bookreviews

 

Grace and Mr Milligan
Caz Goodwin
Illustrated by Pip Kruger
Marshall Cavendish International
ISBN: 9789815009811
 
This gentle, beautifully told story explores themes of friendship, loss, grief and healing.The carefully crafted text reveals genuine friendship between the two main characters, their shared joys and their love for constant companion, Charlie, the goat. There is use of repeated phrases, humour, alliteration and rich, descriptive language. The narrative transitions sensitively, allowing readers to realise the passing of Charlie in their own time. A gentle pace offers opportunities to pause and reflect, whilst the use of the progression of the days of the week effectively conveys the passing of time. The pairing of the text and dynamic, sensitive illustrations is faultless and deftly edited throughout. The final double spread is wordless, depicting the cycle of life.

This is a delicate, wholesome, love-filled story about losing a friend and grieving, but it is also filled with joy—in the uncomplicated happiness of Grace’s friendship with her neighbours…

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Grace and Mr Milligan—a book we love. Grace, Mr Milligan and Charlie the goat live by the sea and are the best of friends… This bright and beautiful picture book helps young people to understand loss through the journey of these three friends.’

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Beautifully illustrated by Pip Kruger, the images enhance Caz Goodwin’s excellent text… An ideal resource for explaining ageing, loss and grief, and how loving memories can be the most precious of all requisites in life.

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A gentle and affirming story about being brave and the magic of kindness. These books celebrate the power of friendship and helping each other… Another great Little Matilda book.

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This delightful book, in rhyme that makes your mouth smile when you speak it out loud, is a testament to the power of persistence and kindness…

There is great satisfaction in seeing Little Matilda overcome her loneliness and rejection by picking herself up, dusting herself off, and ultimately arriving at a completely unexpected, surprising destination.

This book is great fun to read, the pictures are glorious and the messages very timely.

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