Snail and Turtle Rainy Days, by Stephen Michael King

So said Lemony Snicket about grief, in the very first chapter of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Heartbreaking, and so, so true, this line always catches in my throat when I read it.

A few months ago, a friend of mine lost their best friend. It was totally unexpected and shattering, as all loss is.

My own words failed me - what is there to say in a time of grief? "I'm sorry", is true but too small for the scale of such loss. "Let me know how I can help", is empty of any real support. And what help is there really anyway? Nothing eases pain like that, except time. And even time can only do so much.

So I did what I always do in times of sadness. I went to the bookstore. But what to buy? Every grown up book fell short or felt too dismissive. Do I choose something off topic as a distraction? Would a book about grief only make it worse?

And then I found Snail and Turtle Rainy Days.

Bea's beautiful Granny bought her the first in this series, Snail and Turtle Are Friends, that tells the lovely and whimsically illustrated story of a friendship between Snail and Turtle - who have different interests and passions but are the very best of friends anyway.

In this sequel, Snail and Turtle Rainy Days, Turtle wakes up, excited to play in the rain, but soon finds that Snail has hidden away in his shell and won't come out. As rain falls, day after day, Turtle patiently waits, holding an umbrella and building a warm, safe, shelter, to help his friend emerge again. 

This is an incredibly sweet and gentle story about friendship and sadness and what it means to support someone - it said everything that my words couldn't. Turtle doesn't try to endlessly cajole snail from his shell with cheery talk but instead waits, patiently standing by his friend's side until he is ready, at last, to face the day. 

Although a simple story about friendship, I think this is a beautiful book for anyone that has suffered loss, or who is fighting a battle with depression. It's a sweet book for children too (toddler and up) as a way of exploring sadness and grief.

Although it doesn't directly talk about loss or great sadness, it does communicate what it is to feel sad, alone and grey. The ending (though a little abrupt!) is ultimately cheerful and uplifting, a reminder that one day, if not today or even tomorrow, things will seem a little brighter.

Thinking of everyone that knows how grief feels, and sending love and hope (and a Turtle umbrella) today. 

The Book and the Bea x