Children's Fiction Emotions & Feelings
The Tunnel
- Publisher
- Owlkids Books Inc.
- Initial publish date
- Mar 2022
- Category
- Emotions & Feelings, Death & Dying, General, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
- Recommended Age
- 4 to 8
- Recommended Grade
- 1 to 12
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9781771474276
- Publish Date
- Mar 2022
- List Price
- $19.95
Classroom Resources
Where to buy it
Description
A spare, powerful story about taking space to process difficult feelings
After something bad happens, a boy feels sad and gray. Mom and Aunt Cheryl try to talk about it, but he feels like running away. So he picks up a shovel and starts digging a tunnel from his room, deep down and into the backyard. Out there, far from the lights of the house, it’s dark enough that he could disappear. But the quiet distance also gives him the space he needs to see his family’s love and start returning home.
As he heads back, the journey upward is different. He notices familiar details and tunes into his senses. The tunnel isn’t so scary this time. The boy emerges into his room just as Mom peeks in. When she notices a twig in his hair, he is ready to talk about the tunnel and finds warmth in her gentle acknowledgment: “You came back.”
Quiet, emotionally resonant text is paired with grayscale drawings accented with red in this thoughtfully layered exploration of coping with tough emotions, and taking time and space to heal.
About the authors
SARAH HOWDEN is the author of several books for children, including 5-Minute Stories for Fearless Girls and Cone Cat. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and daughter and their two rambunctious cats.
ERIKA RODRIGUEZ MEDINA est une illustratrice et une publiciste mexicaine qui vit maintenant au Canada. Ses éléments préférés dans les illustrations sont les personnages expressifs, les lignes griffonnées et les textures granuleuses. Le folklore, les histoires effrayantes, les grandes plantes d’intérieur et les objets que l’on trouve généralement chez sa grand-mère occupent une place particulière dans son cœur.
ERIKA RODRIGUEZ MEDINA is a book illustrator and publicist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her favourite things to illustrate are expressive characters, grumpy children and nature. She is particularly interested in mythology and folklore from her home country of Mexico. Her previous work includes Fighting Words — also by Leonarda Carranza — Margot and the Moon Landing, There Goes Patti McGee! and 48 Grasshopper Estates.
Awards
- Commended, CCBC Choices
- Commended, USBBY Outstanding International Book
- Commended, A Best Children's Book of the Year
- Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens
Editorial Reviews
"Howden has written a soothing book of bibliotherapy embedded in a quiet story ... a worthy addition to picture book shelves."
Canadian Review of Materials
"A quiet, subtle exploration of loss ... useful both as a choice for a mourning child and for kids wanting to understand a grieving friend."
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books – STARRED REVIEW
"An effective tool to open discussion about grief with individuals or small groups of children."
Booklist
"A young boy carves a path through grief in this moving picture book."
Foreword Reviews – STARRED REVIEW
"Both metaphor and meditation, this touching, lovely story is a conversation-opener between children and caregivers dealing with loss; it recognizes the need to be alone, as well as the merits and comfort of finding one’s way to loved ones."
School Library Journal
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