Bird is Dead – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Death, grief, warm, feelings, sensitive.
Children’s book title: Bird is Dead.
Children’s author: Tiny Fisscher.
Children’s illustrator: Herma Starreveld.
Genre: Picture book.
Published by: Greystone Kids.
ISBN: 9781778401176.
Recommended for children aged: 4-8 year-olds.
First published: Hardback March 2024.
This children’s book is ideal for: helping to develop a safe space and opportunity to discuss death and grief in PSHE lessons.
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Our review:
Explaining death to children is difficult and Bird is Dead does this using language that children use and understand clearly like, “dead” and “gone forever”. The use of birds as characters instead of people makes the information easier for a child to digest.
The vibrant, colourful, patchwork-style illustrations, with quirky characteristics, make the book appealing whilst exploring the subject.
I love that the birds react in different ways to death and are honest.
“He was my best friend” – “Well, he wasn’t mine”.
At the funeral, one of the birds wants to sing, which helps the others to consider celebrating the person who had died. The book normalizes different reactions and expresses true feelings. The birds work together for the funeral and support and comfort each other.
After the funeral, they have tea and worms or cake and reflect on still feeling sad, but having happy memories about Bird.
Our verdict:
This is a great book for adults to share with a child and explore this important subject. There are amusing moments mixed with the colourful illustrations that give the subject a lighter note. Minimal words are used, leaving plenty of room for children to explore and share their own thoughts.
I think the author has touched on most of the questions that might go through a child’s mind when faced with death and the book helps to explore important coping skills that develop resilience.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- A useful text to help discuss grief and loss with children in KS1 and KS2.
Many thanks to Greystone Kids for the review copy.
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If you like Bird is Dead by Tiny Fisscher and Herma Starreveld you might also like: our reviews of Butterfly Wings by Samuel Larochelle, illustrated by Eve Patenaude, Forwards Always by Matthew Hodson, Free Kid to Good Home by Hiroshi Ito, Can You Whistle, Johanna? by Ulf Stark and Anna Höglund, Alte Zachen: Old Things by Ziggy Hanaor and Alone! by Barry Falls.
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