Nature and wise words from an old head unite to deliver the perfect read for discussing life and death with children.
Springtime. Out on the water, Grandpa, a young child and a canine companion watch in wonder at the flicker of blue lightning. Flying dart-like, its striking colours shining like jewels, the kingfisher is hard to spot. Blink and you’ll miss it. As the seasons change, the kingfishers raise a family and Grandpa shares his wisdom. Until one day, Grandpa and the mummy and daddy kingfishers are gone. Life and then death, nature goes on like this. Nature goes on forever…
Told over the course of year, Anna Wilson explores the cycle of life and the everlasting power of nature in this sumptuously illustrated, life-affirming read. In a stunning picture-book, facts about kingfishers are stitched together with a moving and touching story carried by a wonderful intergenerational bond between grandparent and grandchild.
The elusive kingfisher is one of my favourite birds so to see it given centre stage is an absolute treat. And the bird with ‘beak long and sharp, wings shining like jewels, breast golden-red like a sunset’ is beautifully evoked and richly appreciated by the admirers who watch in awe and wonder as the birds fish, build a nest, incubate eggs and raise their young.
Lulling prose flow as gently as the river, carrying you through the seasons and all of the wonders of the natural world. Wilson's carefully chosen words characterise each season with clarity and conversations down by the river are full of emotion and meaning as the the questioning child leads Grandpa to reveal that nothing can live forever. Massini’s soft, watercolour illustrations add another layer, perfectly complimenting the tenderness of the text. Be it as a bird or a human, life is short, like a ‘flicker of blue lightning’, there and then gone. These precious moments shared by the river between grandpa and grandchild are a reminder to get out there and to be at one with nature, to cherish loved ones and to make the most of the time we have with those that we hold dear.
While death and the cycle of life are difficult subjects to address with young children, Grandpa and the Kingfisher offers a way in. Death is not presented as something to be scared of, it is simply part of life. As Grandpa matter-of-factly alludes to, there wouldn’t be room for everyone if life lasted forever. Only nature and the cycle of life are eternal, and that is something rather special. Saddening and morbid this is not, the kingfishers soar, grandpa offers hope and the child has fond memories to recount of time down by the river, together they effortlessly lift-up spirits and warm hearts. Glorious, gentle and gorgeous; a graceful exploration of life, death and the natural ways of the world. Recommended for 5+. With huge thanks to Allen & Unwin and Nosy Crow for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.
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