Publication Date: 12 March 2026

The Blurb

From the author of Michael Rosen’s Sad Book comes a moving story of loss and acceptance.

Michael’s son Eddie has died. But does that mean he has really gone?

Michael decides to go and look for him. Visiting the places they went together and speaking to his friends and siblings, he discovers how Eddie is alive in their memories. Eddie is still here.

The Review

I spent half-term with my Dad, where we spoke of my Mam often. It’s our way of keeping her close, keeping her here, with us in the only way we now can. And I often catch Dad chatting to his black and white cat about Mam when he doesn’t realise I’m watching. Just from looking at the cover, I knew this was going to be an emotionally hard read, but I knew also, it would be just as rewarding.

Michael Rosen has an incredible gift for speaking directly to the heart without ever feeling heavy-handed, and Where Are You, Eddie? is perhaps his most honest work yet. It serves as a beautiful companion to Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, but where that book focused on the weight of sadness, this one focuses on the gentle process of seeking and finding a way to live with loss.

The text is deceptively simple, allowing the emotional honesty of Michael’s lived experience to shine through. It doesn’t offer easy answers or platitudes; instead, it provides a vital roadmap for children (and adults) navigating the confusing where of death.

Gill Smith’s illustrations are a perfect match for the tone of the story. They are infused with warmth and a delicate sensitivity that captures the brightness of Eddie’s life while acknowledging the quiet spaces left behind.

The inclusion of an afterword by Michael adds a touching layer of reality to the book, grounding the story in a way that feels incredibly supportive for families dealing with their own bereavement.

This is a tender, essential book that approaches the concept of acceptance not as an end point, but as a continuous journey of remembering. It is a powerful tool for classrooms and homes alike, showing us all that a loved one is never truly gone as long as we keep their memory close.

Huge thanks to Walkers Books for sending me a finished copy.