Two Children’s Laureates are better than one. Maybe. Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, with illustrations by Quentin Blake, had me in tears within seconds.
This is a short, but wonderful, book. Michael wrote it to share his grief over the death of his son Eddie. I hope it helped even a tiny, tiny bit. I think the Sad Book would be a very good book to give to sad people, whatever their reason for being sad.
There’s something about sharing which is good. We all need to be sad some time. What the book does is tell us it’s OK to be sad.
Thank you, Michael.
3 responses so far ↓
Lee // February 2, 2008 at 17:07
For once we are in absolute agreement - I keep this book on display and give it as a gift when needed. My oldest friend, whose 15-year-old son committed suicide several years ago (and to whom Mortal Ghost is dedicated), found in it some very real comfort.
Meg Rosoff // February 2, 2008 at 23:00
Another one worth looking at is Shaun Tan’s The Red Tree, a picture book about depression. Very moving indeed.
Lee // February 2, 2008 at 23:39
Thanks for the suggestion, Meg. Tan’s The Arrival is wonderful, but I haven’t seen The Red Tree.
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