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.

This book was a really nice read. Of course when we think of someone we love who has passed, we are going to be sad. But I like that throughout the book there were different ways to remember a loved one (ex: naming something after them, getting together to remember and talk about them). Explaining death to a young one is difficult in general. But having a book like this can help them find ways to cope with the loss.

Trigger warning for death. This book was a quick read, and almost seems like it was written for 2-3 year old but is a bit more mature in theme because of death (3-5yo). My 2.5yo enjoyed the story but ultimately she did not understand it because she is too young to grasp the concept of death, especially for a toddler that has yet to experience death.

I think this book is meant to be for younger children, and the book’s theme is a rather heavy one for that age. Nevertheless, children have these thoughts and questions when people or things die, and I think the author was delicate in the way that they addressed it. It began with curiosity, realization of the meaning, and then actually addressing it head-on rather than taking the stigmatized route and avoiding the conversation. The author shared a way to honor the dead and continue to have them in life through stories (not letting their memory die with them) in a respectful, thoughtful manner. The bright and warm illustrations contrasted the topic well to help give it a lighthearted feel, and I appreciated that some of the pages had more white space while others were full-page illustrations. The white space gave me the feeling that the unknown and big feels had space to breathe while the full-page illustrations gave me the feeling of comfort and connection.

For low vision readers, sans serif would have been the better choice, though I personally like how the serif font pulls the whole book together. I think the crisp and proper serif font and the warm, round, and gentle illustrations contrast in a positive way! Overall, a really great book.

This is a book for kids about an unexpected death. It doesn't resolve anything or come to any kind of closure. If my kids read this they'd have many more questions than before we started. And the ending is a real bummer because the world has just gone on and their friend has already been replaced. Very young children won't benefit from this at all, and older ones could use more information.

This story is about an ordinary day for a squirrel and its mushroom friend as they go about their daily routine. But when it’s time to listen to the song of their favorite bird, they find it is not in its usual spot.
The book features bright illustrations that beautifully convey the characters' emotions. The story contains only a small amount of text but does an excellent job of addressing the themes of death and burial rituals.

The illustrations are just so simple, cute, and sometimes funny to me, which made reading super easy.

It's a good book for kids to show them the topic of death.

The characters were nice; I didn't even realize there was a mushroom on the cover until I read the annotation!

There's a little bit of text, which helps the kid learn how to read too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gecko Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Not every day you get a mushroom for a main character 😂 I don’t think kiddos are reading Goodreads reviews butttt spoilers ahead. I loved their excitement to find the blackbird, instead they find the blackbird belly up. This will surely raise a lot of questions but I think a very subtle and kind way to discuss death with children. The natural world is full of death and I’d venture to guess most kids who spend time outdoors will encounter a dead animal. I loved how the characters respected the fallen blackbird and remembered him. The ending felt a little abrupt if I’m being totally honest. I loved the illustrations!

Thanks to NetGalley, Lerner Publishing Group and Gecko Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A good book to talk about death and dying with children. If kids are not ready for that topic yet, this book will be too deep for them. For myself, my toddler has recently been confusing going to happen for being sick with the sniffles and actually dying. So this was a good conversation piece to really talk about the difference. It’s not a sweet bedtime story but more of a really good conversation starter for a pretty serious topic.

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great book. It's very cute and the pictures are very well done!

This is a really cute and funny story of forest animals trying to figure out if a blackbird is sleeping or dead.

Trigger warning for dead animals.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gecko Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Is It Asleep is a gentle story about death and grieving. I really enjoyed the story and I think it is a perfect way to introduce children to the concept of death. Though short, the characters experience confusion and anger which are all real emotions that people go through when grieving. I think it also was a beautiful touch on how the characters went about their grieving process and how to honor their friend. This is a translated book and it shows in the sentences. I think for this to be a better book more well suited for children, some of the word choice should be changed and simplified.

“ We've heard that when someone dies, people get together to remember and talk about them.” lol, this was a cute little book, innocent, beautifully illustrated and easy to read. I loved how it was written as if someone was speaking their thoughts aloud. I felt like there was a plot whole in there or maybe I didn’t get why it ended the way it did . But I loved i enjoyed how the critters navigated thru the death of the blackbird coming up with their own ideas on what could’ve happened, it reminded me of the innocence conversations kids have have in regards to this topic. Cute, simply, cozy read.

This is a charming and gentle story about a squirrel and his mushroom friend, Pock, who stumble upon a blackbird they've often heard singing. To their surprise, the bird is lying still on the ground. Wondering whether it's simply asleep or something more, their curiosity leads them to discover that the bird has passed away. In a tender moment, they follow the guidance they've been given about how to treat something that has died.

While the story may feel a bit sad for young readers, it offers a thoughtful way to introduce children to the concept of death and funerals. The illustrations are endearing and beautifully crafted. It's clear that the book has been translated, though, as certain phrases carry the feel of another language, which gives it a unique, slightly unfamiliar charm.

Oh my, I’m totally in love with this author! Most of his books are filled with humor and adorable illustrations, and even though this one explores deep questions about death and the cycle of life, it still manages to feel gentle, heartwarming, and even cute.

Kids will eventually face the concept of loss, and this book offers a tender way to approach it—how we remember those we love after they’re gone, or maybe, in a way, they live on as long as we hold them in our hearts.

And I absolutely love this line: “Anything that sings so well and has such beautiful feathers can’t die.”

I find this book sad. However, it touches on death in a gentle way for young readers. Also, showing how we may react as humans when someone or something we love dies as well. For children who emotionally mature or even have questions about death this could be a good beginner book for them.

This was a really sweet and moving approach to death in a children's book, especially of a beloved animal friend. The illustrations are warm and inviting and the gentleness with which the death of the blackbird is treated is thoughtful and appropriate for even very young children. Recommended.

The illustrations are rather nice but the story left a lot to be desired. I appreciate what the author is trying to do - but I think this misses the mark. I imagine this book creating more questions than answers to a child learning about death. I'm honestly having a difficult time thinking about an instance where I would recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

The creatures in this book find there friend the song bird who they think is sleeping. But with further examination they determine he has died. They have to figure out what to do with the bird now.
A sweet look at dealing with and talking about death.
Muted colors in the illustrations help too.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC