Badger's Parting Gifts: A picture book to help children deal with death

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i can think of no better way to do this than to read books like these (when appropriate) to open up children's minds to sensitive subjects. The story shows the importance of talking about these situations and it may help children to share their feelings with others.

The lead up to the Long Tunnel is marvellously told as Badger watches two young friends, Mole and Frog, frollicking about and he remembers when he was able to do just that. The following day his group of forest companions discover that one of their dearest friends has sadly passed away. When he finally passes away, they are grief-stricken, but one by one they remember the special things he taught them during his life. However, i believe it is important to allow children of all ages to explore their feelings, even those that make us feel bad. Using a story within Religious Education is very common within the younger years of primary education as numerous children’s books explore a message or moral which is an important area of this subject.

One the Badger "go’s down the Long Tunnel" his friends are very sad indeed and they are not sure how to cope with the death of their dear friend. They soon come to see that they will always remember Badger through his ‘parting gifts’ and realise that he will always be with them, in some way. Heartbroken, his friends started to remember all of the things that Badger had taught each of them leaving each with a parting gift.

He carries on running with no difficulty and when he falls head over paws there is no pain and he feels free. The copy I read was published in 1984 and though beautifully illustrated would not have been vibrant enough to have made it on to the shelves now. Despite being a picture book, Susan Varley's book can be used readily and freely in PSHE lessons to promote discussion of life and it's counterparts.This book deals with bereavement and loss and shows how the different animals deal with it and the different ways they all remember him.