Beyond the Setting Sun
A story to help children understand feelings of grief
Published on 19. September 2025
Book
Hardback
32 pages
978-1-915748-25-6 (ISBN)
Description
Shortlisted for The Week Junior Book Awards 2026 - Wellness category.
A picture story book about bereavement to support young children, specifically those who have lost a parent.
The waterholes of the African Savannah have dried up and there has not been enough to drink for some of the animals. Ekundayo, a young elephant, struggles to understand the loss of his mother, but the support of his family help and guide him through.
Based on careful research about the stages of grief for young children, Sarah J Dodd sensitively portrays the response and actions of Ekundayo to help children express and share how they are feeling with those around them. Ekundayo's aunt and father provide words of understanding, reassurance and comfort, and the message that the love of Ekundayo's mother shines on, telling of a greater Love that they may not see but never goes away and is everywhere.
At the end, Debbie Duncan also provides helpful advice for parents and carers as they consider how to talk about death and dying with young children.
If you are looking for a compassionate tool to help young children navigate the emotions of losing a parent, Beyond the Setting Sun offers a heartfelt story and practical guidance to make sense of grief with love and understanding.
A picture story book about bereavement to support young children, specifically those who have lost a parent.
The waterholes of the African Savannah have dried up and there has not been enough to drink for some of the animals. Ekundayo, a young elephant, struggles to understand the loss of his mother, but the support of his family help and guide him through.
Based on careful research about the stages of grief for young children, Sarah J Dodd sensitively portrays the response and actions of Ekundayo to help children express and share how they are feeling with those around them. Ekundayo's aunt and father provide words of understanding, reassurance and comfort, and the message that the love of Ekundayo's mother shines on, telling of a greater Love that they may not see but never goes away and is everywhere.
At the end, Debbie Duncan also provides helpful advice for parents and carers as they consider how to talk about death and dying with young children.
If you are looking for a compassionate tool to help young children navigate the emotions of losing a parent, Beyond the Setting Sun offers a heartfelt story and practical guidance to make sense of grief with love and understanding.
Reviews / Votes
"A great little read for young learners. It kept mine captivated from the start. Both myself and my children really enjoyed this real. It was a lovely story and I can't wait to read it to my class when we return to school." -- Clara C, Educator (Netgalley) "This is a sensitive and heartwarming little story about a baby elephant, and his family who help him to accept the death of his mother. It is about deep love, and how support and understanding can help someone to come to terms with, and overcome, grief. The book is very well written and the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Every parent should read the advice for parents and carers that comes at the end of the book. Truly wonderful!" -- Carole K (Netgalley) "As a family who've very recently suffered loss and looked for books to help our four year old understand a little more, this book is perfect. It's gentle both in words and illustrations. Often books about death can be quite dark in their palette, yet Beyond the Setting Sun is rich and warm. It's filled with the love of friends and family to help you through difficult times. I'd very much recommend this book to help talk to children about death." -- Lisa G (Netgalley) "This beautiful book is an utter joy. It approaches the difficult subject of parental loss in such a beautiful, engaging way and I can see it becoming a go to book for teachers and those working with young children." -- Suzie A (Netgalley)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
SPCK Publishing
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 4 to 7 years
Illustrations
32pp colour illustration
Dimensions
Height: 221 mm
Width: 267 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight
336 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-915748-25-6 (9781915748256)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
10/2021
Lion Children's Books
€13.50
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Sarah J. Dodd (Author)
Sarah J. Dodd grew up in the north of England and spent her time walking with her family, reading as many books as she could get her hands on, or dreaming about horses. Her first career was in Science, with a degree in Environmental Science and a PhD in Plant Ecology. Then she discovered her passion for working with children and became a primary school teacher. After living in Australia for a while, she returned to the UK andsettled in Lancashire, where she still lives. When she became a full-time mum, she began to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an author, and her first book was published in 2008. A lover of mountains, maps andmysterious paths, she will try anything once and loves to get her handsand clothes dirty in the name of fun and adventure. She is the author ofBeyond The Setting Sun, Just Like You, The Lion Picture Bible and Legs.
Debbie Duncan (Contributor)
Debbie Duncan is an advanced nurse practitioner and lecturer in nursing; a church leader and minister's wife. She is married to Rev Malcolm Duncan and has a busy family life that includes being mum to their four grown up children.
She is the author of Brave, The Art of Daily Resilience, and The God Cares series.Debbie is also an author of over fifty professional nursing journal articles and two text books in nursing. She writes on a range of issues thatoften reflect her professional life and personal faith.
Cee Biscoe (Illustrator)
Cee is an illustrator of picture books. She is the illustrator of Beyond the Setting Sun. Cee was encouraged to draw from an early age and in her teens, she studied Graphic Design and began a tentative career in illustration whilst still at college by designing punk record covers and goth stationery! Several years later, she decided to focus on drawing again and left her office job to concentrate on illustration. In2008 she gained an MA in Children's Book Illustration and since then has worked on over 40 picture books and board books for publishers all around the world! She loves nature and especially creepy crawly things(which often turn up in her pictures) and in her spare time enjoys music, walking in the wilds and looking after her Wormery! You can learn more about Cee at her website, www.ceebiscoe.co.uk/.
Sarah J. Dodd grew up in the north of England and spent her time walking with her family, reading as many books as she could get her hands on, or dreaming about horses. Her first career was in Science, with a degree in Environmental Science and a PhD in Plant Ecology. Then she discovered her passion for working with children and became a primary school teacher. After living in Australia for a while, she returned to the UK andsettled in Lancashire, where she still lives. When she became a full-time mum, she began to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an author, and her first book was published in 2008. A lover of mountains, maps andmysterious paths, she will try anything once and loves to get her handsand clothes dirty in the name of fun and adventure. She is the author ofBeyond The Setting Sun, Just Like You, The Lion Picture Bible and Legs.
Debbie Duncan (Contributor)
Debbie Duncan is an advanced nurse practitioner and lecturer in nursing; a church leader and minister's wife. She is married to Rev Malcolm Duncan and has a busy family life that includes being mum to their four grown up children.
She is the author of Brave, The Art of Daily Resilience, and The God Cares series.Debbie is also an author of over fifty professional nursing journal articles and two text books in nursing. She writes on a range of issues thatoften reflect her professional life and personal faith.
Cee Biscoe (Illustrator)
Cee is an illustrator of picture books. She is the illustrator of Beyond the Setting Sun. Cee was encouraged to draw from an early age and in her teens, she studied Graphic Design and began a tentative career in illustration whilst still at college by designing punk record covers and goth stationery! Several years later, she decided to focus on drawing again and left her office job to concentrate on illustration. In2008 she gained an MA in Children's Book Illustration and since then has worked on over 40 picture books and board books for publishers all around the world! She loves nature and especially creepy crawly things(which often turn up in her pictures) and in her spare time enjoys music, walking in the wilds and looking after her Wormery! You can learn more about Cee at her website, www.ceebiscoe.co.uk/.