Additionally, I think the amount of opportunities for rich discussion this book provides children should be given time and attention, particularly if children have not experienced or understand what grief is.

The blurb says adults and teenagers and I think that if intended for younger age groups extreme caution must be used. The goal is to provide information and insights about the larger context of life as it is being lived in the later years. The picture book offers all types of readers the opportunity to learn about death in a unique and accessible way whilst presenting death in the form of a character carrying a black tulip which begins to naturally die along with the Duck, as the story progresses. I do like that Death leaves the Tulip on Duck and takes the pains to bring Duck to the river and so forth, all very symbolic gestures of affection.Popular picture books usually tend towards the adorable in their choice of subject matter, and it is impossible to read Duck, Death and the Tulip without considering who its audience might be – not small children, surely, for the topic is dangerous and inappropriate, likely to inspire nightmares. Duck befriends Death (a yellowed skull with a fixed smile) and, well, you can guess what eventually happens.

In trying to highlight perspectives on Death, Duck and the Tulip, I pulled an article from Bookbird 51/4 (2013) that discusses death in four international books — all considered outstanding globally. At that point Death, clearly not devoid of emotion or empathy, is `almost a little moved’ but remains the pragmatist nonetheless: . Death is something all children ask about eventually, either as an abstract idea, or because a grandparent or pet has died. Personally I found this book life affirming, particularly for the way in which Duck accepts so completely what is happening to her: others may find it totally distressing.His artwork is haunting too and Duck, Death and the Tulip is a worthy follow-up to Erlbruch’s 2006 Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration. It is nice that Duck allows Death to share in the joys of his life and yet I go back to a point I made, that Death mentions that he is always there, for all of us, just in case. As the day turns to twilight (signaled by the backgrounds that darken from mauve to gray to charcoal), Gerald gets grumpy. The dominant tone in ‘The Grave’ is melancholic, and that tone is created through the language elements of symbolism, diction, and imagery. The flow of the story is gentle and intriguing, and the New Entrant audience that filled Downstage the day I saw it was utterly entranced.

Questo profilo si riempirebbe di consigli di lettura che non interesserebbero a nessuno e probabilmente non avrei neppure il tempo di starci dietro davvero - tolto che, il tutto, il più delle volte, si risolverebbe in una rapida attribuzione di stelline giacché per sopravvivere ai costi della vita "vera" devono catalogarne di decine alla volta. Directed by Nina Nawalowalo with sublime music from Gareth Farr and performed by Wilson and Shona McNeil, using puppets exquisitely crafted to replicate the book illustrations, it is the simplest of stories on the surface. Readers will have their own preconceptions on the topic but these may be challenged as a result of the discussion. My response after this reading of the book focused on the kindness of Duck to Death, offering warmth when he was cold and opportunity to play.I can’t think of another book that tackles so huge a subject with such simple, heartbreaking eloquence. It is certainly something that can be used in a classroom or even in a family setting that is dealing with the passing of a loved one or in situations where students or children have questions about death. This theme is illustrated in the young protagonist, Miranda, and her epiphany on the concept of the cycle of life and rebirth. Here the story deals with a warm and affectionate relationship between Death, portrayed as a skeleton in a dressing-gown and slippers and the soon-to-die Duck. This makes the Duck feel better as he thinks to himself he won’t have to mourn the loss of the pond.

Voy a incluir este cuento en mis libros leídos solo porque ya he terminado el desafío de lectura y porque este en concreto merece una reseña.Duck, Death and the Tulip es el cuento que habría deseado tener de niña y la historia que aspiro a escribir e ilustrar algún día. I’ve also used the book in philosophy sessions with fourth and fifth grade students, and it’s led to some thoughtful exchanges about life and death, what it means to be mortal, and whether anything ever really dies. Nagy conducted a number of tests between different age groups in her sample; the results suggested three distinct but unassailable stages in children’s concepts of death. He has received many awards, including the 2006 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Illustration and the 2017 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.