Customer Reviews
Choose with care.. - By: Book-man, 14 Jul 2008 
My wife bought this book for my daughter who was 3 when her Grandmother died. In the book Badger is old & infirm & frankly suffering. His death is a release and, for him, a relief. Although her Grandmother had been quite ill before she died, my daughter never saw her suffer. Her Grandmother is simply 'gone'. She still asks to go & visit her in the hospital. Sadly, for many people, death is not a 'relief' & it would be wrong to try & spin it that way to a child. This book may be right for your circumstances & then again, it might not.
The BEST book ever! - By: honeybunny08, 10 Nov 2007 I lost of best friend when I was 8 years old. Although some people say I was only 8 it wont effect her, it did & it still does. At the age I didn't reallly understand what death was, I knew about it but only thought it happened to old people.
My parents brought me this book to try & help me understand what had happened.
It helpped me so much words can't even describe just how much. I always remember reading this book & although it made me cry because Badger had died I understood it.
I haven't read the book in ages & it wasn't until my brother was cleaning out the bookshelf & found it that it made me remember alll the great times I did have with my best friend & how much the book helpped me. I could read it over & over.
It truely is the best book to help children understand about death, don't think it wont effect them because it does. You can help them understand more by buying the book.
Badger's Parting Gifts - By: Jade Abernethy, 20 Jul 2006 I was given this book when I was about four years old, by my teacher at the time, after the death of my Grandmother. I genuinely believe that `Badger's Parting Gifts' was instrumental - if not necessary - to my understanding & acceptance of losing a loved one. My mum & I read this book together many times in the months following the funeral, & alll of the basic concepts were presented in clear & simple language, using comparisons I was able to relate to. I found the end of the book particularly comforting - the idea that badger was able to cast his walking stick aside, & run freely, without the pain he suffered at the end of his life. Using a tunnel as a metaphor for death, or heaven, whatever you choose to believe, was perfect for the ages this book was written for. It leaves space for personal (or religious) interpretation, & didn't seem at alll frightening to me. I'm seventeen now, & recently re-bought this book, & don't regret it. If you're a parent considering buying this book for your children, then I wouldn't have any hesitation in recommending it. The characters are endearing, the information presented isn't confusing, & it's a great book to read together - though there may be tears! In summary; couldn't be better.
Badger's Parting Gifts - By: , 11 May 2004 I was read this book as a child following the death of my father when I was just four. It remains my over-riding memory of that time. This book is wonderful. It was only as an adult when I sought the book out that I even realised that the book had been written with the express purpose of helping children to understand death, yet it very much achieved its goal & I believe made me & my sisters able to cope in a way we would not otherwise have done. An inspirational book which I will always treasure.
A sensitive subject treated sensitively - By: , 19 Jan 2004 An excellent book which is enjoyable to simply read but is most useful in using as a tool to introduce young children to the idea of mortality. I used this book with my children when their grandfather was dying & it reallly helped to get across quite difficult ideas such as the fact that memories of shared times can keep someone alive. It's difficult to explain even now, but read the book & you'll see what I mean. Not morbid or sickly.
