The Laugh

Once there was a lady who had the loveliest laugh in the world. She laughed loudly and quietly. She laughed with everybody and sometimes to herself. It was always contagious. But one day she dies, and the laughter goes with her. The lady has left a big hole in the world. Her little girl can’t find the laughter. But then, unexpectedly, something funny happens and the girl laughs again.

This is a beautiful tribute to a mother whose presence in her child’s life is huge and all-important. The book acknowledges that after a death the affected family can’t ‘move on’ – and don’t want to – while others do. But the ending also implies that should the laughter come back, that’s a positive. 

This is a gorgeous book, full of warmth and shared family moments. The family shown in the lovely illustrations are of mixed heritage, which is unusual. It would be an invaluable resource for children who’ve suffered loss.