George the Duck isn’t just a book!
In February 2022, I bought 14 ducks on a whim, which wasn’t like me at all. I’d never raised ducks before but I knew I liked them better than chickens. I ordered 7 Indian Runner ducks and 7 mixed ducklings from a hatchery online. One of the mixed ducklings turned out to be much larger than all of the other ducklings. He was a jumbo Pekin! George the Duck keeps everyone in the yard entertained, including his current housemate Harry, a blue Indian Runner duck. George unexpectedly helped me through the worst of my grief after losing my parents and he continues to be a surprising friend and companion.
George the Duck and His Day of Big Grief
Children’s Book
George the Duck lived a happy life on the farm with his best friend, Jack, the dog. They spent their days patrolling, playing, and napping together, until the day it all changed. George the Duck is a story of friendship and grief, and finding your way again after deep loss.
Alison P. Cook masterfully addresses loss through this beautiful children’s story, providing support for readers of all ages. Grief touches all of us at some point in our lives. Alison shows us that we are not alone and that there is space for all our very big feelings. Not only that, but we can honor the ones we have lost, while also embracing hope beyond our grief.
George the Duck and His Day of Big Grief is published by Boneh Media, LLC, and is available for purchase at the retailers below.
Reviews for George the Duck and His Day of Big Grief
“Wow. What an incredibly talented author! Alison has perfectly crafted an age-appropriate book discussing and unpacking one of life’s biggest and most challenging emotions, grief. It’s so important to teach children about emotions and feelings and how to recognize WHAT they are feeling. This is a book that every child should own! Perfect for dealing with the loss of a pet, sibling, parent, or grandparent. I love the way that it’s written because the complex topic has been eloquently explained in a simple digestible manner for children of all ages. The illustrations are perfect as well because they are beautiful soft watercolors that just enhance the story even more!
I’ve bought 3 and plan on buying more! It makes a great gift!” – Kat
“I loved everything about this book! The characters and their feelings from joyful days to times of grief are wonderfully portrayed. A helpful lesson for all ages when we experience grief in our lives.” – Kathy
“What an absolutely beautiful book!! Oh my goodness, my daughter and I BOTH loved it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially if you have a child who has experienced loss of any kind. It touches on grief in a relatable way, but ultimately points towards hope! Also, the illustrations are so beautiful! The book is well written, and well done in all areas. Highly recommend!” – Colleen
“This book was so well written. I opened the first page and could not stop reading it—it brought tears to my eyes, but also made me realize that grief has so many different stages. The whole book was easy to read and I think adults would also enjoy the straightforward concept of different stages of grief as told from the eyes of George the Duck.” – Michelle
“Alison’s first book begins with the joy and delight of friendship, captures the heartbreak and sadness of loss, and ends with the promise and hope everyone longs to find. It’s a tender story written with a slant toward children, but I can attest to the fact that every age will enjoy it. The beautiful illustrations add so much to the story. If there are children on your Christmas list or who love to read, this is a great gift. Let’s hope this is just the beginning of Alison’s journey in children’s books.” – J.B.V.
