Suitabook
The Memory Tree
Savnola Goldridge
CC BY 4.0Credits & Licence
Originally published by Book Dash. Writer: Savnola Goldridge. Illustrator: Agrippa Hlophe. Designer: Jason Gien. Editor: Mariam Mahomed.
Cover resized and converted to WebP; artwork unchanged. Suitabook’s AI guidance is a separate assessment.
Original Book on Book Dash: The Memory Tree (opens in a new tab)- Reading
- Read together and pause if the hospital or death brings up questions. Let the child set the pace, and invite them to talk or simply listen without needing to share personal experiences.
- Themes
- Grief and remembering: Thembi and Thulani lose their grandfather; the family mourns and later makes a tree decorated with his photographs. The story gives space to sadness and anger, while presenting shared remembrance as meaningful to this family.
- Children expressing difficult feelings: Thembi asks why Grandpa died, and later tells her mother that she misses him and feels sore-hearted. Her feelings are met with closeness and reassurance rather than blame.
- Worth knowing
- Grandpa’s hospital illness and death are stated plainly; Thembi cries, feels angry and says her heart is sore. The church gathering and continuing grief are also shown.