2011
WISE Score
Amazon
A raw, beautiful, and slightly gut-wrenching look at how a kid actually processes losing a mom—scabs, smells, and all.
4.7
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This isn't a bedtime story you read for a laugh. It’s a heavy, honest, and visually stunning exploration of grief.
It’s famous in the 'bibliotherapy' world for a reason: it doesn't lie to kids. If your family is going through it, or if your kid is asking the big, scary questions about death, this is the gold standard.
Just be prepared to have a few tissues handy for yourself—the writing is sharp and doesn't pull its punches.
Best for ages 5 to 10. It’s a 'read-together' book for sure. Don't just leave this on a shelf; it’s meant to be a bridge for a conversation you probably don't want to have but might need to.
It handles the heaviest possible topic—the death of a parent—with total emotional honesty. It doesn't sugarcoat the boy's anger or his dad's visible grief, which actually makes it more 'wholesome' than a book that pretends everything is fine.
The story is told through 'kid logic.' The way the boy tries to trap his mom's scent in the house or uses a physical scar to stay connected to her is a deeply creative, if heartbreaking, look at a child's internal world.
It’s a picture book, so there's no 'content' to worry about in terms of violence or language. The only 'danger' is the emotional weight. It's safe, but it's a 'handle with care' situation because it will spark big feelings.
This is a masterclass in empathy. It gives kids a vocabulary for grief that isn't just 'I'm sad.' It validates the weird, messy feelings that come with loss, which is incredibly high-level emotional work for a 5-year-old.
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