Michael Rosen’s Sad Book

Its value lies in naming grief without pretending it is easy. The pictures reinforce emotional complexity, while coping examples and a small closing light leave room for hope.

The central subject is the death of Rosen’s teenage son and the resulting deep sadness. The treatment is candid and emotionally intense.

What feelings do the words and pictures show at the same time, and which responses to sadness seem helpful, unhelpful or simply different for different people?

Read it slowly together, pausing after difficult pages rather than rushing towards reassurance. Let the child lead discussion, and return later to the coping ideas or simply the images.