The Heart And The Bottle Jeffers

A curious girl finds wonder everywhere until a painful loss leads her to place her heart somewhere she believes it will be safe. But keeping hurt at a distance also changes her ability to enjoy the world. Oliver Jeffers's thoughtful picture story uses a memorable visual metaphor to explore grief, emotional protection and the possibility of rediscovering connection, with space for gentle conversation rather than easy answers.

Age suitability and learning: Preschool (3-5), Primary (6-8). The illustrated story suits shared reading with younger children and more independent exploration as reading grows. Following events encourages prediction, sequencing and vocabulary; discussing the characters gives children practice recognising feelings and considering other perspectives.

Available at QT Toys in Battersea.