In my conversations with youth educators, one of the most valuable lessons to be impressed upon me is a deep understanding that the lives of young people are often very trying and difficult. Perhaps the most challenging- and most rewarding- aspect of working with youth is being able to offer a companion book for these moments.
When I first got my hands on Wolf Erlbruch’s Duck, Death and the Tulip, it took my breath away. The tenderness and sophistication with which it is written (and illustrated) makes it a good book to have on hand for children, or the families of children, who have experienced a loss.
It may take 5 or 10 minutes to read, but it will take much longer to digest.
