Dudley’s bag

A Story of Grief and Healing
Open Kimono Publishing

When someone we love is gone, the feelings we carry don’t just disappear, they shape us in ways words sometimes can’t reach. Dudley’s Bag is a tender, beautifully illustrated story about loss, memory, and slowly learning how to move forward. 

In the book, grief arrives in Dudley’s life as a heavy, invisible bag, one that only he can feel. Some days it feels impossibly heavy; other days, lighter but still there. At school, no one else notices Dudley’s burden, until he realises that others carry bags of their own too. By helping a friend with theirs, Dudley learns that while the bag may always be part of him, it can become easier to carry, and so can his heart. 

Written and illustrated in simple, heartfelt language with warm, expressive artwork, this story is designed to help young readers (and the adults with them) explore big feelings with care and empathy. It opens a gentle space for conversations about emotions, loss, and connection, and reminds us that love and grief often walk side by side. 

Perfect for parents, caregivers, teachers and young readers who want a comforting companion through the experience of loss, Dudley’s Bag offers reassurance that even the heaviest bags can feel lighter with time, kindness and understanding..

Links to order:
Waterstones
Amazon