The Invisible Leash: An Invisible String Story About the Loss of a Pet

by Patrice Karst, Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator)

From the author of the million-copy-bestselling picture book phenomenon The Invisible String comes a moving companion title about coping with grief when a pet dies.

" When our pets aren't with us anymore, an Invisible Leash connects our hearts to each other. Forever. " That's what Zack's friend Emily tells him after his dog dies. Zack doesn't believe it. He only believes in what he can see. But on an enlightening journey through their neighborhood—and through his grief—he comes to feel the comforting tug of the Invisible Leash. And it feels like love .

Accompanied by tender, uplifting art by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, bestselling author Patrice Karst's gentle story uses the same bonding technique from her classic book The Invisible String to help readers through the experience of the loss of a beloved animal.

Read all the books in The Invisible String
The Invisible String   Your very own tool kit for school—and life!
The Invisible String Workbook : Creative Activities to Comfort, Calm, and Connect
The Invisible   An Invisible String Story About the Loss of a Pet​
The Invisible An Invisible String Story Celebrating Love and Universal Connection
You Are Never An Invisible String Lullaby

Genres: Picture Books, Grief, Death, Childrens, Animals, Dogs, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 3, 2019

About the author

Patrice Karst is the author of the bestselling, contemporary classic children’s (and adults’!) book The Invisible String, which has sold over 1.5 million copies and been translated into seventeen languages. It is the story of the String (made out of love!) that connects us all. The Invisible String book series offers children a tangible understanding of love and teaches the world about the String that “even though you can’t see it with your eyes, you can feel it in your heart and know that you are always connected to everyone you love.”
In addition to being shared by all ages as a gift for many of life’s milestone moments, it is also being used by schools, psychologists, hospices, grief groups, the military, hospitals, prison systems and countless organizations worldwide for any kind of loss or separation issues. A leading title for healing, comfort, celebrations, bereavement and counseling of children and their families since its original publication in
2000, The Invisible String continues to soar because of its timeless message.
Patrice has been on a lifelong mission to share the message that this energy called love transcends time and space and is the most powerful force in all the universe.
Patrice has also written The Invisible String Backpack, Ruby and Lonely, The Invisible Leash: An Invisible String Story Celebrating Love After the Loss of a Pet, The Invisible String Workbook: Creative Activities to Comfort, Calm and Connect, a therapeutic activity book co-written with Dana Wyss, Ph.D., The Invisible Web: An Invisible String Story Celebrating Love and Our Universal Connection, You Are Never Alone: An Invisible String Lullaby and The Smile that Went Around the World.
Born in London, England, Patrice moved to the United States as a child, where she spent many a night pondering the meaning of life under the canopy of stars, and has been on a fascinating creative and spiritual journey ever since.
The single mother of Elijah (now grown) lives near the beach in Ventura, California, where she is currently writing her memoir (and what a wild ride it has been!), working on more stories, and still gazing up in wonder at starry nights.
Patrice loves to hear from her readers! To find out more or to contact Patrice, go to www.patricekarst.com.
If you reach out--she promises to reach back!

Reviews

[Scott Rhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two weeks ago, we had to put down our dog. His name was Fritzie, and he was a piebald dapple long-haired dachshund. He was 11, which is slightly older than middle-age for dachshunds (many can live up to 18 years), but he had a rare kidney disease that the breed is prone to, and it created a slew of health problems, including high blood pressure and gastro-intestinal problems. When it became clear that he was in pain, we made the decision.

My daughter, 10, was devastated. Fritzie was still a puppy when we brought Olivia home from the hospital. We were somewhat nervous because we knew that, as a breed, dachshunds aren’t always good with kids. Some dachshunds can be nippy and mean around children.

Not Fritzie. He fell in love with his human little sister immediately. He loved to lick her bald baby head, and he always sat right next to her, acting like her little sentry.

When my father died last February, my wife found a book called “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst, an adorable picture book that my daughter wanted read to her very night for nearly a month after her grandpa’s passing. The book was about how everybody was attached to everybody by a series of strings connecting our hearts, including strings that go to the place where our loved ones who have passed now reside. In this sense, we are always connected.

“The Invisible Leash”, also by Karst, similarly deals with the invisible leashes that connect our hearts with our beloved pets that have passed on. No matter where you go, the invisible leash is always connecting you with them.

I’m tearing up as I write this. Fritzie was absolutely the best little friend and family member one could ask for, and I hope he is somewhere chasing infinite squirrels and rabbits and where the warm sun is always shining down on him.

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tender story to help children and adults with the loss of a pet.. “An Invisible Leash connects our hearts to each other forever.” Every parent and teacher needs a copy of this book. Sometimes there are no words for such heartbreaking sadness and kids need to know that it’s ok to be sad and angry.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tender book that helps kids, or anyone really, process the loss of a pet and understand that while they may be gone in the physical they are still with us in spirit, in our hearts and our minds. The love we have for them ties us together. All you need is to believe and feel and give the invisible leash a tug now and then.

[Roxy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book for kids grieving the loss of a pet. A great way to explain what happens when they die that provides comfort and reassurance to kids.

We lost our dog and my daughter has had such a hard time dealing with her death and this helped her feel better that she lives in her heart.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the author had a personal vendetta against me by naming their characters Emily, Zack, and JoJo.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Connected to her The Invisible String book. This time Karst shares about the connection that lasts after a pet dies. Charming illustrations show the characters' dog and cat by their sides even though they can't be seen.
A method to explain what happens after a pet dies for younger (and not so young) children.

[Stephanie Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bittersweet story, but if you’re in this stage of life, I still think Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant is better.

[SpringFlowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend purchased this book for me as a gift. My soul dog Moose passed a month ago today and I finally got the courage to read this book. This may have been a children’s book, simple in its delivery but the message is still strong. We feel life’s most important and truest things in our hearts and that is where the love for a pet stays, long after they are gone from this world to the great beyond. ❤️‍🩹🐾

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for children grieving the loss of a pet.

[Annie]

A precious children’s book about how we’re still connected to our pets after they die. A grief therapist suggested this book to me - a grown ass woman - and I’ve already read it several times when I’m struggling. Oliver was the best friend I could have ever asked for.

[raccoon reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book covers one way to handle talking to a child about the death of a pet. I'm no expert. There's a lot of ways to go about this, and people need to know their child and their family values and beliefs to see if this is a concept they're willing to introduce into their lives and their family vernacular.

For us? No. We talked about how animals get old, how they age, how they die. When our dog died when my son was 4 I felt like he handled it very well. We all cried. We all still talk about Whiskey, we all still watch videos, look at pictures and even compare his personality to our new dog, River. They are VERY different.

I'm not a fan of the idea of an invisible leash. I like the more straightforward less magical concept of just, talking about our deceased animals and keeping their memory alive in our hearts, sans a leash you can tug to "reach" your dead pet. This isn't a book I'd want to bring home, BUT it might work for another person. I always suggest a parent read the book before taking it home to read together, because the kid may attach hard to this idea. Is it one you're comfortable with?

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zack's dog, Jojo, has passed away. Zack is having a hard time fathoming life without him. His friend Emily helps him understand that there is an invisible leash running between Zack and Jojo that will never disappear. The leash bonds the two until they can be together again.

Better than some. If a book without an overtly religious tone is needed, this is your book. Just don't read the authors thank you's at the end.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book to help explain the loss of a family pet to a child. Honestly, it's just as helpful for grieving adults as well. I will continue to read this book throughout the years, as a wonderful reminder that our hearts will forever be connected to our loved ones that are no longer with us.

[Kate]

A comforting story for youngsters following the death of a pet.

Zack's dog passes away and he is grieving this tremendous loss, he is sad and angry. His friend Emily conforts him by telling him about an invisible leash that connects us to our pets keeping them in our hearts and bonded with us forever.

This story has a reassuring message for kids. Offering comfort in a difficult and confusing time. A fair warning in the description of "the beyond" though this is where Emily explains Zack's dog has gone. There is not a direct religious reference but there is an undeniable tone. If this isn't conflicting for your household then it's the perfect read following the loss of a pet because it is a tender, consoling read for kids about pets and their presence in our lives.
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[Justine]

Y'all...I've not been having a Baja Blast this month. With the world and how everything is, my sweet companion and wonderful pup Chase crossed the rainbow bridge on the 8th. He was with us for 10 years and he brought me so much comfort and happiness. This book was beautifully written and illustrated along with talking about such a sensitive topic as pet deaths in a very unique and consoling way. I hope Chase is in the beyond having a wonderful time and I'll always remember that me and him are connected through our own invisible leash. ❤😇🐕

[Alicia Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells readers that even when a pet dies, their hearts are connected with ours by an invisible leash. We see the main character as withdrawn, angry, and saddened in the first part of the book. He is not comforted by his parents/caregivers telling him that he could get another dog when he's ready, but bonds with a friend when she tells him about her own invisible leash from when her cat died. The characters are racially diverse and the message avoids a religious tone (focuses on "the beyond"). Many readers will find comfort in the discussion, though some may find the book too long/complex by the end.

For: readers looking for a book to open up discussion about the loss of a pet.

Possible red flags: death of a pet; sadness.

[Río · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I like the analogy, how the ache of loss is like a leash connecting you to your pet, but the book was a bit wordy at times. It was nice to see the idea being shared between peers, a friend offering comfort, though the wording felt a bit thick at times. I was going to put it at four stars until the end when it talked about the animals (that have died) all being together in "the beyond" looking down at their people. That part felt weird, as though there were still some physical representation of the creatures.

All of that being said, if this book helps a child cope with the loss of a pet, great. I would just hesitate to emphasize the parallel afterlife message this book presents

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've ever had a beloved pet die, you know how painful that loss is--and how difficult it can be to work through the grief. The Invisible Leash: A Story Celebrating Love After the Loss of a Pet offers one strategy: to think of an imaginary "leash" tying you to your pet in the afterlife. This is a good book to have in one's classroom library, in case a student suffers such a loss of a family pet. Just be careful you're not encroaching on said family's framing of the death. But I think the idea of your pet being close by, able to tug at their leash and let you know they're there, is comforting.

[Stephanie Steinmetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband got this book a couple weeks before we had to say goodbye to our beloved rescue dog. It is beautifully written with great illustrations. It was a tear-jerker for sure. We have this in our little shrine set up for our dog (his cremains in an urn, his dog bowl, collar, his paw prints in plaster and photos of him).

Just a side note: Parents would need to use their judgement before reading this book to their children and having this be the salve for your sorrow. Grief is a very complex thing and should be addressed accordingly.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review on thegraduatedbookworm.com

First I would like to thank Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. This was one of my favourite children novels I've read recently because it talks about what happens when you lose your pet.

I LOVED the illustrations in this and how if you looked really closely, there were "Invisible leash's" everywhere, entangled with others!

I felt like it was a comforting story and something that anyone who has or has ever had a pet would understand!

[SaraKat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the author's first 'invisible' book would have been better off including animals in it and leaving it at that. This one with the change from string to leash and just focusing on pets wasn't as enticing to me. The word leash has a limiting connotation to me and isn't as pleasant. And I couldn't help but look at all the happy pets in 'the beyond' and wonder about all the ones who never were pets and didn't have invisible anythings connecting them to anyone. Too much thinking for a simple grief-over-pets picture book, I guess.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this book after my dog died last week after an illness, because I have a 3 year old grandson who was asking about her. His mom told him she (my dog) was in heaven but that's tough concept for a child that age, and he asked me when she'd be back home again. He knew she'd been sick and seemed to think that heaven was like a hospital for dogs.

I thought this book handled it well, and showed kids that, while their pet may be gone, they're still connected to them by an invisible leash. I cried a little while reading it to him.

[Diane Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, my wonderful daughter got me this book after the loss of my beloved Sadie (chiweenie) who passed. I handled the first christmas she was gone decently well, but we still had a cat in the house. Now the cat has passed and this christmas was so quiet. All of us were feeling the loss. So she picked this book to help and after a good cry while reading it... I felt much better. It is so sweet. I do recommend it for those with children struggling after the loss of a fur family member. Its a very very sweet story. Maybe it will help them as it helped me.

[Melissa Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very beautiful book about losing a pet and that grief. We learn about the Invisible leashes that connect our hearts with those of our departed friends and how this can give comfort and a forever connection to that love. I recently lost a pet and this book made me tear up as I read it to my niece. I think books like this are important as they help teach how to deal with these new feelings.

[kaotickitten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heart felt tale. I may be biased, mainly because I am coming from someone who has recently lost two dogs within two months. But this book can help with the grief. It isn’t a book to just give to your child without talking to them.

It may help if you have to let an animal go. To show that while it will be painful there is always a part of the animal always with you. Yet they want us to be happy.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will buy this book for my children and friends to help with the sadness when they lose a pet. Zack is sad and inconsolable when his dog dies and angry when others try to talk with him about it. But with the help of Emily, he sees a connection to Jojo and Emily's cat. Emily has a different way of thinking about her loss that helps Zack through the sadness. The companion book The Invisible String about the loss of loved ones is one I want to find and read, too.

[Christèle Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un très bel album sur le deuil d'un animal de compagnie et surtout qui explique le lien éternel qui relie nos cœurs. Malgré le fait que ça fait plusieurs mois que j'ai fait le deuil de mon beau Moka c'est quand même une lecture qui est vraiment venu me chercher ce soir. ❤️‍🩹💞
C'est aussi un livre parfait à lire à un enfant qui vit le deuil de son animal, mais les adultes aussi ont parfois besoin de ce genre d'histoire.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely story about staying connected to a pet after Zack's beloved dog, Jojo, has died. I think this would be a great resource for some families, while others may prefer to deal with death in a more straightforward way. Would encourage caregivers to give it a read before going in fresh with a child who is either about to or has recently lost a loved one.

[Julie Ueltzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for both children & adults. Our beloved dog passed just yesterday, and I first read this book by myself. I was crying & felt the tug. I love how it explains the connection that remains, and shows that our pets are still with us everyday. My sweet girl was 12.5 years old, and my oldest child is 10. A must have for families with pets.

[Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for my 4 and 8yo after we lost our family dog. The 4yo didn't understand he wasn't coming back and she also didn't really follow the story. The 8yo understood. It made us both cry, but it also made her smile too by the end. I'd recommend it for 6 and up to be helpful. Still a lovely story for kids.