I have recently been on the look out for picture books about loss. There are not many, and even fewer that tackle the subject with the complexity and emotional depth that a child’s grief both deserves and demands. I’d like to share the two that resonated most, for us at least.
Art from Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers, published by Simon & Schuster
The first is Ocean Meets Sky by The Fan Brothers. It works on many spectacular levels, whether you are trying to make sense of an emotional journey or not. The artwork is breathtaking, be sure to notice the hidden details early on. But what I loved most about the book was the portrayal of the young boy and the memory of his grandfather. I don’t want to give away the story, but suffice to say there is magic in the child’s imagination, there is a cherishing of something lost and yes, there is sadness, but there is also joy.
The second is this one, When Sadness is at Your Door by Eva Eland. The two books are very different, not least in styles of illustration. In this story the child acknowledges an overwhelming sadness but goes on to find a way to be present with it and ultimately to embrace it. There is a sense of growth throughout the story, of expansion. It doesn’t come easily, but it comes. And there is also kindness, that the child directs inward towards themselves.
Both books do what stories do best: they help us make sense of what it means to be human, to be a part of a world that is beautiful but hard, heartbreaking but hopeful.