Overall, I thought this was a nice book about life and death. It is certainly something that can be used in a classroom or even in a family setting that is dealing with the passing of a loved one or in situations where students or children have questions about death. Like other books about death, such as City Dog, Country Frog (Mo Willems, 2010), the author uses the season as a symbol/stage of life, which is something good for young readers to be aware of and look for in future readings. guy says Death is envious of Life and I like the idea that they were kind of companions, in sort of conflict a lot For his illustrations, Erlbruch received honorable mention in the 2008 Dutch Gouden Penseel competition for best children's book illustrations. [5] [6] Adaptations [ edit ] Parents who choose to discuss death with their young children may feel this odd import is an excellent discussion starter (if they don't find it peculiar and macabre). With great economy of words and minimalist yet enormously expressive illustrations, Erlbruch conveys the quiet ease that develops between the two as they relax into an unlikely camaraderie.

Me lo sono dovuto annotare, qua, per archiviarlo a lungo termine in questa memoria digitale che è il mio giornale di lettura e, quindi, per tangenza, un diario di vita. From award-winning author and illustrator, Wolf Erlbruch, comes one of the world's best children's books about grief and loss. Voted one of the 100 greatest children's books of all time by the BBC. I’ve also used the book in philosophy sessions with fourth and fifth grade students, and it’s led to some thoughtful exchanges about life and death, what it means to be mortal, and whether anything ever really dies.

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The character of Death is depicted as a dressing-gown clad figure with a stylised skull for a head. Obviously any representation of a skull comes heavily loaded with our pre-conceived baggage that we hang on this symbolism, but the look of the character is softened by the rest of the figure who looks like they are perpetually ready for bed or haven’t bothered to get dressed for the day. JANELLE: As I think about your last line here as well as previous comments regarding the metaphorical and philosophical perceptions on death, I am reminded about the power of picture books for all readers. They enable us to take difficult issues to more complex levels through often simple text but intricate illustrations. It is no wonder that Wolf Erlbruch has been given the 2017 ALMA honor as this is but one example of his life’s work in illustration.

Death is something all children ask about eventually, either as an abstract idea, or because a grandparent or pet has died. Maybe it comes from questioning where their food comes from – or whether dead flowers go “to heaven” too? Even if they are spared something unexpected and tragic happening close to their lives, it may come up through listening to or watching the news. Wolf Erlbruch was a German Illustrator, writer and Academic. He was born on June 30, 1948, in Wuppertal, Germany. He attended the Folkwang Hochschule (1967-1974) and studied graphic design. As a student he worked in advertising. He also worked as an illustrator for magazines, which included Stern and Esquire. In 1985, he illustrated, Der Adler, der nicht fliegen wollte by James Aggrey. He continued to write and illustrate many books. He is best known for his illustrations in, The Story of Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business by Werner Holzwarth. Erlbruch was a professor at several universities, Fachhochschule Düsseldorf (1990-1997), University of Wuppertal (starting in 1997), and Folkwang University of the Arts (2009-2011). He received many awards and honors for his work. He received the 2006 Hans Christian Anderson Award. He was given the 2014 E. O. Plauen Prize. In 2017, he was presented the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Wolf Erlbruch died on December 11, 2022. He was 74. Explaining the topic of death in a way that is honest, lightly philosophical and with gentle humour, this enchanting book has been translated into multiple languages, adapted into an animated movie and short film and performed on stages worldwide. I appreciate that this book presents death as a normal part of life. I repeat—normal! Simple. Real. An ending. Both pathos and wry humor. I could see using it as a book club selection; also as a way into discussions about dying and death with family members, even children.

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Wolf Erlbruch received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2006 and was the winner of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2017. Soft Philosophical" (ปรัชาสายนุ่มนวล) เป็นหนังสือที่บอกเล่าถึงสัจธรรมแห่งการจากลาและความตายได้อย่างอบอุ่นและอ่อนโยน ลายเส้นก็ดูสะอาดตา มีความละมุนและเรียบง่าย การออกแบบตัวละครก็ไม่ได้มีความซับซ้อนใดๆ โดยเฉพาะตัวละครที่ชื่อว่า "ความตาย" ที่ไม่ได้ดูน่าหวาดกลัวหวาดหวั่น กลับทำให้รู้สึก "ธรรมดา" เสียด้วยซ้ำ ราวกับผู้เขียนพยายามบอกว่า แท้จริงแล้ว ความตายไม่ได้หน้าตาน่ากลัวอย่างที่คิดด้วยซ้ำ Tender and direct, this is an excellent tool for helping to explain and talk about death, dying and bereavement with children Death is our friend precisely because it brings us into absolute and passionate presence with all that is here, that is natural, that is love,” Rilke wrote in contemplating how befriending our mortality can help us feel more alive. Nearly a century later, John Updike echoed this sentiment: “Each day, we wake slightly altered, and the person we were yesterday is dead. So why, one could say, be afraid of death, when death comes all the time?” And yet however poetic this notion might be, it remains one of the hardest for us to befriend and reconcile with our irrepressible impulse for aliveness. How, then, are those only just plunging into the lush river of life to confront the prospect of its flow’s cessation? The second thing the reader notices is the extraordinary courage of the book – the uncluttered nature of its graphics, the uncompromising excellence of its design and production and its honest message that `Death is always with us’.

Kate: Its greatest service is [that] it makes us consider the fact that we’re with death all the time and when it Lenteren, Pjotr van (18 January 2008). "Een dode eend, een verlepte tulp en een extravagante hoed voor de koningin". de Volkskrant . Retrieved 8 May 2012. She is scared stiff but as they talk, visit the pond and climb trees, her initial fear gives way to acceptance and friendship as her life moves inevitably towards its end.

Duck, Death and the Tulip

Sieglinde Duchateau, in a review of the Dutch translation, also praised the book: "The atmosphere is warm, intimate, and full of comfort. In the masterpiece a difficult theme is made accessible for children in an idiosyncratic manner with a touch of humor." [4] What this book does is to allow the reader to investigate their own philosophical view of what happens when we die. Ente, Tod und Tulpe: Andrea Simon stellt Tanzfilm vor". Hofheimer Zeitung. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012 . Retrieved 8 May 2012.