Marking 35 years of one of the most enduring picture books of all time, a new special edition of BADGER’S PARTING GIFTS by Susan Varley includes a child friendly sharing guide from charity Child Bereavement UK, published by Andersen Press on Wednesday 30 January 2019.
BADGER’S PARTING GIFTS is the beautiful, sensitive and accessible multi award-winning picture book about losing a loved one which has become a children’s literary phenomenon: translated into 16 languages and used by schools, bereavement counsellors and families worldwide.
Badger is so old that he knows he must soon die, so he does his best to prepare his friends. When he finally passes away, they are grief-stricken, but one by one, and season by season, they remember the special things he taught them during his life. By sharing their memories, they realise that although Badger is no longer with them physically, he lives on through his friends.
Celebrating its 35th anniversary, this special new edition of BADGER’S PARTING GIFTS features a helpful reading guide from Child Bereavement UK. The charity celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2019 and has always used BADGER’S PARTING GIFTS to help “provide young children with a means to understand grief.”
BADGER’S PARTING GIFTS was illustrated and written by a very young Susan Varley whilst still studying art at Manchester Polytechnic, creating badger soon after her grandmother died. Her tutor, illustrator Tony Ross (best known for illustrating the Horrid Henry series by Francesca Simon and the works of David Walliams) encouraged her work, and sent the book to Andersen Press – and over 4 million copies later, the rest is history!
'Sensitive, comforting, gentle. One sensible and honest approach to death for the young' - Elaine Moss, T. L. S. 'I bow down to this one. It left me with a lump in the throat, and I would have no qualms at all about recommending it to any child. Tender, poignant, touching' - Martin Waddell, Irish News
Publication date: Wednesday 30 January 2019 Price: £6.99 ISBN: 9781849395144 Edition Type: Reissue number 2 in paperback
Share what the book means to you using the hashtag #BadgersPartingGifts
Susan Varley is an award-winning artist who has illustrated many books for Andersen Press. Her picture book Badger’s Parting Gifts is one of the most enduring of all time, winning many prizes, including the Mother Goose Award in 1985.
Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement. Every year we train around 10,000 professionals, helping them to better understand and meet the needs of grieving families. In 2019, Child Bereavement UK celebrates its 25th anniversary. The charity will be holding a series of events to mark 25 years of supporting families and training professionals, rebuilding lives together. www.childbereavementuk.org National helpline: 0800 02 888 40
Andersen Press is a leading independent children’s publisher, and home to some of the biggest names in the world of children’s books, including the much-loved picture book characters Elmer the Patchwork Elephant and the Little Princess. Andersen Press is the publisher of many award-winning authors and illustrators including Melvin Burgess, Rebecca Stead, Susin Nielsen, Julian Clary, David Roberts, Tony Ross, David McKee, and Jeanne Willis. The company was founded in 1976 by Klaus Flugge.
Download PDF Press Release... BADGER'S PARTING GIFTS FINAL PRESS RELEASE.pdf