Each page is worthy of time and discussion as they lead us to understand the changing emotions that accompany the final adventure Grandad and Syd have together. So like I said, when Grandad's Island arrived - and we honestly didn't know much about this book before hand - while reading it I noticed that everything slowly came into place for her and I could see she could understand it that much more.

However, with how the story portrays Grandad going to heaven, it deals with it in a sensitive way that children can understand and may help them not to be as worried. Syd and his Grandad set sail for a very special island in this metaphorical exploration of death and grieving for the picture-book set. The happiness the two characters experience on the island relates to Syd remembering all the fun times with his Grandad while the rocky trip home explores the difficult emotions he may be experiencing.

This book deals with a very sensitive subject of losing grandparents and it is a situation I have seen many children experience and this book may help them to understand the situation. He’s in the attic, where he ushers Syd through a door, and the two of them journey to a wild, beautiful island awash in color where Grandad decides he will remain. The simple, yet thoughtful writing and colourful, detailed illustrations combine to leave the reader both hugely comforted and uplifted. The metaphor is not very explicit which means the book could simply be used as a nice read-aloud story for younger readers or explored more deeply with older children.

It is written in a lovely, heart-warming way, and I can imagine it could be really valuable for use in the classroom, PSHE, or for a child to read with parents. Whilst appropriate for use with children in KS1, who may not even realise there is a metaphor for death contained within the story, the book could also be used with children in KS2 as a starting point for a PSHE lesson about bereavement. This story is a metaphor for death and loss with Syd experiencing and coping with the loss of his grandad. Sem nunca os desligar totalmente da realidade da partida da pessoa de quem gostam, explicar que estão num lugar melhor, mesmo que seja uma ilha imaginária, pode tornar todo o processo um pouco mais fácil nas suas cabeças ainda tão jovens. Myślę, że każde dziecko zrozumie tę historię na swój sposób a my jako rodzice/nauczyciele, możemy jedynie pomóc im ją przyswoić.Recommended (with the caveat that it might not really work for everyone) to those looking for picture-books addressing the loss of a grandparent.

Sure to provide comfort to young children struggling to understand loss, Benji Davies's tale is a sensitive and beautiful reminder that our loved ones live on in our memories long after they're gone.

Grandad's Island is a beautiful story about a young boy who is trying to understand why his Grandad father won't be in his life anymore. The boy then journeys back home, a journey which seems all the more difficult and tiresome without his grandfather present. A beautiful book with great illustrations and a lovely story, which may help children with the loss of a grandparent. I think this shows that it could simply be taken as an interesting story for younger readers but also it has layers!