I selected this title from Netgalley as the premise was one which I felt would be valuable to explore with my own little one as a way of thinking about love and loss…

The book is described as being suitable for ages 3-9 which seems right. It is written in a rhyming format which is appealing to younger children. The illustrations look like they come from a more old fashioned book which should lend the work a more timeless charm and perhaps allow it to age better as it isn’t following current illustrative trends.

The story charts the close relationship between Lucy and her beloved, favourite toy Lou, a giraffe. Any parent of a young child knows the attachment between a little one and their favourite toy and the heartache that can ensue when said toy is misplaced. Poor Lucy must endure a sudden, final and brutal loss of her favourite companion over the side of a cruise ship as the wind wrenches Lou from her grasp. Lou is lost to the vast ocean and Lucy must find a way to live her life without her most loved toy.

Whilst dealing with the loss of a toy, this book is a good entry into discussing the loss of anything or even anyone that we love with the central message being that love carries on even when the person or thing we love has gone. Lucy grieves for her toy but continues to play, learn and grow. She feels pangs of guilt when she has enjoyed herself without having thought of Lou and stabs of heartache that her treasured toy isn’t there to share her joy. This can all be related to how we grieve for a loved one…

I selected this book to explore with my own child as a loved one was seriously ill in hospital and I felt a story about loss and how love endures separation would be a good way of broaching the possibility that we would soon lose a member of our family. I must admit to crying some tears during my initial read through which I did alone to check the material would be suitable to share with my child.

I would recommend this book to anyone needing help to prepare a young child for potential loss of a loved one or to help them cope with the loss of a treasured item.

https://lovelaughliveread.wordpress.com/2020/07/26/review-of-lost-by-christine-reynebeau/

Lost is the story of a stuffed giraffe named Lou. He accidentally falls overboard on a cruise. The story is sad, but sweet. It's the perfect book to teach a child about grief and to get them to open up about their situation.

Lost is a beautifully written book about love and loss simply articulated over the loss of a beloved stuffed animal. I'm not going to lie, I actually felt a little teary and emotional as I read it as I could so easily imagine the grief if my son lost his ratty grotty, well-loved penguin! That thing has been a feature of our lives for years and is in more family pictures than some of our family! But I digress... Lost is a lovely story that explains how losing something you love will hurt but that you never truly lose them from your heart and memories.
It would be a perfect story to read to a child to help them understand grief, loss or death.

My only complaint is that the illustrations were very bland. They felt old school... Like something you'd find in a kid's book 30 years ago only they miss the mark completely on being timeless and just look dated.

Cute.

Sweet.

Fun.

I enjoyed it a lot.

Like the illustrations but I wish it was a little bit longer.

The story deals with separation, grief and loss.

The girl loses her most beloved stuff animal and this is a great story on how a child copes with such emotions.

Well done.


Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a really lovely book.

It tells the story of loss in the way that would be easy for a child to understand.

the book is touching and it really gets the point over that you miss someone or something so much because of the love you shared and you can always treasure the memories you made.

5 stars from me and would definitely recommend it as a way to introduce loss and grief to a younger child - the images fit the story really well too.

This is a very sweet book that addresses growing up and changes.the illustrations are very sweet. I love the giraffe illustration in particular. I think a lot of kids can relate to this book and the “giraffe” can be a metaphor for lots of things kids lose and changes they experience.

A lovely book with beautiful pictures and a heart-warming story. Very enjoyable and would recommend to parents to read with their children.

It's one of the stories touched my heart even for a bit. Losing a really close friend is heartbreaking and it's so difficult to get over with. Having supportive parents and friends really can help. I like the positivity of this story and I recommend it to kids and kids at heart. I like the illustrations that came along with it.