A huge thanks to the author and translator, Olivier Tallec and Antony Shugaar, the publisher, Gecko Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Is It Asleep? a children's picture book about death and grief. I read in a digital format. I will share my review to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes & Noble upon release.

Is It Asleep? is picture book for children (ages 3-6ish, but can definitely be appreciated by readers of all ages) which focuses on the topic of death, loss, and grief. Big emotions can often be too much for even adults to hold, and grief is one of the most overwhelming feelings we experience. Children going through a loss may need extra care and attention, explanation, and support in order to be able to process and adjust to life without someone or something they love. Books like this one can help have conversations and understand the concept on a deeper level, allowing children to see that they are not the only ones who deal with these big emotions, and that new days will come.

At the beginning, the trio of cute characters are looking for a missing bird whose songs they very much enjoy. When they find the missing bird, he isn't moving or interacting, and looks peacefully asleep. When the bird doesn't respond to the friends, they realize their companion has passed on, even though it is a difficult realization to come to. While they process their feelings, they celebrate and memorialize their friend's life in a lovely way, and speak of the beauty he was able to contribute to the world. After this, they wake up to find another bird with a song to sing, and for the friends to enjoy. Not as a replacement, but as a new and different gift to the forest. Children can learn and process big concepts like death and loss through this story, and the soft illustrations and earth-toned color palette bring an atmosphere of peace and calm when the characters are going through inner turmoil. I would recommend this book to any child who has gone through a loss, whether it's a pet, family member, or friend. This would also be a great addition to any diverse library collection. Beautiful story - thank you again!

I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

A somewhat sad story where a bird dies and some of his admirers grieve for the bird. This book could be so much more, it just feels a little unfinished.

I received an electronic ARC from Lerner Publishing Group | Gecko Press ™ through NetGalley.
Tenderly written story about death.
Two friends enjoy spending time together and listening to the birds. They especially love to hear the blackbird tweet and watch it fly. One day they don't hear it but as they explore, they find it lying in the path. I appreciate how Tallec addresses this in a manner younger readers will understand. They think it is sleeping but can't wake it. It's only then they realize it is dead and think about what to do to honor this bird. The mood is sad but not dark. They acknowledge the death and figure out how to bury it and remember it. The illustrations are softly focused with an emphasis on the characters themselves. A helpful book for families dealing with death either human or pet.

I love the characters of this book, I do wish the story matter was a little more cheery, however, this book handles the comings and goings of nature well. It's inclusion of ways to honor those who pass are accessible for kids. As a youth librarian though I would suggest having a page at the beginning that lets parents know this book deals with death. Often parents and caregivers will look at the cover and not read the descriptions, and this covering reads as a funny read aloud book. Making a clear "Note to Parents" page in the beginning is a good ounce of prevention.

Is It Asleep? is a reflection on death as told from the point of view of animals. They have enjoyed listening to a blackbird sing, and come across it dead upon the path. They protect the dead bird with leaves and have a little memorial. The story felt a bit awkward, as it was almost slightly funny, but not truly meant to be. I finished reading it for myself, but did not think it was appropriate for my daughter. It is not a book that I would share in my classroom.

This book tells the story of Squirrel and his best friend, Pock the mushroom, who find a bird lying still on a path. Squirrel is super curious and thinks the bird might be just sleeping, so they wait and see what happens. The pictures are bright and colorful, and the story is easy to understand. It talks about big feelings, like being sad, in a way kids can learn from. It's a sweet and gentle book that can open the doors for conversations on life and when something or someone dies.

With illustrations that are both expressive and deceptively simple, this book captures the quiet hilarity of asking questions that have no easy answers. It’s a playful ode to curiosity, where each page invites kids to observe, wonder, and giggle at the absurdity of trying to understand the world—one sleepy creature at a time.

Is It Asleep was a strange, mildly uncomfortable to read book. The story centered around a squirrel and his toadstool/mushroom friend as they search for a bird they like to watch. They find the bird laying very still, and ultimately determine that the bird has died. As a mother of 2, I am definitely ok with addressing the topic of death in an age appropriate way because it is a part of life, but I was not a fan of the way this book did it in such an awkward, nonchalant way. Definitely not one I would reach for when discussing the death of a pet or loved one.

Not a favorite. Nothing over-the-top morbid about it, and could open conversations with children about dead animals in the wild, but it’s not one I would ever reach for when discussing death of a loved one or pet.

It’s a story about two woodland friends going on their daily walk to see/listen to a bird but instead finding it on the ground. They then wonder through different observations if it is dead or not, and what to do with it.

My children and I love to read bed time stories every night. I chose this one because I thought my 6 year old would love it . Turns out you have to talk about death when the character dies in the book. Not perfect for a bed time story. I’m giving it 3 stars because the art in the book was lovely. Does this book have trigger warnings ? It probably should.

Death is a major part of life. It is everywhere, but it isn’t a topic many of us address often with our young children. Is it Asleep tackles the difficult topic of death in a beautiful way that is understandable by young children. When the characters find the bird they enjoy listening to has not come to sing, they go in search of him. The friends find the bird still on the ground, and they watch for signs of life. Through this process, they discover the bird has died, and they “bury” him.

Being a translated book, I wasn’t sure how well the message would land. However my three year old understood and appreciated the story. This would be a good book for children who may be about to encounter the death of a loved one who could use assistance with understanding what that means.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful picturebook, a translation of a French edition. It features a squirrel and a mushroom who are looking for their friend blackbird in the forest and when they find it, it lays very still, seemingly asleep. Raises the question of how we feel about death when we encounter it closely for the first time, previously only knowing theoretically about it and about what people do to grief and commemorate the ones they lost.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free eARC through NetGalley. Publication date August 5, 2025.

First of all, please do understand that I greatly appreciate books that teach little ones about death. It's an unavoidable thing and kids deserve to know about it rather than being sheltered from it.
Still, that being said, I was a bit confused as to what this book is specifically trying to accomplish. The main point of confusion for me was the ending. It felt like the book ended so abruptly, and I personally did not understand what the author was getting at by writing the final lines of the book. I *think* it's meant to show that, even after death, life carries on, but that message wasn't exactly clear. However, that is the only thing that I disliked about this book.
Everything else was great! Nothing is too dark or depressing, which allows this book to perfectly fit its target audience. The author covered various points around death in a simple yet effective way, and it was honestly heartwarming to see the main characters cope with the blackbird's death. Lastly, the illustrations being done with a soft, natural, watercolor finish worked perfectly for the book's overall mood, and were very pretty.

As a mother of two, I found Is It Asleep to be an odd read. The author, Oliver Tallec, tells the story of two friends, a squirrel and a mushroom, who spend their days listening to the other animals throughout wilderness. One day, they realize Blackbird is missing from the field and eventually find him lying on the ground, unsure if he's asleep or dead. Although the theme of the story isn't one I would typically choose for a children's book, the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. My kids especially enjoyed the talking mushroom. As a parent, I'm open to addressing the topic of death in an age-appropriate way, but I didn't feel the overall message of the book was clear. Because of that, I wouldn't recommend it to other families.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lerner Publishing Group, and Gecko Press for this eARC!

Is It Asleep? is a gentle, approachable story on dealing with grief and death.

When three forest friends discover the singing blackbird is missing, they begin a search between the trees and along the river, until they spot it lying on the pathway. Convinced it must be sleeping, they wait for it to wake up and begin singing again. But after a while, they realize the blackbird must be dead. Uncertain, they do their best to care for the fallen creature: covering it with the prettiest leaves, reciting poems, and walking together, talking and thinking about the blackbird.

This story is sweet and simple. A good introduction to death and grief for children, with plenty of room for discussion. Accepting, understanding, and overcoming grief are all essential pieces of this book, making it an easier subject to explain and understand. The illustrations are cute and complement the story and pacing well.

Thank you Netgalley and author, Olivier Tallec, for an ARC of this book!

5/5 – We recently lost our puppy, and this book would have been a gentle way to explain loss to the little ones. It follows Squirrel and Pock the mushroom as they notice the blackbird isn’t singing - a subtle nod to life’s cycles. Dryly humorous yet tender, it’s a light, honest read for kids dealing with grief.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

is it asleep is such a lovely story that explores death and grieving in a really delicate way. the way the characters honor their dead friend is really neat and wholesome. this book offers a fantastic way to discuss death and how to handle it with children.


the art style is really beautiful, the colors gorgeous.

The art style is really interesting and unique and I liked that this became a tool that parents can use for their children when needing to talk about death. I would've liked to see a something about how it made them feel. The book did a great job at talking through what we do for someone we love when they pass away, and what we do after, but it didn't talk about how it may make us feel and what we do with those feelings. I think that's just as important for kids to understand, that it's okay to feel sad when someone we love is no longer with us.

This story delicately explores the theme of processing an unexpected death. The way the three characters choose to honor their friend after their passing is both touching and meaningful, highlighting the various ways people remember loved ones. The book also introduces several tools that could help children navigate the complex emotions surrounding loss.

I was particularly captivated by the illustrations, which were visually striking and complemented the narrative beautifully. The author’s decision to set the story during autumn seemed intentional, as the season naturally symbolizes the end of life. This setting opens a thoughtful avenue for reflecting on the concept of death.

Overall, while the discovery of the deceased blackbird and the children’s initial reactions may feel more authentic to a younger audience, their eventual coping mechanisms are portrayed with a maturity that could resonate with readers of various ages. This book could be shared with children as a gentle introduction to the topic of death, with the potential for deeper conversations led by parents, educators, or caregivers.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the illustrations in this book. This would be a great tool to discuss death with children if needed. I would recommend it for that purpose.