Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? is a book like no other. This is picture book that hopefully you will never need to turn to, will never contemplate needing – but for the families who do need it, it will offer a great deal of solace and comfort during an unimaginably difficult time.
Alex was incredibly excited about the boys’ only weekend – a few days with just him and his Dad. His dad, Mart, was only 34 years old when without warning he suffered a fatal heart attack in the middle of their trip.
Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? touchingly encompasses Alex’s reaction to what has happened and the conversations he has with his mum. Alex even talks about the funeral – from the ‘big black car’ to the many people who told ‘funny stories about Daddy.’
Using gentle dialogue, Elke captures the questions that Alex had during the coming months as he tries to make sense of what has happened. The power and poignancy lie here, questions such ‘how many more sleeps until I have to die?’ tumble forward, followed by touchingly honest and transparent answers. Elke and Alex have created a picture book which will help families with young children to try to comprehend the sudden death of a loved one.
The pencil and water colour illustrations from Anna Jarvis are integral to the mood and understanding of the picture book. Deep ink blues reflect a haunting night sky, conveying the sombre mood as Elke and Alex are pictured on a bridge, making sense of what has happened to them.
The beauty of a retrospective account is that Alex can show that it’s ok to be sad, and it’s definitely ok to be happy. He celebrates his 4th birthday with a joyful monster party accompanied by a wonderful double page filled with quietly uplifting blues and greens.
Available from Amazon, international delivery.
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