When the World Was Grey

Written by Claire Donald

Big feelings of loss and grief can be overwhelming for little people, particularly around the death of a loved one This simple but poignant story is a way to start the conversation with children about the process of loss, grief, acceptance and adjustment. It shows how, with a little time it’s possible to smile again at happy memories and shared experiences.

Joy’s friend becomes ill, and the worse she gets, the smaller Joy becomes and the darker her world gets. After her friend dies Joy almost disappears and the world becomes a very dark place. But, after a while Joy finds something that reminds her of all the happy times they shared. Joy begins to grow and flourish once more as her world becomes brighter and more colourful. She learns that feeling sad is perfectly normal at times like these and that things will get better with time.

Even the very young can be supported through the use of children’s picture books about death.