It was summer and there was nothing for them to do.
On a day when they were more than bored, Esther and
her friend find a dead bumble bee and bury it. Esther digs the grave. Her
friend writes the poem they recite. They
go searching and find an expired mouse. That too, is placed in a cigar box and
given a funeral service. The children’s desire is to be of service to all dead
creatures.
Harold the hamster followed after they contacted
all the people that they knew in the area about their enterprise. Business was
brisk but nobody paid.
The
next day we found something else to do. Something completely different.
This book, although beautifully illustrated in
colour by the talented Eva Eriksson, gives a dark but realistic view of how
children conceive the most bizarre ideas.
These they put into practice to pass the time when they are left to
their own resources and have nothing else to do.
The other way of looking at this story is the depth
and breadth of a child’s imagination. Life appears so simple to them. They are
mostly fearless as they test their ability to impress by showing off, and in
persuading others to follow their lead.
This is a book for parental discretion. It can be
used to address death and dying for all living things. Or it can be used as an
example of what may occur, when boredom sets in, and children are left alone to
entertain themselves.
Title:
All the Dear Little Animals
Author:
Ulf Nilsson
Illustrator:
Eva Eriksson
Publisher:
Gecko Press, $15.99
Publication
Date: February 2020
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781776572823
For
ages: 6 – 8
Type:
Junior Fiction
