Cry, Heart, But Never Break
Author: Glenn Ringtved | Illustrator: Charlotte Pardi | Hardcover
Aware their grandmother is gravely ill, four siblings make a pact to keep death from taking her away. But Death does arrive all the same, as it must. He comes gently, naturally. And he comes with enough time to share a story with the children that helps them to realize the value of loss to life and the importance of being able to say goodbye.
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Winner of the 2017 Batchelder Award
"Now comes a fine addition to the most intelligent and imaginative children's books about making sense of death -- the crowning jewel of them all, even." --Maria Popova, Brain Pickings
"Rich and affecting." --Mark Levine, The New York Times
"In this empathic picture book, [...] Pardi creates a cozy, lived-in ambiance in her pencil and watercolor art." --Publishers Weekly
"The removal of any parental buffer in this episode reinforces the salutary suggestion that children are resilient enough to be in death's presence without fear. [...] Gentle, wistful reading for times of imminent loss." --Kirkus Reviews