When Patrick suffers a huge loss, he finds comfort in holding an acorn that drops to his feet. The more acorns he collects, the less empty he feels. But soon there are acorns hiding all over the house. As the tide of acorns grows, Patrick realises that all he has is too many acorns.
Patrick and his father learn how to cope with grief together in this uplifting story by Susannah Crispe. Through gentle language and metaphor, the book explores big emotions in a way that younger readers will understand.
It's a story for any child going through a transition where grief is the main emotion - not necessarily just the loss of a loved one. Crispe uses a few words to tell the story in an age-appropriate way. She doesn't preach or talk down to her younger readers, and is able to convey a message of hope and resilience through her story and illustrations.
Her artwork is full of colour and detail, and there's lots to spot within the pages. There's some subtle metaphors and messages within the pictures too, and the final endpage is a delight.
Navigating grief is hard for all of us, but especially for children. Books can be a fantastic way to help us through those tricky moments, opening up a pathway for questions and equipping our younger generation with appropriate coping tools. Too Many Acorns is a lovely addition, helping those of all ages gain comfort and build resilience in the face of grief.
Reviewer: Rebekah Lyell
EK Books