Always and Forever - Hardcover

Durant, Alan; Debi Gliori

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 015216636X ISBN 13: 9780152166366

Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books, 2004

Synopsis

When Fox dies, Mole, Hare, and Otter are devastated. They feel they will never get over their great sadness. How can life go on without him? Then one day Squirrel comes to visit. She reminds Fox's family of all the funny things he used to do. And as the friends share dinner and tell stories, they realize at last that in their hearts and memories, Fox is still with them, and he will be--always and forever.

With thoughtful, delicate illustrations by acclaimed artist Debi Gliori, this gentle story is just right for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one.

About this title

About the Author:

ALAN DURANT is a highly regarded author of books for children of all ages. He lives in London.

DEBI GLIORI has illustrated many beloved picture books, including Joyce Dunbar's Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep and Tell Me What It's Like to Be Big, along with her own Penguin Post and No Matter What. She lives near Edinburgh, Scotland.

From Booklist:

PreS-Gr. 1. British storyteller Durant tells a gentle tale about animal friends who cope with the death of a loved one. Otter, Mole, Fox, and Hare live happily together in a snug tree home, but in the autumn, Fox grows ill and dies, and his friends find his body in the woods, "still and cold, covered in leaves." After burying Fox, his friends grieve through the winter, until their friend Squirrel visits in spring and encourages them to share funny, fond memories. By laughing, they find ways to move past their grief and hold Fox "in their hearts and their memories." Durant's spare sentences have an appealing, poetic rhythm that reinforces the story's tender, reassuring tone. Gliori's charming, richly colored illustrations don't shy away from the reality of death (Fox's body is shown curled up under a tree), but the detailed scenes of the affectionate friends and their cozy home and garden will comfort children. Pair this with Mindy Avra Portnoy's Where Do People Go When They Die?, reviewed on p.1847. Gillian Engberg
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About this edition

• Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 015216636X
• ISBN 13: 9780152166366
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32