Badger's Parting Gifts: A picture book to help children deal with death

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Dec. 30, 2011: I know this book was written to help children understand death, but it has helped me cope with my Dad's death. That night Mole cries himself to sleep while it snows outside. The following day his friends gather and wonder what they should do as they try to console themselves with the fact that Badger had told them not to be unhappy. But they find it difficult not to be. As the last of the snow melts, so do his friends' sadness and whenever Badger's name is mentioned, someone always remembers another story that makes them all smile. He had left them with a wonderful parting gift - not to be sad and to remember him with fondness. The idea for the story came from one of Susan Varley’s final year projects at Manchester Polytechnic. She had drawn a character of a badger and her tutor encouraged her to write a story about a badger who dies. Her grandmother had died the previous year, so the story idea resonated with her. Badger’s Parting Gifts is a story about a Badger who wishes he could still run around with his other friends Frog, Mole and Fox. Unfortunately, because he is getting old now his body does not work as well as it used to. Badger knows within himself that it is time to die and lets his friends know that he will "go down the Long Tunnel". He is prepared for this but just hopes that his friends will not miss him too much when he is gone. One the Badger "go’s down the Long Tunnel" his friends are very sad indeed and they are not sure how to cope with the death of their dear friend. Eventually they start to remember the special things Badger taught them to do and in some ways take comfort in this. They all share the stories they remember of Badger and this is in turn makes them happy.

Within the context of Religious Education being taught to younger children I think Badgers Parting Gifts is a good book to explore with them and to use as a stimulus. Once the story has been read to a group of children this would then enable the themes to be explored as a vehicle for questioning, communication and discussion. Using a story within Religious Education is very common within the younger years of primary education as numerous children’s books explore a message or moral which is an important area of this subject. This is without a doubt apparent within this piece of literature. I further feel that it’s a brilliant book to read to young children as it continually encourages them to think about the happy and positive aspects behind dealing with death. Initially Badgers friends are extremely upset and distraught by his loss but as time passes by they realise that it���s better to focus on the happy memories that they shared together. I think this is a key area of the book to explore with children when breaching this subject. What a wonderful and touching story, akin to a parable, .. but if you are like me it will leave a lump in the throat and tears in the eye ... now where's that handkerchief? Badger is getting old and knows he is soon going to die. He isn’t afraid of dying but he is concerned about how his friends will feel. He tells them that one day he will go down the long tunnel. The forest animals grieve for him all winter then in the spring talk about the good memories they had of Badger. It is a sad beginning in that Badger, a dependable, reliable type, always ready to lend a helping paw, is very old and he knows that he will soon die. But he isn't afraid of death, his only concern is how his friends will feel when he is gone. He tries to ease their burden by telling them that someday soon he will be going down the Long Tunnel, as he euphemistically calls it, and he doesn't want them to be sad.A gentle book about loss and grief and the importance sharing memories. It is often used to help bereaved children talk about how they are feeling. This is such a charming book and so sympathetically written and so beautifully illustrated by the author. Celebrating the 35th anniversary of this quintessential and multi award-winning picture book about losing a loved one. Features a helpful reading guide from Child Bereavement UK that provides tips for reading Badger’s Parting Gifts with children and helping them better understand grief. There is so much to love about Susan Varley’s picture book. Her pen and ink, and watercolor illustrations are wonderful and teeming with affection. Badger’s Parting Gifts not only shows us that our deceased loved ones live on through warm and loving memories of them but also when we share with others the things they’ve taught us when they were still alive. The following day Badger's friends realise that he is not there and Fox discovers his note to them that says, 'Gone down the Long Tunnel. Bye Bye, Badger.' Everyone is very sad and Mole especially misses his friend as he feels alone and desperately unhappy.

I think this is a brilliant book to read to a class of children as it explores a subject that can somewhat be difficult to breach. Due to the nature of the book and the way in which the story is portrayed I feel that it’s suitable for children in Key Stage One and perhaps the earlier stages of Key Stage Two. The way in which the story is written is key to suit the age range of children that I’ve suggested it’s suitable for. The story doesn’t just focus on the feelings that surround the touching subject of death but it additionally focuses on how the characters deal with the bereavement. From reading this text to children I feel that it’s a good way to approach the subject of death as every child will experience it within their life time. Due to this I think that the text can be used within a PSHE lesson or even within Religious Education.Badger’s Parting Gifts’ tells the story of a badger and his importance in his friends’ lives. As Badger is now old, he is aware that he is going to die soon. This does not worry him though. However, Badger does worry about his friends and how they will feel after he dies. Before his death, he leaves some gifts for his friends to remember him by. When Badger’s friends learn of his passing they are initially upset. As time passes though, they slowly begin to come to terms with their loss. A year later we see the friends reminisce about Badger and all the wonderful times they spent together. They discuss skills Badger taught them and lessons they learned from him. They soon come to see that they will always remember Badger through his ‘parting gifts’ and realise that he will always be with them, in some way. All through winter and into spring they talk about Badger and how happy he made them; various stories are told that leaves them all with happy memories; each of them has special memories of Badger. One warm spring day Mole is walking on the hillside where he had last seen Badger and he wants to thank him for his gift. 'Thank you, Badger,' he says and he believes that Badger will hear him ... and somehow, Badger did. This is a heart warming story that introduces grief, loss and the subject of death in a gentle way. Badger realises he is getting old and he sees his friends playing on the hill and he wishes he could join them. He is aware that he is approaching death and he hopes his friends won’t be too sad when he is gone. Badger has left his friends with some parting gifts which are fond memories that he hopes will bring them through their grief. The story describes the feelings of Badger’s friends now that Badger is no longer with them. Their grief seems endless to them and never ending, until they begin to remember all the great memories they have of their time with Badger. These memories have the ability to cheer Badger’s friends up and now when they remember Badger, they remember the good times and can’t help but to smile.