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Feathers
'Dad, it's my wish feather.' I gently place my dream treasure under my pillow. Mum promised to always be with me...
Feathers is a gently book that supports any children who may have lost a loved one. Sometimes a simple reminder of their presence can make all the difference.
Feathers is a gently book that supports any children who may have lost a loved one. Sometimes a simple reminder of their presence can make all the difference.
- GenresPicture Books
28 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2020
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 9, 2025
Feathers is a beautiful, gentle book about a young boy remembering his mother. The story starts with the boy running in the garden trying to catch some floating feathers. He tells his dad that mum said feathers help you capture good dreams. His father now joins in.
Picture books are a relatable way of learning how to talk about and explore difficult emotions in an engaging and meaningful way.
Feathers gently explores the theme of loss. Death is never mentioned only that mum's star is shining in the sky. The young boy and his father are remembering his mother in a happy way. I loved that the inside cover has delightful watercolour illustrations of different feathers labelled with the relevant birds.
Symbolising loss has a beneficial effect on healing and I know people who have used sightings of rainbows, birds and cloud formations to remember loved ones. Karen Hendriks use of feathers as a symbol is soft, gentle and calming.
Picture books are a relatable way of learning how to talk about and explore difficult emotions in an engaging and meaningful way.
Feathers gently explores the theme of loss. Death is never mentioned only that mum's star is shining in the sky. The young boy and his father are remembering his mother in a happy way. I loved that the inside cover has delightful watercolour illustrations of different feathers labelled with the relevant birds.
Symbolising loss has a beneficial effect on healing and I know people who have used sightings of rainbows, birds and cloud formations to remember loved ones. Karen Hendriks use of feathers as a symbol is soft, gentle and calming.
August 29, 2021
Oh, my heart.
October 7, 2020
The combination of author and illustrator chosen for this gentle story is the ideal pairing. Karen Hendriks’ wistful essence and lilting language is as soothing as the floating feathers and glimmering night stars in Kim Fleming’s illustrations. Feathers; an empowering and uplifting picture book that delicately carries an air of refreshing lightness around the topic of loss. Utilising the symbolism of feathers to soften, but not invalidate, the grief behind losing a loved one, to provide comfort and protection for both the boy in the story and his readers, is beautifully moving and thoughtfully captured in its very soul.
A young boy, out with his loving Dad on a breezy day, is reminded of his Mum’s hopeful message as he spots floating feathers being whisked up in the wind. Determined, despite dashing and darting after the feathers, the boy captures his ‘wish feather’ that has drifted by as gently as the echoes of his Mum’s promise to always be with him. Heartfelt images spread across the pages alongside the emotive text, of the boy and his Dad embracing and a longing to have his Mum’s presence transcendent upon him once more. The night time colour scheme of rich, opulent watercolour blues set behind the dazzling whites literally takes your breath away to a dream-like vision we all wish we could encounter in our sleep. The descriptive language so powerful we are truly inside this little boy’s mind. Stunning!
Tender, warm and loving. A book of the power of memory, and the power of keeping connections in the most meaningful, spiritual and personal ways. Feathers is the exact kind of soft embrace that both lays comfortably surrounding us and gently tickles our souls with its nostalgic, ethereal and magical presence. A beautiful, reassuring book for families with similar experiences to share and treasure, as well as one to elicit empathy, compassion and understanding in young children from age three and beyond.
Highly recommended.
A young boy, out with his loving Dad on a breezy day, is reminded of his Mum’s hopeful message as he spots floating feathers being whisked up in the wind. Determined, despite dashing and darting after the feathers, the boy captures his ‘wish feather’ that has drifted by as gently as the echoes of his Mum’s promise to always be with him. Heartfelt images spread across the pages alongside the emotive text, of the boy and his Dad embracing and a longing to have his Mum’s presence transcendent upon him once more. The night time colour scheme of rich, opulent watercolour blues set behind the dazzling whites literally takes your breath away to a dream-like vision we all wish we could encounter in our sleep. The descriptive language so powerful we are truly inside this little boy’s mind. Stunning!
Tender, warm and loving. A book of the power of memory, and the power of keeping connections in the most meaningful, spiritual and personal ways. Feathers is the exact kind of soft embrace that both lays comfortably surrounding us and gently tickles our souls with its nostalgic, ethereal and magical presence. A beautiful, reassuring book for families with similar experiences to share and treasure, as well as one to elicit empathy, compassion and understanding in young children from age three and beyond.
Highly recommended.
July 22, 2021
Shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award
This gorgeous book deals with the death of a parent. The little boy in the story goes out catching feathers with his father. The boy’s late mother used to call them ‘dream catchers’, and he believes that if he catches them, he’ll dream of her, which is exactly what happens towards the end of the book. The text is sympathetic but not sentimental, and the illustrations are delicately beautiful. My one slight concern is that, while death is not a taboo subject in picture books for young children, it usually comes in the form of the loss of a pet or a grandparent. The death of a parent might make some readers a little anxious. However, this book might be extremely helpful for children who’ve actually experienced this.
This gorgeous book deals with the death of a parent. The little boy in the story goes out catching feathers with his father. The boy’s late mother used to call them ‘dream catchers’, and he believes that if he catches them, he’ll dream of her, which is exactly what happens towards the end of the book. The text is sympathetic but not sentimental, and the illustrations are delicately beautiful. My one slight concern is that, while death is not a taboo subject in picture books for young children, it usually comes in the form of the loss of a pet or a grandparent. The death of a parent might make some readers a little anxious. However, this book might be extremely helpful for children who’ve actually experienced this.
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May 23, 2022This is a beautifully written and illustrated book that gently takes use through the difficult topic of grief and loss for a child. As a Psychologist, I would find this book great tool to support therapy. But it is would be equally as useful for parents supporting their children through loss.
March 10, 2021
grief
March 26, 2021
Feathers are certainly gifts from above.
March 27, 2021
This is a lovely story and beautifully illustrated
April 11, 2021
A book about grief. Collecting feathers has helped this child remind him of his mum who passed.
June 15, 2021
Beautiful words and art. Story about wishes and missing mom.
October 27, 2021
Feathers is a beautiful story. Make sure you have the tissues close by as you read this to your child.
November 29, 2024
An amazing book for every kids out there!!!1
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews