Common Sense Media Review
By Diondra K. Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Heartrending, important story about love and loss.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
CAPE shares the story of a little boy who faces a seemingly impossible task on the hardest day of his life. He must say goodbye to someone he loved by attending his funeral. He can't think about the person without feeling heartache, so he wears his red superhero cape to block out the hurt. He uses the cape as protection throughout the day, avoiding pictures and stories of his loved one. But memories of his loved one keep bubbling up in his head and his heart. As a superhero, he blasts the memories up to space and buries them in the ocean. But even superheroes can't block powerful memories forever. He feels joy when he allows the positive memories to come back to him. The cape becomes the boy's comfort and strength, and, in a beautiful sign of growth and acceptance, he ultimately has the courage to share his superpower with a grieving adult.
Is It Any Good?
This is an exceptional book that's a must-read for children experiencing loss and grief. Cape can be a wonderful tool for caregivers, educators, and therapists as they help kids navigate the difficult journey of losing a loved one. The story sheds an honest light on the confusing experience of joy and grief through a child's prospective. The parallel process of grief, when both an adult and child are experiencing the same loss, often leaves children confused -- but this book can help. It's honest, heartfelt, and validating. The main character's journey to find courage in the face of grief is told through simple yet powerful text and affecting illustrations, which are emotional and enchanting. Readers may find the book to be a tearjerker.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how, in Cape, the main character loses a loved one. What are some of the emotions people feel when a loved one passes away?
What does the cape mean to the boy? Who else wears a red cape? How does the boy show courage in this story?
How does the boy feel when he has memories of his beloved family member who died? Why do memories sometimes make you feel good and sometimes make you feel sad? Who can you go to when you feel sad?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Kitt Thomas
- Genre : Picture Book
- Character Strengths : Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date : June 20, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : January 12, 2024
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