The Memory Box: A Book About Grief
2017
by Joanna Rowland
Illustrations by Thea Baker
When our daughter was young and her grandmother passed away, I scoured the Internet and library for resources and books to help guide her (and us) through. And while I did find some very helpful books, I would have taken more. I wish we had had this book then. The unfortunate part is that there will always be loss and grief and times when a book like this is needed. The comforting part is that talented people like this author and illustrator have created a book like this to help.
I love that this book talks about the realities of this child’s grief. It doesn’t get into any details about who the child has lost or what happened. It’s told in the first person, so while the illustrations are of a young white girl, the “I” point of view can hopefully translate. I appreciate that the child admits that there are happy days and sad days. That there are times she’s worried she’ll forget the person she loves so much. She talks about making a special box to keep memories of her time with her loved one. But she also adds new memories to the box of things she would have like to have shared with that person.
I love the book, and I love the idea of a memory box. Very well done. A beautiful picture book to read anytime, and a valuable resource for when it’s needed.