Boy and the Gorilla, The

Reach for this book when your child is processing the death of a mother or a primary caregiver and needs a safe, non-judgmental space to express their confusion and grief. While the story begins at a funeral, it quickly moves into a gentle dialogue between a young boy and a large, imaginary gorilla who stays by his side through the following days. The gorilla acts as a patient listener, answering the boy's hardest questions like "Where did she go?" and "When will I stop feeling sad?" with honesty and warmth. This book is an essential tool for parents of children aged 4 to 8 who are struggling to verbalize their feelings. It models how to keep a loved one's memory alive while slowly reconnecting with the world and the remaining family members, specifically the father. It is a secular, poetic, and deeply comforting resource that validates that it is okay to be sad for as long as you need.