The honour for most original picture book goes to
The Bear and the Wildcat (Gecko Press, £9.99), written by the Japanese author Kazumi Yumoto and illustrated by Komako Sakai. Bereavement is a difficult theme for young readers, but as death occurs in the world it should be addressed, sensitively, on the page. The story opens with a tearful bear, whose friend the bird has died. While most of the animals in the forest tell him to forget the bird, a travelling wildcat encourages the bear to grieve. "This little bird must have been a very special friend of yours," he tells the bear. Touching and otherworldly, brave in its treatment of loss,
The Bear and the Wildcat is a hauntingly beautiful book.
The above from
The Independent's story "
Picture books worth a thousand words" published yesterday.Piece on this title posted on blog back in June.
