Glenn Ringtved

When Death comes calling, four young children, determined to prevent him from taking the beloved grandmother who had raised them, attempt to stall him, first with coffee and then with questions. Death, who is full of love and understanding, tells them the story of the brothers Sorrow and Grief, and their long and loving unions with the sisters Joy and Delight. The message, about the balance between seeming opposites - joy and sorrow, light and dark, life and death - is one the children find show more convincing, even if they don't fully understand it. It is Death who says, as the children's grandmother lies dead, "Cry Heart, but never break. Let your tears of sadness help begin new life."

Originally published in Denmark as Græd blot hjerte, this poignant but understated picture-book about death and grieving emphasizes the fact that loss and sadness are inextricably bound to life and joy, and give meaning to all that we cherish by providing a painful but necessary contrast. Chosen as the 2017 winner of the Mildred L. Batchelder Award - given each year by the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association) to the best book translated from a language other than English - Cry, Heart, But Never Break is a book that never condescends to its young audience, handling the concerns and grief of its child characters with sensitivity. As the chair of the Batchelder Award Committee noted, this is a story that "respects readers by offering a comforting, but direct confrontation with death in a story that is both somber and joyful.” Ringtved's text, which is in my opinion well worthy of the accolades it has won, is enhanced by the accompanying artwork of Charlotte Pardi, which captures the emotional register of each scene to perfection. Whether it be the earnest sadness of the children serving coffee to Death, or the transcendent hope that memory provides in the two-page spread in which the breeze recalls his grandmother to one of the children, Pardi's illustrations skillfully capture the most powerful moments of the story. Recommended to anyone looking for a thoughtful, painful, but ultimately hopeful look at death for young people. show less

I like this book as an introduction to death for kids. It's respectful and not scary. I like that death is a kind and patient personification.

I really don't like the argument that one can't truly feel one end of an emotional spectrum without feeling the other end. I've never liked that argument about anything because it implies that people who haven't suffered are unable to experience the true joys of life, and excuses the pain of those who have suffered. Instead of working to alleviate show more suffering, we can wave it off as a necessary part of life. When it comes to inevitable things like death, and books for children, I'm more ok with it because sometimes people need to believe that stuff happens for a reason, and maybe it's harder for children to understand that life just isn't fair sometimes...but personally I would really hate it if I was trying to mourn and someone told me, well at least you'll be able to truly appreciate your future happiness now!

So while I would recommend this book to others who want to talk to their children about death, I don't think I would want to actually use it myself if I had children I needed to talk to about death. show less

I can't remember how I came to find out about today's book but I am certainly glad that I did. The book is Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved with illustrations by Charlotte Pardi. (It's translated from Dutch to English by Robert Moulthrop.) The premise is a simple one: Teaching children how to handle the grief of a loved one who passes away. (Coincidentally, it might help adults as well.) The illustrations themselves are quite unique and beautiful but when linked with the words show more are perfect and stunning. The story follows 4 siblings who wait with Death who is there to take their grandmother. It's a poignant depiction of the tension that one feels when sitting at the bedside of someone near and dear to your heart. It's a lifting of the veil so that if a child were to experience death they would see that without it there can be no fervor or joy in life. It's a two-sided coin. It's an extremely touching story and I think it is a really lovely way to introduce a difficult topic to children (you can't shield them from it forever and you really shouldn't try). 10/10 and highly recommend to all ages. show less

Four little children live in a snug little house far north. And, as the story continues they are cared for by their kindly grandmother. Outside of the house is a scythe, letting the reader know that something is happening inside. And inside, are the four children who know that the man dressed in black is death. Death is sitting at the table with them, and as long as he is there, the children believe they can keep him at bay and leave their grandmother alone.

Death is plied with coffee, lots show more of it. Death is kept company through a lot of questions. And finally, the question asked is "Oh, Death," "Our grandmother is so dear to us, why does she have to die?"

In a wonderful, beautiful manner, death tells the children of the poignancy of life. There is no joy without sorrow. And it is in the power of great love that we find grief and the strength to continue to live while letting go.

And thus, death teaches the children that in order to fully enjoy sun, there must be rain. Together, they stand by grandmother's bed and the words "Cry, Heart, But Never Break" are spoken.

While it may seem that this is a trite book with sugary words, in fact, death teaches us all a lesson. It is with a full heart of love that we are able to grieve and know that in our love the spirit lives on.

This is a wonderful book for children, and adults, for anyone who has felt the sting of death and the easing balm of memories. show less