In June my grandma passed away. She took such an active part in my childhood and as an adult she was always there for advice and support. She too was a bookworm and was a big fan of MammaFilz.
A few days after she died I read this book to my girls and truthfully my emotions were raw and I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much reading a picture book. Like the young girl I didn’t feel like talking much, I purposefully would stand away from parent friends at pick up because I didn’t want to engage in small chat. I avoided texts and calls on my phone and it was only a selected few who were experiencing what I was who I exchanged words and cuddles with.
No Longer Alone relayed many feelings that I was experiencing.
The book follows the journey of a young girl who has lost a special one in her life and the variety of emotions she experiences. People say she doesn’t like to talk but she just doesn’t feel like talking right now. She hears others talking about her not wanting to play but it’s only because she doesn’t want to play right now.
However, there are moments when she does want to talk and she does want to shout but often at the beginning of the book it’s when she is alone. Like adults children too experience loss in such a varied way and this is such a comforting read exploring that that is ok.
Beneath the exploration of emotions is also an important reminder that you, like the girls dad may be the one that gets to hear exactly how that sad person is feeling. In that moment if you are that person, attentive ears are a must, gentle words need to be ready and cuddles necessary. The girls father, even though he is experiencing a loss too, is there for his daughter and as time passes the young girl knows that she is No Longer Alone.
Throughout the book each double page spread is illustrated brilliantly. Robyn Wilson-Owen’s gentle, diverse, adorable illustrations against white backgrounds follow the journey of the young girls emotions so well. Observant readers will spot clues within the illustrations on who the young girl has lost. Joseph Coelho never states in the text who the young girl has lost but in not mentioning who it is the books explorations of hard times can be connected to many situations, just as it did for me and the loss of my grandma. For the young girl it was actually her mother who died.
This book is an absolute must have for all libraries and learning settings and I’m pleased that it’s part of our home library too.
Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review. All words and opinions are entirely my own. This post contains affiliate links.