[.ca] Badger's Parting Gifts (ISBN 0862640628)

a beautiful story:
This beautiful story touches both adults and children. I have used it to help children heal after the death of a pet or loved one. I also have sent it to friends who may be dealing with a death as well. It's simple text and touching message are ageless.

Badger was too brief.:
I did like this book a lot. It deals with death in a non-threatening and simple way. However, I thought the book was too brief and I did not empathize well enough with the characters. The illustrations are wonderfully drawn and the creatures are very humanistic. I would recommend this book for young children.

A touching, deft treatment of a painful subject.:
From the wonderful artwork to the marvelous characters, this book is a touching look at death, and how life goes on. Badger's friends are saddened by his passing, but they come to realize that everyone lives on through their gifts of kindness and the happy memories that remain. Only one caution: if you've experienced the loss of a "Badger" in your own life, this book can reduce you to tears in about five minutes (said from experience!) Cleansing, ultimately uplifting, but may be harder on adults than kids... Highly recommended.

A reminder of all we still have from someone who has died:
I read this book to my kids when they were younger and my dad was gravely ill. He pulled through that time, but died a few months ago. Our copy has disappeared in the meantime, but I thought this book important enough to order a copy for my young niece and nephew. A few months after a death, when the initial pain has worn off a little, or when a death may be imminent seem like the perfect times to read this story. Badger's friends are sad, but at a stage when they are able to remember wonderful things about his life and their frienships with him.

A book for anyone who has lost someone they love:
Susan Varley is amazing. I've read everything I can find written for children about death, and this is by far the best. And it's not just for kids. I bought this book to share with my children after my brother's death five years ago. They seemed to connect with it, but I think it spoke even more to me than it did to them. We've since experienced other losses, and this is always the first book that comes off the shelves. I'm now buying copies for an adult friend who lost his father, and elementary school classmates of my sons' whose mother just died from cancer. If you or someone you care about are grieving, try this book. You may find some smiles amidst the tears.