AUTHOR: Iain Lauchlan
PUBLISHED BY: Cherish Editions for Shaw Callaghan Limited
The story uses the Mood Bears,
designed and created by Joanna Proud, to encourage children to talk, listen and
understand their feelings.
In the story, one day, one of the
Mood Bears, Sad Bear, feels a small cloud nudging him whilst he is
gardening. It scoops up Sad Bear, who
knew then that someone needed him, and takes him to Harry's house. Harry is
very unhappy and is missing his dog, Molly who has sadly passed away. With Sad
Bear's help, Harry soon feels better as Sad Bear teaches him how to cherish
Molly’s memory by remembering all of the good times they had together and
planting a tree in remembrance of her life.
Joanna Proud designed and created Mood
Bears following her own mental health struggles and she had a vision of them
helping children’s mental health in the form of a book, hence the creation of
this story with author, Ian Lauchlan’s help.
The book is an ideal resource for parents
and teachers using Mood Bears as a teaching tool to help and support children
through challenging times thereby helping them become more resilient. Brightly
coloured, eye-catching illustrations help navigate the story and deal with the
subject of loss in a simplistic manner which young children will understand.
I particularly liked the length
of the story which is just right for bedtime reading. It will help answer the many questions
youngsters have about loss and death along with helping them to treasure and
keep alive the memories they may have of those who they were close to who are
no longer in their lives.
The book’s wipe-clean cover is a
bonus, so important for parents who may be reading it to children with sticky
fingers.
Molly's Tree is an engaging,
emotive story which will help children understand and work through feelings of
grief and loss.
Superbly Illustrated by Nik Afia
Reviewer - Anne Pritchard
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