as they walk through the scrap yard, over mountains of junk, across water, searching for memories and leading to a place hiding something special.
A Leaf Called Greaf takes these concepts and weaves a narrative full of symbolism. It's one that can help prompt discussion of topics that can be complex.
Kelly Canby has written and illustrated the story, featuring a bear as the protagonist.
When one day a leaf lands on Bear, he names it Greaf.
She lives in a very unprepossessing block of flats, which look out over an equally unprepossessing yard, in an even more unprepossessing part of town.
The whole town has an unloved, unkempt and barren look and feel about
it, despite its ironic name of The Gardens. Yet, within this dreary landscape,
there is still life and colour, certainly to Hettie’s mind, and as the
narrative unfolds, that life begins to revive and restore the colours and
happiness it was once designed to hold.
Grief and loss can be a difficult subject for anyone. Duck, Death and the Tulip, written and illustrated by Wolf Erlbruch, is a unique exploration of these often challenging subjects.
In a strangely heartwarming story, a duck strikes up an unlikely friendship with Death. 'Who are you? Why are you creeping along behind me?' 'Good. You've finally noticed me,' said Death. 'I am Death.' Duck was startled. You couldn't blame her for that. Death, Duck and the Tulip is the much anticipated translation of Wolf Erlbruch's latest masterpiece. Death, Duck and the Tulip will intrigue, haunt and enchant teenagers and adults. Simple, unusual, warm and witty - a picture book version of The Book Thief. This book deals with a difficult subject in away that is elegant, straightforward, and thought-provoking.
Take a peek inside Duck, Death and the Tulip in this video.
Little
Ted’s friends Jemima, Humpty, Big Ted and Kiya are coming to visit, because he
is very sad about the death of his pet goldfish and friend, Swish.
His friends
bring Little Ted a scrapbook with photos of Swish to stick into it, along with a
picnic for when they get hungry, a ball to play with outside together, and the
reassurance that they will come back another day to play again.
Author Rebecca Lim has fictionalised historical events in China, namely 1958 – 1960’s Great Leap Forward campaign, to create a novel that is both clever and engaging.
Economic disaster, widespread famine and millions of deaths don’t immediately scream ‘this will be a fabulous book’ but in Lim’s capable hands, they become one.
Non-gratuitous bloodshed and violence co-exist with the kind deeds of strangers, which are intentionally smattered throughout the narrative.
In her notes, the author reveals that she deliberately sought to include small, unsung acts of bravery to highlight the impact that every individual human being can have on the world around them.
Created by Jarrett J Krosoczka, Sunshine is the story of a memorable summer in his teenage years. It's an experience that changes his life.
When he was sixteen, Jarrett spent one week as a student leader at Camp Sunshine, a holiday camp for children with life-threatening illnesses, and their families.
At Camp Sunshine Jarrett meets people like thirteen-year-old Diego who has a brain tumour and uses a wheelchair. Jarrett's interest in art and his drawing abilities provide an opening for developing a friendship with Diego, and the other kids.
He learns some of the challenges, frustrations and impacts of cancer and its treatment. And he discovers that when you're faced with a life-threatening illness, personally or by close association, the way you look at life changes.
How does the passing of my father catalyse the migration of an elephant crossing picture book plains?
Views of the world outside windows have always framed elements of authoring and illustrating my debut picture book Elegy for an Elephant (EFAE). I was staring at the sad fog outside the courtyard of my Copenhagen dormitory studying abroad when my sister called to tell me our father had ended his life.
‘Those who leave live on through our living…’
We all have questions that need to be answered when someone we know dies, and quite particular questions when that death is from suicide.
This book asks questions from
a child’s perspective and answers them clearly, with a reassuring sense of strength
and comfort.
Elegy For An Elephant pays homage to a family who are
looking to understand their great loss. It’s powerful, beautiful, visceral and
totally appropriate for children over seven years old. Supported and endorsed
by child grief professionals, this book fills a vital gap in helping children
to understand - and to navigate – their own grief and loss.
Gruesome monsters appearing at every turn? Easy. Another quest? Predictable. So, Nico is hardly surprised when he is berated with vivid nightmares and a tortured voice, especially when he suspects it is being sent from the underworld by his old friend, Bob the Titan.
Now that a prophecy has been sent his way and the nightmares are getting worse, Nico has no doubt about it - he must go deep into Tartarus and rescue Bob.
Nico’s boyfriend Will Solace, son of Apollo, does not want to see him go alone. But Nico doesn’t even know if Will can survive a place as dark and horrendous as Tartarus, the farthest place from the sun.
The seaside opposite their homes is a favourite place where they share many hours. Fresh cream with fruit is enjoyed by all in, and from, Mr Milligan’s garden.
When Charlie loses his appetite, Mr Milligan, with Grace, take him to the vet.
They wait for their turn beside all the other sick animals and their owners.
But growing old is not something that can be cured.
Multi-award winner, Victor Kelleher, has
crafted his first middle grade novel in fifteen years with this gripping and
absorbing post-apocalyptic narrative. If you think Waterworld
for kids, you might get a little sense of the setting.
Orphaned Dane, spends most of his life since the devastation of his village, on his kayak. The world has shrunk to few habitable places and even those are not safe from the ravaging horde who call themselves The Clan.