For young readers exploring themes of legacy, creativity, and the enduring power of family, this book tenderly portrays how love keeps memories vibrant.
A parent might reach for this book when helping a child navigate the grief of losing a grandparent, especially one who shared a special talent or passion with them. Dadaji's Paintbrush tells the story of a young boy who inherits the special paintbrush of his beloved grandfather, an artist who painted his memories. Overwhelmed by grief and the weight of legacy, the boy finds he cannot paint. The story gently follows his journey through sadness to discover that the best way to honor his Dadaji is to use the brush to paint his own stories and memories. It's a tender, hopeful look at how love and creativity can keep memories alive across generations, suitable for ages 6-8.
The book deals directly with the death of a grandparent. The approach is secular, focusing on memory, legacy, and continuing bonds rather than any form of afterlife. The death happens off-page and is stated gently but clearly ("Then one day, Dadaji was gone"). The resolution is deeply hopeful, reframing grief as a catalyst for personal creativity and a way to celebrate a loved one's life.
Ideal Reader
This is ideal for a 6 to 8 year old child experiencing the loss of a grandparent or other close elder. It is particularly resonant for a child who shared a specific hobby (art, music, gardening) with that person and now feels lost or pressured when trying to continue it alone.
Parent Prep
A parent should preview the spread where Dadaji's chair is empty and the text announces his passing. This is the emotional turning point. The book does not require external context, but it is best read together, allowing space for the child to react to the boy's sadness and share their own feelings. A parent has noticed their child has stopped engaging in an activity they used to love with the person who died. The child might say something like, "I can't do it as good as Grandma did," or simply show frustration and avoidance.
Age Experience
A younger child (age 6) will connect with the simple, relatable feelings: the happiness of being with a grandparent, the sadness of them being gone, and the joy of painting again. An older child (age 8) will understand the deeper themes of legacy, the pressure of expectations, and the beautiful idea of honoring someone by forging your own path.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books about grief that focus solely on the sadness of absence, this story's unique angle is its focus on creative inheritance. It beautifully articulates the anxiety of influence and the pressure to fill a loved one's shoes, offering a proactive and empowering model for processing grief through creation. The specific South Asian cultural lens provides important representation and a warm, specific setting.
Read plot summary
A young boy shares a close bond with his grandfather, Dadaji, who uses a special paintbrush to paint vivid scenes from his memories of India. After Dadaji passes away, the boy inherits the paintbrush but is overcome with grief and a creative block, feeling he cannot live up to his grandfather's talent. He eventually finds inspiration in his own memories with Dadaji, realizing he can honor his grandfather's legacy by telling his own stories with the brush.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Dadaji painted his memories, like the taste of a juicy mango. If you could paint a memory of a happy day, what colors and shapes would you use to show how it felt?
2
When the boy first holds Dadaji's paintbrush, he feels 'as empty as the page.' Why do you think his sadness made it hard for him to be creative?
3
The boy sees a small, shivering bird and decides to paint it a sun to keep it warm. How did helping something else help him start to feel better?
4
At the end, the boy decides to tell his own stories with the brush. Does this mean he is forgetting Dadaji? How can we remember people we love while also creating new things?
5
Look at the pictures Dadaji painted and the pictures the boy painted. What is similar about them, and what is different?
