THE HOLE, by Lindsay Bonilla and Brizida Magro, Nancy Paulsen Books, Feb. 4, 2025, Hardcover, $18.99 (ages 4-8)
A little boy mourns his little brother in The Hole, a powerful picture book by Lindsay Bonilla and Brizida Magro.
What does it feel like to lose someone you love? For one little boy, it’s like he has a hole in his life. It’s in the bottom bunk, where his little brother, Matty, used to sleep, and it’s on his brother’s chair at dinner. It follows him everywhere until the day he decides to really explore it. Inside the hole he confronts his grief—the sadness, the anger, and the truth of how much he misses Matty. His friend is waiting when he climbs out, and when she asks, “Do you want to tell me about your brother?” he’s surprised to find that talking about Matty is a comfort—and helps fill his hole with good memories. —Synopsis provided by Nancy Paulsen Books
The Hole is an excellent conversation-starter for young and older children who have experienced loss — a family member, friend, pet, etc.
Author Lindsey Bonilla does an exceptional job putting words to feelings. Illustrator Brizida Magro builds on Bonilla’s text, providing tender artwork. Together Bonilla and Margro help readers both recognize and understand emotions that surround loss.
I wish I had had The Hole seven years ago when my mother died and my daughter was 4. It’s exactly what I needed at the time. I highly recommend it.
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