Synopsis: At the bottom of Syd’s garden lives Grandad. Syd can visit any time he wants. One day he finds Grandad in the attic. The two venture through a big, metal door and find themselves aboard a ship. They journey to Grandad’s beautiful, wild island and, after plenty of adventures, Grandad tells Syd that he is thinking of staying….
Themes: Loss, love, missing someone, death, adventure.
Why you should read it: One of my favourite picture books! A touching, wistful, beautiful exploration of what it means to lose someone dear to you. The book never mentions death and doesn’t force readers to feel a certain way. Colourful, cheery, exotic illustrations will invite young readers on an exciting, sensitively told journey.
Cross-curricular links: Geography (journeys, different settings, islands), PSHE (loss, death).
Perfect for: All age groups, but especially children aged 5-9. Book notes available on The Literacy Shed Plus website.
Published by: Simon & Schuster Children’s UK.
Read how I used this book with my Year 2 class here!
Please do leave a comment if you have used this book in your own classroom and how you used it!
