Finn knows his brother is gone. But he also knows that Hamish sent the beautiful white feather on his doorstep.
Finn runs to shows his mother the feather from Hamish, but she only gives him a big hug. In school, Finn’s teacher responds similarly. Why isn’t anyone as excited as he is? Finn sits quietly, cradling the beautiful, amazing feather. “Why did Hamish give it to you?” asks his friend, Lucas. “Maybe he wanted to say hi?” wonders Finn. “Maybe,” Lucas says, “Hamish wanted you to have fun with it.”
Finn’s Feather is a story about resilience and memory about a child, his brother, and a friend who meets him where he is.
About the Author
Rachel Noble enjoys writing for children, particularly stories that sensitively empower them to navigate big feelings. Rachel loves rainbows, the beach and of course, feathers. She is lucky to get all of this in Queensland Australia, where she lives. She was inspired to write Finn's Feather following the loss of her son Hamish in 2012. After Rachel got the idea for this story, she found a feather on her doorstep. Rachel has five beautiful children (including her beloved Hamish), and a patient husband.
Rachel worked as a journalist, radio producer and voice-over artist before she became an author.
Industry Reviews
"I treasure the book as a very fine example of a child's death narrative that rings true. Among other things, I appreciate the fact that the world of the living is an appealing, sun-filled place to be even while one's heart and mind feels sadness and loss."-Wendy Lukehart, Youth Collections Coordinator, DC Public Library
"Inspired by Noble's own experience of loss, and enhanced by Abbott's naive, softly colored double-page-spread illustrations, the gentle story deals with death gracefully by celebrating those who have gone before. It will provide a welcome opportunity for parents to discuss a serious issue with their young children."-Michael Cart, Booklist
"The episode is less about grieving the loss of a loved one than finding positive ways to remember and to regard the deceased."-Kirkus Reviews
"A stunning story of a child's death told through the eyes of the brother. A feather arrives, a gift that nurtures loss, and leads to a day filled with laughter, love and the celebration of life, memory and exploring death in a healing and nurturing way. This book is a gift to those who have known loss and those that seek to understand and support."-Jesica Sweedler DeHart, Wandering Bookseller
"Combined, the art and story create a useful, moving resource for bereaved children and their families."-Publishers Weekly
"If you have a child who has lost someone-I cannot recommend this book more highly."-Rebecca Sparrow, Rebecca Sparrow dot com
"...more a celebration of love than sadness over a death."-STARRED REVIEW, Katerina Yurenka, Youth Services Book Review
"A grieving mother pays tribute to her lost son through an inspiring debut children's story."-Who Magazine
"An imaginative and original story by Rachel Noble that is charmingly illustrated by Zoey Abbott, 'Finn's Feather' is a very highly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 4 to 8."-The Midwest Book Review
"In this delicately insightful story about love, loss and forever, Rachel Noble draws on personal experience to offer a gentle pathway forward for anyone who has lost a beloved child or parent, and the process of grieving; a pathway personal to everyone. ... Easy to read words combined with graceful artwork from Zoey Abbott completes a work which is both significant and poignant and perfect for children struggling to understand the process of death and grieving."-Blue Wolf Reviews
"Finn's Feather is written with such heart and care, in a gentle, honest and relatable manner... [Rachel Noble's] clever crafting of a book which will generate conversation and compassion in little humans without distressing them or causing worries or fears is exceptional. [...] It's books just like Finn's Feather which can help us grown ups and parents broach those topics which we sometimes feel ill equipped to discuss." -Squishy Minnie Bookstore (Kyneton, Australia)
"The way the story is told, we learn of Hamish through Finn's eyes. Which isn't about his passing, but about fun, play, and how great he was. A warm and heartfelt take on the hard subject of death and loss." -The Reading Ninja
"...poignant. Yes, it's about a child grieving the loss of his brother, Hamish. But, perhaps more importantly, it's about processing that emotion as a child. About a friend who imagines what a gift from a departed love one might mean and about joy found even amidst heartache." -Miranda Rosbach, My Bookbloom
"An emotive and heartwarming tale, Finn's Feather...is a tender story of loss and love." -Sarah Yewman, Picture Books Blogger
