This week is Mental Health Week and the focus is on loneliness.
This month is Share A Story Month and the theme is belonging.
These two incredible books have themes of loneliness and belonging.
They are two exquisitely illustrated and beautifully written tales
The cloth covers are stunning
Every page is a work of art
These brilliant books make utterly gorgeous gifts
They are two of my absolute favourites to buy for family and friends of all ages
Written and illustrated by Coralie Bickford-Smith
and
The Fox And The Star is one of my most treasured Tilda books. A story of loneliness and loss, of awe and wonder, of friendship and the beauty of the natural world. This is a picture book for readers of all ages. It has been a wonderful story for me to read over and over again when my grief is painful. Tilda was my star. She and I were connected for 18 months as she grew inside me and spent her living days feeding from me, sleeping on me. She was my everything for that short intense time and when she was gone, I like Fox, was left in darkness and could not believe that she was gone. This story tells of the beauty of friendship, the pain of losing someone that you love, the struggle of living with loss and the discovery that all is not lost, and that if you can really look you will see that you are still and always connected. Just like Fox, I know that somewhere out there, there is a star that once was mine. The lyrical text reads like a song, a lullaby. It is a soothing story and a true delight to read aloud. I love the descriptions of the forest and the rain. A truly beautiful book and perfect for sharing this Mental Health Awareness Week.
The Song Of The Tree is a lovely fable about belonging. A flock of birds live in the branches of the tree through the winter but as the season changes the flock moves on but one bird is not ready to leave. She wants to stay with the tree.
This is a tenderly told, timeless tale of community, the importance of shelter, the interdependence of plants and animals, the awe and wonder of the world around us and of learning to sing a new song.
Bird is worried about leaving her tree. She wonders who will care for it when she is gone. I empathise with Bird very much as a mother who worries about leaving her children and someone who is anxious about going to new places and trying new things. I know where I belong and I feel happiest there. But sometimes we have to be brave, sometimes we have to place our trust in others and spread our wings. This would be a wonderful gift for children heading off to a new school in September or for anyone who worries and needs a story filled with hope and comfort and stunningly illustrated joy.
