About: The Little Wave & Other Stories
The Little Wave and Other Stories is a warm and imaginative book guiding children and their families in new ways to understand, process and cope with the concept of death. The stories are narrated by a grandmother to her granddaughter, as they deal with the death of a cherished member of their family.
While there are many children’s books that aim to help young people cope after a loss, few provide the gentle guidance necessary to prepare for it - and recognise death’s role in the cycle of life.
In The Little Wave, each of the grandmother’s stories are inspired by the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda - known by many as ‘The Father of Yoga’ in the West. The stories draw on traditions from around the world, weaving a powerful, hopeful and healing book for children and families of all faiths and none, introducing concepts of the soul, reincarnation and more in a relaxed and relatable way.
The Little Wave and Other Stories is a celebration of life’s full journey for 5- to 8-year-old readers and their families. The book ends with a ‘spiritual reader’, where families will find light conversation prompts and illustrated observations that support readers to further explore and unpack the spiritual concepts woven throughout the book.
Uncertainty
"It felt like worry, the Little Wave thought. It was a storm."
This story follows the journey of a Little Wave as she navigates through life in the ocean. The Little Wave experiences joy and tranquility but also encounters challenges and storms. Through her journey, she learns about resilience, transformation, and the cycle of life and death.
The story of The Little Wave can help children to navigate through storms of uncertainty and change. It can give children a way by which to articulate when they feel worried, afraid or uncertain.
Courage
"Fly."
The story revolves around a canary who lives in a cage and believes it's the safest place. When she encounters another free-spirited canary, she learns about the beauty of freedom and the courage to step outside her comfort zone. This story explores the concept and the separation of the body and the soul.
In The Canary That Was Afraid to Fly, the canary shows us that by having the courage to soar beyond her cage, she is able to find new freedom. This story can help children to find the courage to spread their wings and fly towards new beginnings.
Worry
"You do not need to carry the weight."
Anisa carries a heavy backpack filled with rocks that represent her worries and fears. With the help of her teacher, she learns to unpack her emotional burden and embrace her true self, finding lightness and freedom in letting go.
The story of The Heaviest Backpack encourages children to see that, sometimes, the heaviest burdens we carry are the ones we create ourselves. The story can help children to let go of worries and find freedom in letting things be.
Staying connected to loved ones
"We are all just stardust."
Laith, a young boy grieving the loss of his father, discovers a mysterious old payphone that enables him to communicate with his dad in a unique way. Through this magical connection, Laith finds comfort and learns to cope with his grief.
The Little Wave and Other Stories helps children understand that we are all connected by the same cosmic energy. Even when loved ones are no longer by our side, they remain a part of our universe, shining down upon us from above.
