The Building Boy

"Each night before the boy went to to bed, he would light the fire. He would squeeze beside Grandma on her favourite chair.  The house would be quiet, except for the turning of a page and the ticking of a clock."

'The Building Boy' by Ross Montgomery is a truly heartwarming story about a young boy and his grandma who had been a famous architect.  The boy and his grandma spend each night looking at photographs of her achievements and together they plan to build a marvellous house on a hill where they can live together. 

Sadly, Grandma gets old - too old to build houses - too old to sit up in bed and one day she is gone. 

The boy has a plan and even though he is heartbroken he sets to work.  He builds a new 'grandma' and together they travel on adventures over mountains and across huge oceans. 

There are books that can be used to help children get over the death of a loved one.  This book tells of one boys journey through the loss of someone dear to him and the celebration of her legacy. 

"Then he saw it. 
On the hill above the city that lay beyond the sea, was the house that Grandma had built for him."

The stunning illustrations by David Litchfield compliment the story beautifully. 

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Further books on the theme of death and bereavement

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