Circles in the sky by Karl James Mountford

"And there in the clearing it was, something small, something still ... perhaps forgotten?"

It is a small, black bird. Fox moves in close. The bird does not move. He makes a loud noise. The bird does not move. He takes a worm over for the bird to eat. The bird does not move.

"Nothing seemed to be working. Nothing seemed to be helping. Fox couldn't understand why. What could be do for the broken bird."

A moth has been watching the old Fox. She tries to gently explain what has happened using an analogy of the sun and the moon but all this does is annoy and frustrate Fox. He is so confused. Where is bird? Moth now has to explain: Bird is dead.

"It's okay to be sad ... The two creatures sat down in grief for some time."

The cover of this book is truly special. It is tactile, geometric and has a bright shine. 

The story beautifully honours the cycle of life, as a lone moth helps a lone fox understand the death of a bird. Mountford has shown that great children’s books always write up to their readers and never down. ... Rather than shying away from or obliquely addressing them, The Circles in the Sky embraces these themes with a visually stunning book that offers a touching and truthful exploration of life and death in the natural world. It opens the door for readers of all ages to ask similarly profound questions. Books for Keeps

Speaking to heart and eye in equal measures, a beautiful treatise on remembering life and helping those left behind. Kirkus Star review

Death and grief are hard things to understand for people of all ages, and Mountford’s exploration of the subject is spot on. Mountford’s lyrical text is thoughtful and inquisitive. Children will immediately relate to Fox’s concern and frustration. And while he can’t quite put a name on it, Moth gently guides him through to understanding. Mountford’s accompanying illustrations are, quite frankly, exquisite. His multilayered artwork is stylized and elegant. It truly brings his story to life. The Circles in the Sky is a book everyone should own. It’s one of my favorite books of 2022. Cracking the Cover

Circles in the Sky would be a very worthwhile addition to your school library. The request for books explaining death or comforting a child, after the death of a family member, often arise on social media such as on the Facebook group Your Kids Next Read. BUT it is far better to read books on this topic - books that deal with this sensitive issue in a gentle way - LONG before any real experience of loss. All of these companion books are brilliant too:

The Last Goodbye

Fox: A Circle of Life story

The Bear and the Wildcat

Waiting for Wolf

The Rabbit's Magician

Circle in the sky is the first book written and illustrated by Karl James Mountford. Here are other books he has illustrated: