2018-04-25
One spring morning young Finn finds a big white feather on his doorstep that, he thinks, was sent by his brother from heaven.His mother and teacher only smile when he announces that it's from Hamish, but his friend Lucas gets properly excited: "It's amazing!" he marvels and then asks Finn what he's going to do with it. First the two lads construct a pretend castle (from, in the colored-pencil illustrations, improbably large logs) and place the feather right on top; then it's off to have further fun with chases and with tickles, to mount a rescue when it's blown into a tree, and finally to write a letter to Hamish with it—"I whish you were here," the little boy prints carefully—to be likewise deposited in a tree for the wind to deliver. Despite the situation (Noble herself lost a son named Hamish, according to the flap copy) and the pictures' muted colors and soft focus, the episode is less about grieving the loss of a loved one than finding positive ways to remember and to regard the deceased. Finn and his mother are white; Lucas, their teacher, and some of the children in several scenes have slightly darker complexions.A good choice to share with a bereaved child: poignant, but not heavily sentimental. (Picture book. 6-8)
A Choosing Therapy Best Grief Book for Children for 2022
"I treasure the book as a very fine example of a child’s death narrative that rings true. Among other things, I appreciate the fact that the world of the living is an appealing, sun-filled place to be even while one’s heart and mind feels sadness and loss."—Wendy Lukehart, Youth Collections Coordinator, DC Public Library
"Inspired by Noble's own experience of loss, and enhanced by Abbott's naive, softly colored double-page-spread illustrations, the gentle story deals with death gracefully by celebrating those who have gone before. It will provide a welcome opportunity for parents to discuss a serious issue with their young children."—Michael Cart, Booklist
"The episode is less about grieving the loss of a loved one than finding positive ways to remember and to regard the deceased."—Kirkus Reviews
"A stunning story of a child’s death told through the eyes of the brother. A feather arrives, a gift that nurtures loss, and leads to a day filled with laughter, love and the celebration of life, memory and exploring death in a healing and nurturing way. This book is a gift to those who have known loss and those that seek to understand and support."—Jesica Sweedler DeHart, Wandering Bookseller
"Combined, the art and story create a useful, moving resource for bereaved children and their families."—Publishers Weekly
"If you have a child who has lost someone—I cannot recommend this book more highly."—Rebecca Sparrow, Rebecca Sparrow dot com
★ "...more a celebration of love than sadness over a death."—STARRED REVIEW, Katerina Yurenka, Youth Services Book Review
"A grieving mother pays tribute to her lost son through an inspiring debut children's story."—Who Magazine
"An imaginative and original story by Rachel Noble that is charmingly illustrated by Zoey Abbott, 'Finn's Feather' is a very highly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 4 to 8."—The Midwest Book Review
"In this delicately insightful story about love, loss and forever, Rachel Noble draws on personal experience to offer a gentle pathway forward for anyone who has lost a beloved child or parent, and the process of grieving; a pathway personal to everyone. ... Easy to read words combined with graceful artwork from Zoey Abbott completes a work which is both significant and poignant and perfect for children struggling to understand the process of death and grieving."—Blue Wolf Reviews
“Finn’s Feather is written with such heart and care, in a gentle, honest and relatable manner… [Rachel Noble’s] clever crafting of a book which will generate conversation and compassion in little humans without distressing them or causing worries or fears is exceptional. […] It’s books just like Finn’s Feather which can help us grown ups and parents broach those topics which we sometimes feel ill equipped to discuss.” —Squishy Minnie Bookstore (Kyneton, Australia)
“The way the story is told, we learn of Hamish through Finn’s eyes. Which isn’t about his passing, but about fun, play, and how great he was. A warm and heartfelt take on the hard subject of death and loss.” —The Reading Ninja
“…poignant. Yes, it’s about a child grieving the loss of his brother, Hamish. But, perhaps more importantly, it’s about processing that emotion as a child. About a friend who imagines what a gift from a departed love one might mean and about joy found even amidst heartache.” —Miranda Rosbach, My Bookbloom
“An emotive and heartwarming tale, Finn’s Feather…is a tender story of loss and love.” —Sarah Yewman, Picture Books Blogger
“While Finn’s Feather is specifically about the loss of a sibling, the message is applicable to any loss in a child’s life. Finn walks outside one day and finds a white feather on his doorstep – he could not be more sure that it’s from his deceased brother, Hamish. He runs to show his mom and his teacher, but they simply hug him. He truly believes this feather was sent by his brother, and he doesn’t understand why no one seems to be as excited about it as he is. We see moments of joy, resilience, and enduring memory as Finn and his friend Lucas go on a journey to understand why Hamish sent the feather. And we soon find out that Lucas being willing to meet Finn where he is at in his season of grief, and be in that place with him, is a fantastic way to support someone you care about when they are dealing with loss.” —Kristen Souza (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), Choosing Therapy
07/01/2018
PreS-Gr 3—On the first day of spring, Finn is greeted by an amazing, perfect, white feather. Finn soon realizes that what makes this feather so special is that it was sent by his brother Hamish from heaven. When the boy shares this news with his mother, she sighs and offers him a big hug, as well as a reminder that his brother will always be with him, "Feather or no feather." When Finn shows the feather to his teacher, she also sighs and gives him a great, big smile. Just when Finn thinks that he was the only one who is excited about a perfect feather sent by his brother, his friend Lucas seems to completely understand. They spend the rest of the day celebrating and playing with the feather; just as Finn knows Hamish had intended. At the end of the day, after seeing how much the feather means to him, Finn's mother seems to finally get it. One white feather inspires Finn to write a letter to Hamish, and to set up a tree of remembrance in the yard with his mom in order to honor his brother. Abbott's soft, airy, colored pencil illustrations are the perfect companion to Noble's careful text. Despite the heavy subject matter, Noble and Abbott have paired to create a light, happy story that teaches readers, through Finn, how to celebrate and remember a loved one. VERDICT A truly lovely look at loss and remembrance, best shared one-on-one with a caring adult.—Elizabeth Blake, Brooklyn Public Library
