Absolutely gorgeous pencil colour illustrations that perfectly reflect the gentleness of this story. A great way to introduce children to the idea of bereavement and to help them understand how the people we lose live on in the memories we keep. Beautiful.

Super good children's book. Illustrates how they can deal with death and the aftermath of it by seeing things in a different light. It really is a good example. I would read it to any child that has lost someone and is struggling to see them in everyday situations.

Explaining and enduring grief is difficult at any age, but this book brings healing and joy through tears. When a boy’ decides to take a walk during his grandmother’s funeral reception, he soon learns that the best parts of her live on in her legacy and memories made. A great read for children dealing with a hard loss.

Gosh this book is beautiful. From the captivating illustrations to the story it tells. This book explores death and grief for children. Very important topic to discuss. This book would be great for a one on one read.

The artwork was beautiful and I thought the way the boy remembered his grandmother was poetic. Truly a powerful story for children

I read this with my daughter not long after my Grandad died. To say I had tears in my eyes would be an understatement.

The illustrations in this story are exquisite. The colours used throughout are perfect with just enough colour. The way the young boy describes his feelings and what he remembers of his grandmother are on point. The writing is done in a way I feel younger children would understand. The walk through nature is also a nice touch as that is something I like to do in times of sadness as well.

It is definitely a story I will be recommending to people looking for books that deal with death for children.

A beautifully simple story about cherishing our memories of loved ones and dealing with grief.
Lovely illustrations.

This is a beautifully written book on an emotional topic. The illustrations are lovely and so colourful!

‘That Day’ by Pierre-Emmanuel Lyet is a touching exploration of grief and remembrance, seen through the eyes of a young boy mourning the loss of his grandmother. The book aims to provide a gentle, contemplative narrative that helps children process loss, while also celebrating the enduring bond of family.

Plot: ★★★☆☆
The story follows a young boy as he deals with the profound sadness of losing his grandmother. The plot delicately unfolds, focusing on the boy’s reflections and memories of his grandmother, and how he copes with her absence. While the theme of loss is handled with sensitivity, the narrative’s abstract and introspective approach may be challenging for younger readers to fully engage with or understand.

Character: ★★☆☆☆
The boy’s character is portrayed with emotional depth, capturing his grief and memories. However, the lack of broader character development means readers might struggle to form a deeper connection with him. The story’s focus is more on the emotional journey rather than on developing a fully fleshed-out character, which might limit the reader’s emotional investment.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆
The illustrations in ‘That Day’ are a significant strength, offering a visually striking complement to the story’s emotional depth. Lyet’s use of colour and imagery poignantly conveys the boy’s feelings and the memory of his grandmother, enhancing the narrative’s impact. The artwork adds a layer of emotional resonance that supports the story’s themes effectively.

Engagement: ★★☆☆☆
While the book’s emotional depth and beautiful illustrations offer moments of engagement, the abstract nature of the narrative might not hold the attention of younger children. The philosophical tone and the focus on grief may be too complex for them to fully engage with, making the book less accessible to its intended audience.

Readability: ★★★☆☆
The language used in ‘That Day’ is poetic and reflective, which may be challenging for young readers to fully comprehend. The depth of the themes and the abstract presentation could make the book difficult for children to follow, suggesting that it may be more suitable for older readers who can better appreciate its nuances.

Enjoyment: ★★☆☆☆
‘That Day’ offers a profound exploration of grief, but its abstract approach and deep themes might limit its enjoyment for younger readers. The book may resonate more with older children or adults who can grasp the emotional and philosophical aspects, but for young readers, it may not be as engaging or enjoyable.


‘That Day’ by Pierre-Emmanuel Lyet is a beautifully illustrated and emotionally resonant book about a young boy’s experience of loss. While it offers a sensitive and thoughtful portrayal of grief, the abstract narrative and complex themes may not fully engage younger readers. The book’s poetic language and deep emotional content suggest it may be better appreciated by an older audience or those familiar with processing grief.

I am extremely fond of children’s books, especially those being written now. I love how we books are talking about children’s emotions, topics like death, loss, and mental illnesses, inclusivity, and many more issues that loved ones would normally not know how to discuss with children.

That Day is a book about a child who has lost his grandmother and the book is focused on the day of her funeral. The boy does not know what’s happening around him so he takes a walk in the snowy forest near his house. While taking this walk, he remembers different aspects of his grandmother (the snow reminds him of her white hair, the tree barks of her ankles) and that’s how he tries to remember her. The most heart warming line in the book is ‘I don’t remember the last time I saw you but I know what it felt like to hold your hand’.

The colours used in the book are STUNNING. You would not expect a book taking place in a snowy forest to be this colourful but you only need to read it to be mesmerized.

If you have a child or just want an insight into how kids feel about losing someone, this is for you. Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

There are beautiful illustrations in this children's book. My 5 year old child did not understand the message of this book without significant explanation.

I was immediately captivated by the illustrations in this book as well as the premise. I often work with young and adolescent children who struggle with grief and loss of their loved ones, I believe telling and listening to stories gives them space to understand these complex issues and reflect on positive memories and experiences . This book was beautifully written, and I will recommend this story to children and families know who struggle with the death of a loved one.

This is a very nice story about coping with the loss of a loved person.

While the story itself doesn‘t use (or need) many words to convey the message, what comforts even more are the astonishingly beautiful illustrations of the artist.

The use of coloured pencils is phenomenal. Not only the way the artist uses the colours all together to create such a warm atmosphere, but also the masterful way they draw shadows and depths is so lively! The art style itself is so beautiful that the words are almost not needed to tell the story.

This is the story of a young boy who is remembering his Grandmother and the way he saw her, the things they did together like holding hands and eating ice cream. He is keeping her in his heart through his memories. This is a short, colorful and heartfelt picture book.

As the description says, a moving book about loss of a grandparent, coming to terms with this for children. A good book with distinctive artwork. Very good to read at a personal level, as this feels like a personal story or experience. My only slight hestitation as a store would be that it may be too personal, in the sense of children engaging with this in relation to their own experience. But recommended nonetheless.

This book is a short simple story with beautiful prose that will be great for kids to explore thoughts around grief, loss and keeping those special memories alive.

Absolutely beautiful story! It pulled my heart strings as I thought about my beloved Grandpa and Grandma who I lost a few years ago. Can we talk about the illustrations?! The bright vibrant colours and drawing style was stunning 😍 5 stars from me! ⭐️


Thank you Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the ARC!

I really loved this one. And even as an adult, this one brought me all the feels and my love of my grandparents came flooding back. I think it's so important to m teach children about death and grieving of a loved one. And this does just that.

This is a fantastic book that explores a child's grief after experiencing the loss of a grandparent. It explains that although death is a sad and unsure time, it is our memories that keep us connected with our loved ones.
The illustrations in this book are playful and have a hand drawn feel. The illustrations become clearer and more colourful as the story progresses, along with the boy's memories.
This is a great book for parents who need to explain death, loss and grief of a grandparent to their children.

This book is such a special one. It deals with grief through the eyes of a child in such a great way. The ending definitely got me! The illustrations are beautiful and I loved the symbolism!

Thank you, NetGalley and Pushkin Children's, for this ARC of That Day by Pierre-Emmanuel Lyet! 
Wow. Wow. Wow. What a beautiful story about grief and loss seen through the eyes of a child who loses his Grandmother. The illustrations are drawn remarkably colorfully with colored pencils—I believe, that are just breathtaking. 
The wording is simple yet powerful, and the illustrations perfectly capture each page's essence. I am going through grief after losing a parent this year, and I felt very connected to this story as I am in my 20s and lost my parent in his mid-50s to cancer. I may not be a child anymore, but losing a parent before you even have your own child is a really hard place to navigate. 
This book takes you along this journey of remembering those you love, his Grandmother, and all the beautiful moments they spent together making memories. The part that touched my heart the most was when he remembered the patterns of her dress and the colors. I still picture my Dad's outfits and how he picked his ties to match what he was doing or to look nice. Then I broke down crying while reading this INCREDIBLE story when it talked about forgetting the last time you saw the one you love but remembering what it felt like to hold their hand. Then, the ending of the story was just so sweet and peaceful. 
What a well-done book! It is simple in words yet perfect for anyone, especially children experiencing grief, what that may feel like, and how to navigate it. I look forward to purchasing this book for our school's library and our Reverend at work, which deals with grief counseling for our students. This book is an excellent resource, and it is well executed.
I am looking forward to more stories from this author!
#ThatDay #NetGalley