The Hole By Lindsay Bonilla

A powerful and profoundly moving picture book story about grief that is perfect for opening up conversations about loss with young readers

A little boy has a big hole in his life after his brother’s death. It's in the bottom bunk where Matty used to sleep, and on Matty's chair at dinner.

It follows him everywhere – and he hates it.

But with the help of a friend, he manages to climb into the hole and confronts his grief – the sadness, the anger, and the simple truth of how much he misses his brother. And when he finally feels ready to share stories about Matty again, he realises he can find some comfort in filling the hole with his favourite memories.

This beautifully written and stunningly illustrated story uses a direct and thoughtful metaphor to explain the grieving process for young readers, and demonstrates the importance of friendship, support, and the power of talking about your feelings.