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A gentle, honest story of a child who learns about the enduring force of love in the face of grief.
A young child and a grandmother share a love of birds. Every day after school they watch the birds outside her window and draw them with colored pencils, the scent of ginger tea hanging in the air. When they find a dead goldfinch outside the window one day, the grandmother teaches her grandchild about the enduring strength of love that continues even when a body is no longer living. This lesson returns to the child in a powerful dream after the grandmother dies—a dream that becomes a healing gift for the child’s grandfather.
Gorgeously illustrated by wildlife artist and illustrator Michael Boardman, Libby Moore’s The River of Birds is a gentle story that looks honestly at grief and love. The beautiful themes and lush illustrations will bring comfort to readers of all ages. The book includes a guide put together by clinical psychologist Mary E. Plouffe, PhD, that provides practical resources for adults who are supporting grieving children.
Reviews
“A touchingly simple story with a profound and poignant message of reassurance . . . that our loved ones live on in the most exquisite of ways.”
―Patrice Karst, bestselling author of The Invisible String
“Books are a wonderful way to help children understand difficult topics like this in a safe space. This heartfelt book reminds us that it's okay to feel sadness and grief, and that even though our loved one is no longer physically with us, their love remains with us forever.”
—Joanna Rowland, author of The Memory Box: A Book About Grief
