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Review: The Memory Tree : A Holiday Grief Book

By Suzanne

Illustrated by Thea Baker
Minneapolis, MN : Beaming Books, 2025. Picture book.

An extremely difficult challenge during the holidays is missing loved ones who have passed away. The Memory Tree: A Holiday Grief Book gently addresses the topic of loss during the holidays. Written as a letter to the deceased loved one, a child explains how they get the idea to make ornaments from things that were loved by them. They also collect things that remind them of their lost loved one. The exciting and heart-warming reaction to this idea is that friends from all over also come to the house to bring ornaments they made for the memory tree too!

As someone who has lost a child, I am always interested in books about grief and how it is explained to children. The idea for a memory tree wholly validates the child's sense of loss and with it, brings a healing amount of connection. Remembering the fun times and silly times and happy times and hard times all together strengthens bonds and supports the grief shared by the group. Young readers sensing their feelings around the loss of loved ones during the holidays will enjoy this idea, even if it is to make one ornament for the tree or to put cherished items on a table for everyone to see and enjoy. This is a book for anyone who finds themselves carrying the burden of grief this holiday season.
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