A children’s book that explores the feelings of grief and loss.

Originally written as a tool for other teachers and therapists to use with children during Covid, it quickly became a storybook that was acquired by many foreign publishers, making it a global book.

What has set this book apart from other books on grief is the collaborations with charities, NGO’s, and crisis centres. It has for two years running been shortlisted as one of the top 30 grief books.

Enid has just lost her Grandpa and is struggling with all of the feelings that are whirling around inside her head. She is carrying a very heavy backpack that holds some special items of emotional worth to her and her grandpa. As Enid walks on her journey, she comes across various people. One by one they encourage Enid to talk about how she is feeling, and when she does, they remove an item from her bag.

The metaphor is strong: the more Enid shares how she is feeling, the more people help lighten her load. The grief does not go away, but it feels a little easier to carry.

Enid is a proactive protagonist, understanding how to explore her own grief and allowing others to help.

The book has been used in an official collaboration by UNICEF in Germany. A UNICEF workshop will take place within a refugee camp. An audiobook was produced to raise funds for DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee) Ukraine appeal. The book is also used within women’s refuges across the UK and grief centres around Europe. In the UK, The Heavy Bag has been recognised as an ‘Emotional Support Book’ by ELSA support (emotional literacy support assistant).