When I first spotted the hardback edition of this book in the shop and registered the title, my heart gave a sickening lurch. When I picked the book up and turned to page one, I almost collapsed in shock and grief. It took several minutes before I was composed enough to take the book to the tills. And I'm a grown man. But one who had loved Mog dearly for 30 years, regarded her as a sweet, funny friend, always there to cheer me up on the blackest of days. How could she be gone? When I got home and was able to read the book in a calmer manner, without worrying that my emotions would overwhelm me in public, I realised that the book is exquisite, so special, a volume to treasure. It was so brave of Judith Kerr to write this, and as a book to introduce the delicate subject of mortality to younger children, I can't see any way it could have been bettered. There's nothing here to scare or disturb little ones, but nor does it gloss over the realities. I just wonder if Kerr realised while writing this that it was just as likely that the kids would end up comforting the mums and dads?! (And like one of the previous reviewers, I've been wondering how Rumpus is getting along - I'd love to know!)