In this stunning story from the creator of The Rabbit Listened, a child and their grandfather take a walk in the woods and discover more about themselves and their feelings.
Finn is in a horrible mood and doesn't want to talk about it, but after some persuading, agrees to go for a hike with Grandpa.
Throughout their forest walk, they see many different things: big, strong trees with networks of roots growing underneath, still water with schools of fish swimming below, and an expectant bird with eggs nestled under her. Grandpa explains that people also have hidden feelings beneath the surface, and despite appearances, may be feeling the say way you do.
Visual clues such as the beautiful quilt endpapers hint that both are grieving for the loss of Finn's granny.
★《紐約時報》評選最佳童書《別傷心,我會陪著你》The Rabbit Listened作者最新作品
芬恩覺得很不開心,爺爺想跟他聊聊,但芬恩什麼都不想講,覺得爺爺根本不會懂他的心情。爺爺於是建議芬恩跟他一起到外頭走走,芬恩躲在毯子底下,勉為其難的答應了。
走在海邊的森林裡,芬恩與爺爺看到了很多東西:又大又強壯的樹底下,藏有複雜的根系盤根錯節;平靜的水面下可能暗潮湧動。猜猜看小鳥守在巢裡為了什麼?她快要當媽媽囉。一路上,芬恩臉上的表情慢慢開朗起來。爺爺跟他說,在人的表面之下,每個人都比你看到的更複雜。外表之下是不同的人生經驗,行為的背後藏著原因,每個人不一樣的特質之下,也藏著彼此的共通之處。
爺爺告訴芬恩:有時候,你可能覺得別人不懂你的感受,但其實他跟你有同樣的心情。以繪本帶來溫柔而撫慰的力量,提醒我們事物常常不是只有單一的面向,我們有共通之處也各有各的獨特,別忘了懷抱寬廣的心,探索接納週邊的世界和人們。