
A parent would reach for this book when their young child is experiencing the quiet, lingering sadness that follows the loss of a grandparent. The story follows Liplap, a little bunny who, while playing in the snow, feels a deep sense of loneliness and realizes he misses his grandmother who has died. Through the simple act of making a wish, he finds comfort in feeling her love is still with him. This gentle and reassuring book is perfect for ages 5 to 8. It validates a child's grief without offering complex explanations, focusing instead on the enduring connection of love and memory, making it a safe and soothing choice for a difficult time.
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Sign in to write a reviewThe book deals directly with the death of a grandparent. The approach is secular and metaphorical. The resolution is hopeful, focusing on the continuation of love and memory rather than any specific belief about an afterlife. It affirms that it's normal for sadness to surface even during happy moments, like playing in the snow. The language is direct but soft, stating “Grandma was gone.”
A 5 to 7-year-old who has recently lost a grandparent or other close loved one. This child may be having trouble articulating their feelings of loss, or may be experiencing waves of sadness that crop up at unexpected times. It’s for a child who needs validation and comfort, not a scientific or religious explanation of death.
This book can be read cold; its gentle nature doesn't require much prep. Parents should be ready for their child to open up about their own feelings of missing someone. The line “Grandma was gone” is direct, so a parent might want to read that page first if they have been using different language with their child. A parent notices their child seems withdrawn or sad during a normally joyful activity. The child might say “I miss Grandma” out of the blue, or they may simply be quiet and pensive. This book is a perfect response to that quiet, observable ache.
A younger child (5-6) will connect with the concrete feeling of missing someone and the comfort of feeling a warm hug. They will understand the wish and the snowbunny. An older child (7-8) will grasp the more abstract idea that love and memory persist after death. They can connect Liplap's internal feeling to their own complex emotions.
Unlike books that focus on the funeral or the immediate aftermath of loss, *Liplap’s Wish* captures the secondary wave of grief: the quiet, everyday sadness that lingers. Its unique strength is portraying grief as an emotion that coexists with life, not a singular, dramatic event. The soft, dreamy illustrations by Lika Stoepel are a perfect match for the story’s gentle, hopeful tone.
A young bunny named Liplap plays in the snow with his family but feels a persistent sadness. He realizes he misses his grandmother, who recently died. While building a snowbunny, he makes a wish on the evening star. In a gentle, dreamlike moment, he feels the warmth of his grandmother’s love surrounding him like a blanket, which brings him comfort and peace before he goes to sleep.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.