A Shelter for Sadness

A little boy builds a shelter for his Sadness which has come to stay. Here, it has room to be however it needs to be. He gives it the space it needs , visiting when it calls to him , acknowledging its presence, but not always needing its company. He knows that one day, he and his Sadness will be ready to face the world together and enjoy its beauty.

This is such a beautiful book. Deeply poignant, it explores the importance of acknowledging sadness in all its forms and making space in our life for these feelings. The book was inspired by the words of Etty Hillesum, a Holocaust victim, who wrote:

'Give your sorrow all the space and shelter in yourself that is its due, for if everyone bears grief honestly and courageously, the sorrow that now fills the world will abate. But if you do instead reserve most of the space inside you for hatred and thoughts of revenge-from which new sorrows will be born for others-then sorrow will never cease in this world. And if you have given sorrow the space it demands, then you may truly say: life is beautiful and so rich.'

Esther 'Etty' Hillesum

The book offers a very reassuring starting point for discussions about these complex feelings and the many ways in which waves of sadness can catch you, recognising and validating these emotions. There is so much to share and explore on each page, which could easily lead to expressing personal feelings, perhaps through writing poetry, painting or keeping a diary.

David Litchfield’s illustrations capture these emotions beautifully, perfectly complementing Anne Booth’s gentle text. Heart-warming and powerful, this is a very special book.

‘A Shelter for Sadness’ is simply stunning, both in words and illustration. One to treasure!

A Shelter for Sadness

Anne Booth, illustrated by David Litchfield

Templar ISBN: 978-1787417212

Bone Music

Sylvia has reluctantly left behind her life in Newcastle for a week. In need of a break, her mother has taken a holiday to the village she grew up in. Here, Sylvia is faced with the boundless beauty of wild Northumberland and initially feels lost, the pull of her home city overwhelming. However, the magic of nature soon weaves its spell on her and when she meets the enigmatic Gabriel, Sylvia finds a new joy in the beauty surrounding her and develops a deep sense of connection with the past.

Completely spell-binding, ‘Bone Music’ is like nothing else that I have ever read. Sylvia is a city girl, passionate about the future of the planet, a protester, with a close group of friends, and yet she is initially lost in the space and nothingness of the fells. When she meets Gabriel, she connects with both him and the environment, letting go of her inhibitions, embracing nature and nature’s timeless connection with the past. When she makes an instrument from a hollow bone from a buzzard’s wing, this connection deepens, allowing her to discover more about herself and her humanity.

The book is beautifully written, showing a deep love for the wild landscape of the north, the power and magic of music, and nature’s ability to overcome man’s desire to tame it. There is even reference to the flooded village featured in another of David Almond’s books, bringing this haunting landscape to life.

I found Gabriel deeply moving. As he reveals the pain of his experiences to Sylvia, his story forces the reader to reflect on how expectation, education and traditional values can constrain and damage some who do not ‘fit’ for whatever reason. Not all learning takes place in a classroom and not all knowledge is academic. Gabriel’s self-harming is sensitively handled, allowing for many discussions and inspiring great empathy.

Lyrical and poignant, ‘Bone Music’ is hauntingly beautiful and original with a stunning cover by David Litchfield.

Bone Music David Almond

cover artwork by David Litchfield

Hodder Children’s ISBN: 978-1444961416

Rain Before Rainbows

In the midst of the rain,

Rainbows can be hard to see.

Leaving a dark castle behind them, a little girl and her fox friend set off together in the pouring rain on a long and perilous journey, facing many challenges and dangers. Finally, they arrive in a new land where they are surrounded by many animals who are there to support and guide them as they gradually rebuild their world.

Told in rhyme, this beautiful book offers hope for the future. Although it obviously holds great significance with the current situation, this is a book which will last the test of time as it carries such a powerful message: there is always hope for the future. One of nature’s special beauties, the rainbow is a powerful symbol of hope in many cultures, offering a shared understanding of the joy that can follow despair. Smriti Halls’ text conveys this perfectly, reminding us that we experience joy all the more keenly for having known sorrow.

The illustrations are pure David Litchfield joy! Glowing with colour, each spread is rich in detail to explore and discuss. I don’t know whether it’s just me, but the spreads seem to be tinged with the colours of the rainbow as the story moves from the girl and her fox (red clothes and fur against the dark) to the indigo edged waves of the sea and then again from their arrival on new shores to happily dancing beneath the rainbow at the end. Wonderful for inspiring art work, the whole book is a thing of great beauty, perfect for sharing again and again.

‘Rain Before Rainbows’ is a stunning book offering much needed comfort and hope.

Rain Before Rainbows Smriti Halls, illustrated by David Litchfield

Walker ISBN: 978-1406382358