Picture books have a unique ability to distill life's most difficult topics into heartwarming, relatable stories that resonate with readers of all ages.
When my mom died earlier this year, one of the hardest part was telling my kids. My mom was probably their favourite person on earth, and they were definitely hers. She wasn’t just a wonderful grandmother, she was their best friend. Throughout the weeks that followed, my wife and I brought home numerous picture books on the topic of death to help our kids (and ourselves) make sense of their emotions.
There are a lot of great children’s books about losing someone, but the one that stood out to me the most was The Memory Tree, written and illustrated by Britta Teckentrup.
The Memory Tree tells the story of the day that fox laid down in the forest, and fell asleep forever. The other forest animals gather around and remember all the beautiful memories they shared with fox. It is beautifully illustrated, and told in a gentle and loving way that both kids and adults can relate to. In the end, a new tree grows in the forest in the place that fox passed away, serving as a beautiful reminder of the fox's life and the lasting impact he had on those around him. The book addresses the loss of a loved one, while focusing on celebrating the memories that we have with them.
In dealing with such a complex and difficult topic like death, it can be tempting to overcomplicate things, but sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that speak to us in a simple, universal way. By focusing on the comfort and connection shared between the fox and his friends, The Memory Tree manages to touch on something deeply human without getting bogged down in complicated explanations or metaphors.
No book will ever take the sadness away. In fact it makes me sadder every time I think of the image of fox laying in the snow with his friends gathering around, but I also immediately think of the scene of fox catching leaves with owl, running through the trees with rabbit, or playing with bear’s cubs, and then I can’t help but think about my mom painting birdhouses with my kids, or taking them to the park, or simply hugging them in the doorway.
I would love to have my mom back, just as I would love my kids to have their grandmother back, but although that will never happen. I am thankful for all of the beautiful memories she left us.
In conclusion, The Memory Tree addresses the universal topic of death in a gentle and comforting way, making it an accessible and valuable resource for children and families dealing with loss.
A couple of other picture books about loss that I loved include:
The Invisible String, written by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
reminds us that we are always connected to those that we love, even when their far away or gone forever
The Memory Box written by Joanna Rowland, illustrated Thea Baker
Gentle advise on the different ways that we can keep the memories of the ones we lost close to us
Have you come across any other great picture books about death? Please share your recommendations in the comments below. And if you've read The Memory Tree, I would love to hear your thoughts.