Luna's Red Hat - a bookwrap

Unwrapping...

Authored and illustrated by Emmi Smid

Great for ages 6+

Unwrapping the illustrations for you...

"It was the beginning of spring.  Luna was in the park and she was wearing her mum's red summer hat.  It was a gorgeous day."

Thus begins the tale of a heartbroken little girl who is hurting, confused and angry because one year ago today her mom left her, her dad, and her little brother, forever.  She tries to come to terms with her loss admist a black cloud that still hangs over her emotions and her heart, causing her much pain, anxiety and fear. 

 Her beloved dad tries to comfort and encourage her while she asks him all the hard questions she has been trying to unsuccessfully process.  She wants to know why her mum left her?  Did she, Luna, do something wrong to make her go away?  Will her dad leave her and her brother too?  She pours out her concerns and tattered emotions to a very loving dad who fills in all those gaps so she can heal and become his Luna once again.  United as a strong family unit, the characters work through a family member's permanent departure and try to put the pieces of their lives back together so they all can all move forward with their lives once again.  

The illustrations are lovely and there resides an overall gentleness in the tale.  This book is for kids 6+ who have experienced a loss of a loved one through suicide.  Suicide assaults senses and emotions and it is especially hard for children to deal with those feelings of a sudden loss.  This book includes a very helpful guide for parents and professionals by bereavement expert Dr. Riet Fiddelaers-Jaspers.  

Although this is a very difficult and heart-wrenching subject to deal with, suicide does happen and this book will help to soothe and bind up the deep wounds of family members and anyone else touched by that deceased person.  I highly recommend this book.

With a background in Fine Art and recently graduated from the MA Sequential Design/Illustration in Brighton, Emmi spends most her days drawing, painting, writing and reading picture books.

Emmi strongly believes that picture books are the perfect vehicle to introduce young children to difficult, profound topics, without feeling like they are being lectured to. Therefore, Emmi focuses on designing picture books that tackle social taboos and highlight current global topics. 

Her debut picture book, Luna's Red Hat, deals with the stigma of suicide. It will be on the shelves in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia in April 2015. 

Emmi is currently writing and illustrating a picture book about bees, called Bessi's Bees [working title]. This book makes children aware of the importance of bumble bees, honey bees and solitary bees, and encourages them to plant bee-friendly flowers. 

Emmi is part of the Fabula Collective, a group of international artists who explore the art and design of storytelling through media such as illustration, graphic design, textile design, film, 3D and so on. Fabula Collective organises exhibitions, workshops and storytelling-time at venues, galleries, schools, libraries and bookshops. For more information, visit:  www.fabulacollective.blogspot.co.uk

Read on and read always!

It's a wrap.

Contact me:  storywrapsblog@gmail.com