April 1, 2022
K-Gr 2-Lehrhaupt introduces readers to a young girl, Lily, who feels as if there is an empty hole in her chest, a representational story element for a feeling of loss that grows as she struggles to continue her normal home and school life. Though her father tries to cheer her up with her favorite things, Lily receives and follows empathetic advice from a classmate, who also carries a "hole," about making patches to "repair" the hole. O'Neill's easy-to-read digital illustrations, with components of real-world textures, depict all the new patches Lily creates to cover the hole, including volunteering, reading with her dad, gardening, and playing with friends. With simple language and short sentence structure to define what loss of any nature can feel like for a child, this quick-paced story is an accessible example of how to think about and manage possible steps towards coping with sadness and pain in a way that fills the "hole" with friends, family, self-care, and positive change. In the right adult hands, it will lead to further discussion with about how others, including professionals, can be critical supports and advisors of coping strategies. VERDICT Purposely nonspecific about the type of "hole" the main character feels, this story presents a means to open a dialogue with children about learning to notice and find words for painful feelings, as well as a lesson in the emotional support others can offer.-Rachel Mulligan
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 15, 2022
A girl struggling with grief receives help from a classmate and her father. Lily has "a hole"--represented by a dusky violet circle on her T-shirt. Her sadness persists through festivities on her birthday, a beach trip, and more. Despite her empathetic father's attempts to help, Lily's hole grows as she withdraws from favorite pastimes and routines. At school, Thomas notices her distress and confides, "I have a hole too." Thomas shows her the patches on his T-shirt. "They help you repair the hole." Lily works on creating patches with Thomas at school, at home with Daddy, and alone. Lily's and Thomas' patches are symbols of things that can help us heal--pets, nature, music, and connections with others. Lehrhaupt sensitively handles a common emotional side effect of healing from grief: worrying that moving on means forgetting. "If I patch it completely, will I still remember?" asks Lily. "You won't forget," he reassures her. "But things will get better." By showing Lily beginning to recover due in part to the help of a friend, Lehrhaupt demonstrates that kids have the ability to help themselves and others heal from loss. Gentle illustrations, often set against white backdrops, portray Lily and her dad with light brown skin and dark hair. Thomas has dark brown skin and curly hair; students in the classroom are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An insightful portrayal of childhood loss and healing. (author's note, "how to make a patch" activity) (Picture book. 5-8)
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Starred review from April 15, 2022
Grades K-2 *Starred Review* This heartfelt picture book uses the metaphor of a hole growing in Lily's chest to describe feelings of overwhelming sadness or loss. Experienced author Lehrhaupt matter-of-factly explains that Lily's hole--pictured as a large purple dot on top of her shirt--"ate up all her joy" and could not be filled by ordinary fun things like excursions, treats, or new toys. Then, Lily's friend Thomas shows her his own hole and teaches her how to start covering the hole with patches crafted from kindness, love, and empathy. As Lily makes more patches, the hole grows smaller, but it never completely disappears. O'Neill's gentle illustrations add to the story's growing feeling of connection and hope, bringing both Lily's feelings and her patches to life. Although the pictures hint vaguely at a more specific loss, the spare language is broad and inclusive. This book can be a tremendous help to children who have big, difficult-to-manage feelings for any reason, including grief or depression. Despite the weighty subject matter, the story has a calming effect. For many children, it will help start the process of patching their own holes.
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