This beautiful book from Britta Teckentrup helps children process grief after a bereavement.
When Fox lays down in his favourite forest clearing and takes his last breath, the other animals are bereft. He was such a huge part of each of their lives and they are not sure how they will be able to move forward without him. As snow falls on Fox and covers his body, his friends gather in a circle and sit with him in silence.
After a long while, Owl speaks. He shares a story from his youth about chasing autumn leaves with Fox. Mouse goes next, remembering how much Fox liked to sit and watch the sunset. One by one each of the forest animals raises their voice to speak out about the treasured memories they have of their wonderful friend.
As they talk, something special starts to happen in front of their eyes. A tiny tree shoot, the same shade of burnt orange as fox fur, pushes its way up through the ground. As each new memory is shared the tree grows and the animals realise that Fox will always be a part of the forest and their lives.
Soon the tree is tall and strong and the animals hearts feel lighter from sharing their stories. The wonderful memory tree soon becomes the centre of their community, ensuring that Fox lives on forever in their hearts.
This comforting story will help children celebrate the memories they have of their lost loved one.
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