Sweet fun little story! Would love to read to school age children, I believe they would really love it. Love, love, love the illustrations!

Before touching on the story itself, the book was beautifully illustrated.

The story itself was lovely, a great introduction to death and the immediate shock/grieving process. It was handled very well, and would be a good story for families who have lost a pet or loved one, or who know they're about to.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read

I was curious to see how a picture book would approach the topic of death. It isn't often a subject covered in picture books, but is a very important topic for children to talk with adults about. I think that this book did a splendid job of informing the reader about death and what it may look like, even sharing how death may occur and the ways that people may deal with death. It was disappointing that grief wasn't touched on as much, since the approach to death was so well written. I'd recommend this book for ages 5+ with an adult to help guide through conversations and questions. This picture book will be helpful for any caregiver trying to approach the topic of death with a child- it would be a great guide and conversation starter.

An age-appropriate and thoughtful meditation on death and remembrance for young readers. Two woodland creatures begin their day as usual, taking a walk through the forest and meadow, but today is different -- the blackbird is missing. After looking high and low for the bird, they find them resting upon the forest floor, completely still, seemingly sleeping. But when the blackbird remains at rest, the friends begin to wonder if the bird is asleep, or if the bird has died. With care and consideration, they construct a pile of the most beautiful leaves and sturdy sticks for the bird, knowing that a safe resting place is important, even if someone is no longer with us. This book deftly avoids being overly sentimental or even deeply sad, but instead conveys a meditative and thoughtful tone that acknowledges the naturalness of death and our desire to show care for others after they are gone. An excellent pick for addressing this important and delicate topic with children.

A children’s book that grapples with everyday death.

Squirrel and Pock like to go to the meadow to listen to a very specific bird sing, only, this time when they go, they find the bird dead on the trail. Squirrel and Pock don’t understand the bird is dead at first, but soon realise and hold a memorial for the late bird.

I don’t know how best to describe this book other than quiet. The colors in the illustrations are muted and simplistic in a way that keeps the book from being busy. There’s not a lot of talking, and instead the characters sit thinking or observing.

I liked that this book is very true to life. Sometimes when we’re out on a walk, we might find a deceased bird or squirrel or mouse. The two animal characters act very much like you’d expect a young child to act. They wait for the bird to wake before concluding its dead and then start thinking of all the ways they can properly memorialize the bird.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the illustrations. I thought the sort of limited, muted palate worked well, but I really disliked their big, wide eyes. It made them look ill or gave them that “they’ve seen too much” vibe. They just feel very off to me.

Additionally, the back of the book doesn’t mention anything about death, and it’s not immediately obvious from the cover. I hope there’s an insert in the front of the book jacket that plans to mention it, because otherwise I think it could be a not-so-great surprise to a child or family that may have a sensitivity to death.

It’s great to have another children’s book that handles the difficult topic of death, especially in such a realistic and age-appropriate way; it’s a topic that’s hard to come by. I think this one just needs a bit more transparency before being cracked open.

This sincere book is an introduction to the concept of death for young children, spurred by an encounter with a beloved dead bird friend in the forest. The two main characters, Squirrel and Pock, are confused by the stillness of said friend in the meadow, who no longer sings as they usually do each morning, and slowly come to the realization that their friend has died rather than just sleeping. The book's offbeat tone never loses its warmth as the characters react the same way that young children would, asking questions that may seem a little odd but are in line with people still learning about the world around them. I enjoyed the way that Pock and Squirrel instinctively wanted to make their friend comfortable and set up a memorial for them. This is something that they would not have had experience with beforehand, as it's implied this is their first encounter with death. Yet they're motivated by the love and affection they have for their friend, and guided by their happy memories. Tallec's depiction of the forest makes for a warm, inviting place, one that anyone would be happy to walk along in and explore.

The grief process in the book does move by very quickly, even for those who are just learning about how to name and understand their feelings. There aren't any further thoughts or follow-up questions about exactly what being dead means, whether their bird friend might decide to come back (something that I've heard children ask), what will happen to the bird's family, and so on. Children tend to have a number of questions about death; they may come later, often at random times, but they don't usually stop right after the first conversation. I'd have liked to see something similar here, even if we could see Squirrel and Pock come back to the same spot in different seasons. Additionally, the way that they move on to simply enjoying another bird in the meadow (in the exact same spot) is a little rushed as well.

I'd like to read the book in its original French to see if there are any tonal differences that might have gotten lost in the translation. I've seen Tallec's illustrations in some other children's books that I've enjoyed, and I want to look into more of his work as a standalone author. As a side note, I love Pock's design. It's a little offbeat yet somehow realistic as far as anthropomorphized mushrooms go.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Gecko Press (part of the Lerner Publishing Group,) for this DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

I thought this was alright. I like the characters of Pock and Squirrel. I think it’s a good, reasonable explanation of passing away for children and that we honor those who pass. And perhaps the ending is more uplifting than it is apathetic, but I’ll have to sit on it. The world moves quickly but I’m not sure if the story needed to.

This is the story of Squirrel and he’s friend Pock the mushroom. They like sitting on the stump and listening to their favorite bird. One day they find the bird on the ground. Not knowing if it is alive they get Gunter to help them. This is a nice way to explain death to a child. The illustrations are very pleasing.

I didn’t expect such a bright and colorful book to explore the topic of death—and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. The contrast between the vibrant illustrations and the tender subject matter creates something truly special. Death is unpredictable and often hard to talk about, but this book presents it with such grace, honesty, and sensitivity that children can understand and process it gently. It’s a beautiful, important read that opens the door to meaningful conversations.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I found Is It Asleep? to be a perplexing read. The story follows a squirrel and a talking mushroom who notice the absence of Blackbird, only to eventually find him lying still—possibly asleep, possibly dead. While the book seems to gesture at the idea that life carries on after death, the message is muddled, and the ending felt abrupt and unresolved.

The illustrations are undeniably beautiful, but the tone of the story felt awkward—teetering between humorous and serious in a way that didn’t quite land. I’m open to exploring difficult topics like death with my children, but because the messaging here wasn’t clear or comforting, I wouldn’t recommend this one for young readers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lerner Publishing Group | Gecko Press ™ for this free, advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Is It Asleep? will be published August 5, 2025.

This is a wonderful children's book where two friends a squirrel and a mushroom are searching for a blackbird they enjoy listening sing. When they find the blackbird they are not quite sure if it is asleep. This is a beautiful explanation about death and the ways one can honor and respect those we cared about who have passed on.

Is it asleep is a child's first foray into the death of a living being: the blackbird. I liked how this book explained death in a non-showy way and explained that creatures die. I like how they explained the grieving process, but I think this book lacked a lot of heart. I think there needs to be a lot more of the grieving process in the book (i.e. some people get angry, etc.) I liked how everyone got together to talk about blackbird and then bury him under some leaves. This was a cute book, but even in picture books I think it could've used a bit more depth.

A beautifully illustrated, sad but ultimately hopeful story about discovering a songbird that they liked to listen to has died. The characters go through the stages of grief, and struggle with their newfound knowledge but ultimately discover that life goes on.

This would be a good book to read after the loss of a pet.

What a sweet story on a sensitive subject.
Three friends who live in the forest learn that their friend has died and they must decide how to honor him.
It is heartwarming and well done for youngsters who all must face this loss at some time.
Thank You to @Netgalley and to @Gecko Press for this beautiful ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.

Oh I absolutely loved this. The illustrations, firstly, are beautiful. They are so vibrant and warm, and the characterization of each creature is lovingly showed through the art style. The topic of death and dying, and what is the "right" way to deal with losing someone, was done so well and I thought this was so approachable for a young audience. I have majored in care work studies in my undergrad, which includes death and dying and how to approach the subject with young children, and I feel this book and others like it are so important to facilitating that conversation. This story was approachable and accessible, and I think that was exactly what it set out to be.

I think this book did a great job at showing death in a lighter way for kids to start understanding. It made me so sad thinking about having to introduce the concept to a child but I will have to some day with my kiddo and a book like this would be great for it.
I will also share I liked the art style and choices of colors as well as a choice of a squirrel and mushroom as a main character.

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.