Mouseboat

Gr 1-3–Grief is a complex and unpredictable experience, especially for children like Faye who have lost their mother. Life with dad is different in every way it seems, and Faye is desperate to hear her mother speak to her one more time. Though whispers come in the wind, Faye believes she will be closest to her mother on the boat they shared. But when a storm threatens her safety, Faye discovers both the strength within her and the love that awaits her on the shore. This emotional story paints grief in an honest, accessible way for children who find themselves living the unthinkable. Richly pigmented watercolor images echo the darkness consuming Faye’s heart, while intricate details incorporate images of Faye’s mother as frequently as she is in Faye’s thoughts. Limited text is used in the story, and the appearance of this text changes in response to the intensity of Faye’s emotions, which adds a dynamic visual layer to the storytelling. Whether readers have experienced dramatic loss in their own lives or not, this book serves both as a cathartic journey of acceptance and as a window into feelings that can be difficult to express.