Wildful

Reach for this book when your child is grappling with the quiet, heavy atmosphere of a home in mourning or observing a parent struggle with deep sadness. This gentle graphic novel follows Poppy, a young girl living with her mother who has become withdrawn after a significant loss. Through a magical encounter in the woods, Poppy discovers a hidden world of nature that helps her reconnect with her surroundings and, eventually, her mother. It is a secular, nature-centric approach to healing that uses the metaphor of the forest's ecosystem to explain the cycles of life and death. Best suited for ages 8 to 12, it provides a safe space to discuss how grief can make people feel invisible and how beauty can coexist with sadness.