Where Are You, Eddie?
Age 5+
Picture Books
From the author of Michael Rosen’s Sad Book comes a moving story of loss and acceptance.
Michael’s son Eddie has died. But does that mean he has really gone?
Michael decides to go and look for him. Visiting the places they went together and speaking to his friends and siblings, he discovers how Eddie is alive in their memories. Eddie is still here.
Simply told, and with emotional honesty by former Children’s Laureate about his own experience of losing his son Eddie, this is a vital book for children dealing with grief and loss, showing how a loved one can be kept with you through memories. Illustrated with warmth and sensitivity by acclaimed illustrator Gill Smith, and with an afterword by Michael Rosen.
Creators
Michael Rosen is one of the most popular authors for children; his bestselling titles published by Walker Books include We're Going on a Bear Hunt, A Great Big Cuddle and Michael Rosen’s Sad Book. A popular radio broadcaster, distinguished critic and academic, and multi-award-winning poet, Michael was appointed the Children's Laureate from 2007 to 2009, and is now Professor of Children's Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London. Michael lives in north London; check out his website: www.michaelrosen.co.uk
Gill Smith achieved an MA with distinction in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. She was shortlisted for the Batsford Illustration prize and a winner of the international competition, "Picture This". She illustrated Maria's Island, a retelling of Victoria Hislop's bestselling book, The Island, reimagined for children. She also illustrated Saving the Butterfly, which was shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize, the heart-warming Appletree Animal Agency series and the acclaimed picture book, Wild. Gill lives in Liverpool; follow her on Instagram @gillsmithillustration.
Reviews
Michael Rosen’s new book, gorgeously illustrated by Gill Smith, is an incredibly moving exploration of grief, loss, love and memory. Beginning with a conversation between Rosen and his cat Meg, the story follows his experience of losing his son Eddie, and examines how we might find our lost loved ones in the places we shared with them and in the people who knew them. Rosen writes with remarkable sensitivity and humanity, and I know I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
NetGalley Reviewer
This is a beautiful book that explores what happens when someone close to you dies and how their memory can live within us and the special moments we experience. I loved the idea of the cat bringing comfort. Sensitively covers a difficult topic.
NetGalley Reviewer
A poignant and gorgeously illustrated picture book on grief for children 5-9, and for adults too seeking solace after loss. Highly recommended!
NetGalley Reviewer
Picture books about grief are always needed and urgent, and Rosen’s work is as expected: touching, poignant, gripping, witty. I think telling more will spoil the rest. When I started reading this book, I had forgotten some of the blurb, and letting myself ride the wave proved to be a good choice. Will introduce this book to my child, and reminisce our deceased as well as cherishing our memories with them.
NetGalley Reviewer
This is a very emotional picture book, dealing with the topic of grief in a gentle, mature way. All grief is hard for so many deal with, but when it comes to the death of your child it is so much more incredibly harder. And yet families are having to deal with this far too often and this is a book that I feel could support the whole family so well and allow for sensitive discussions to begin to take place. In fact I know of some adults that would hugely benefit from reading this book after the loss of their child, as well as for their other children, as it is written so beautifully. You can tell that the author, Michael Rosen, is writing from the heart and with the experience of time. I am sure that at times this was a very difficult book to write but I am glad that he says it also helped him. The illustrations are so beautifully done and work well with the text.
NetGalley Reviewer
