Title: Harry & Hopper
Author: Margaret Wild
Illustrator: Freya Blackwood
Publisher: Omnibus Books for Scholastic Australia
ISBN: 978-1-86291-740-8

Harry & Hopper  is a touching and beautifully illustrated story about a young boy and his dog.

Harry and Hopper have been inseparable since Hopper arrived as a jumpy young puppy. Harry even sneaks Hopper inside each night to sleep on his bed.

When Harry comes home from school and is told by his father that Hopper died in an accident, he is scared and confused. He doesn’t want to acknowledge that Hopper is gone and sleeps on the couch instead of going to his bed. At night, he dreams that Hopper is with him until gradually even the dreams fade and Harry is finally able to say goodbye.

While this book isn’t necessarily one that I would find myself reading regularly with my children, it is a beautifully told story ideal for helping children to understand the process of grieving and perhaps helping them to open up if they are struggling to deal with the loss of a loved pet themselves.

Freya Blackwood’s illustrations are lovely and convey a real sense of movement, particularly for Hopper as a puppy. They compliment the style and mood of the book beautifully.

This book is certainly one I would recommend for parents of young children looking for ways to start discussions with their child about death and grieving.