When Anna and Joey wake up to the smell of pancakes, they know that today is a special day. But when they learn that their beloved Poppy has passed away during the night, they aren’t hungry anymore. They are devastated that they didn’t get the chance to say goodbye, and wish for just one more day with Poppy so they could relieve all the fun things they did with Poppy.

Alone in their bedroom, the children make a list of all the things they could do with Poppy if they had just one more day – from playing golf to eating Matzah balls – and soon their list has become a book. Their mother decides to share the book with visitors and other mourners, and, with her gentle guidance, the children begin their grieving journey.

Wishes for One More Day is a beautiful offering for children and families dealing with the loss of a loved one. It also offers an insight into Jewish culture, with the family following Jewish customs.

The illustrations, by talented Australian artist Jacqui Grantford, use gentle pastel colours, rendered in gouache and watercolour pencil, to echo the gentle feel of the text by US writer Melanie Joy Pastor.

This is a sensitive exploration of the topic of bereavement.

Wishes for One More Day, by Melanie Joy Pastor and Jacqui Grantford
Flashlight Press, 2006

Also Illustrated by Jacqui Grantford

A True Person, by Gabiann Marin
Shoes News (2004)
Various Faerious (2002)