Ocho Loved Flowers
Posted on Jun 11, 2008 under Family & Relationships |Ocho Loved Flowers
by Anne Fontaine
Ages 4-7
Stoneleigh Press
www.annieseries.com
Hardcover $14.95
Paperback $6.95
In Ocho Loved Flowers, the first of The Annie Series, young Annie learns that her best friend–her mischievous cat, Ocho–suffers from a terminal illness and is going to die soon. This compassionate book shows our main character learning to help with a new level of pet care at the same time that she learns a new level of love. Endorsed by the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Foundation, Ocho Loved Flowers has found some of its first fans among the hospice care crowd. Always on the lookout for compassionate books about death and dying, these brave folks have surely noticed that very few children’s authors have dared to tackle the subjects of grief and loss. Although it’s s difficult story to tell, Anne Fontaine does so with grace and humor. Teachers, parents, and compassionate veterinarians will welcome the page of helpful discussion questions at the back of the book.
Written for ages 4-7, Ocho Loved Flowers doesn’t avoid showing her young readers the painful reality of losing a beloved furry friend. Yet its poetic language adds an especially tender offering to the small group of well-written, compassionate books about death and dying. Lively, bright illustrations by Obadinah (see www.Obadinah.com) help to balance as well as inform the serious subject matter. The book ends with a beautiful two-page illustration that shows us Annie’s grief doesn’t keep her from playing with friends and enjoying life. Her dear cat Ocho is gone but not forgotten.
December 19th, 2008 at 7:37 pm
[…] All that somewhat petulantly said, I appreciated the authentic portrayal of loss and learning at the heart of this book. Lupita’s grief at her Uncle Monarch’s death rings true, as does her lifting of spirit when she’s reminded of him by a glimpse of his namesake butterfly. (See my review of another picture book about understanding death and loss, Ocho Loved Flowers.) […]