If You Were Here
If You Were Here is a gentle rhyming story for children who have lost someone they love.
Told through the eyes of a little boy grieving the loss of his Yiayia, the story follows his journey from sadness and longing towards hope, as he begins to discover the many ways we can remain connected to those we love after they are gone.
Created to help open conversations about death, loss and grief, If You Were Here gives children a relatable voice for some of the big feelings they may not yet have the words to express. Through themes of love, family, resilience and continuing connection, it offers children and the adults who love them a gentle way to navigate grief together.
The story is also suitable for educational and therapeutic settings, providing a meaningful resource for teachers, counsellors and other professionals supporting children through bereavement.
Beautifully brought to life through Anita Bagdi’s whimsical illustrations, readers are carried into the child narrator’s imagination and alongside him on his emotional journey from sadness towards hope and light.
“If you were here I’d hug you tight,
If you were here I’d say,
‘You are my very bestest friend.’
I wish you could have stayed.”
Written by Elisabeth Sophia
Illustrated by Anita Bagdi
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