On numerous occasions we’ve heard that picture books shouldn’t deal with some of the more sensitive topics, such as death.
For the record, we completely and utterly and disagree and ‘Little Bell and the Moon’ by Giles Paley-Phillips and Iris Deppe illustrates perfectly how the subject of death can be tackled in a child-friendly, elegant and sensitive nature.
This story simply follows a little girl who grows up, gets old and turns into a bright star in the sky.
A beautifully flowing, rhyming tale, we observe Little Bell on her life-long, journey with the moon. Each night the Moon takes Little Bell’s hand. They cross continents, explore new shores and enjoy their adventures together.
We see their relationship grow and flourish over time, until one day they take their last voyage together. Little Bell grows old and frail and “into a sleep she fell.”
The story doesn’t end there, as Little Bell turns into a star, where she and the Moon are reunited.
This beautifully refreshing story touches upon a subject rarely dealt with in children’s picture books, in a most positive and uplifting way.
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