Where Are You, Eddie?

When Michael Rosen’s son died there was sadness. But now there is a question – a question children, and indeed adults, will ask – ‘Where are you, Eddie?’ In this picture book, Michael sets out to look for Eddie. He starts with his cat, Meg who gives him pause to think and sends him on a journey round the community visiting places he and Eddie would go – the bus ride, school, the sports field. He doesn’t find Eddie, but he finds the people who knew him. For them Eddie is still with them in their memories of him.  What about Michael’s memories? Sitting down with Meg the cat at home thinking about Eddie and their relationship, he realises Eddie is in fact still here.

After Eddie’s death, Michael Rosen wrote The Sad Book – a simple picture book validating that emotion. Now he takes the loss and grief a step further to a sense of acceptance. There is no preaching, there are no lessons rather a simple journey which allows the questioner to meet some thoughts that shine a light. They are not the concrete answers that place demands on the recipient. They are thoughts that are particular, providing space for the questioner, allowing a personal response. This is a welcome exploration for anyone who picks it up. Michael’s prose is straightforward, immediate and accessible. The illustrations by Gill Smith capture this gentle, yet ultimately personal narrative without sentimentality or jokey humour. There is a perfect synergy between words and pictures. This is the companion The Sad Book needs. Highly recommended.