Narratives of Nature weaves art, storytelling, and the natural world. Gently guiding healing, hope, and understanding after loss.
Narratives of Nature weaves art, storytelling, and the natural world. Gently guiding healing, hope, and understanding after loss.
‘Elegy for an Elephant’ is an award-winning, trauma-informed, clinician-reviewed picture book for children aged 7+ and their support networks, addressing suicide bereavement with sensitivity, artistry and hope.
Elegy for an Elephant is a picture book I’ve authored, illustrated and independently published in loving memory of my father, Joel Abramowitz – a gentle giant. It was born from my family’s journey to repair and heal after his death by suicide, and from my own struggle to make sense of such a profound loss.
In the early shadow of his passing, I longed for a story like this—something gentle and poetic, that could help me move toward understanding and acceptance. This book is the offering I needed then. Now, through my lived experience, I know just how much it can support others navigating the same terrain.
Crafted as a trauma-informed, therapeutic resource for readers aged 7+, Elegy for an Elephant follows three children – Wonder the whale, Grace the swallow, and Hope the dove – on a journey between the sea and stars as they seek their father’s soul. Told through metaphor and animal allegories, the story is designed to open safe, non-triggering conversations around grief, love, and the shapes healing can take.
While the story gently touches on suicide, its deeper message is universal: how we carry loss, and how – through connection, courage and care – we begin to find our way forward and honour the legacies of the dearly departed.
Winner, ‘Author/Illustrator’ US Northern Lights Book Awards 2023
Shortlist, ‘UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing’, New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards 2024
Winner, ‘Small Press Children’s Picture Books’ Nautilus Book Awards 2024
Elegy for an Elephant is a picture book I’ve authored, illustrated and independently published in loving memory of my father, Joel Abramowitz – a gentle giant. It was born from my family’s journey to repair and heal after his death by suicide, and from my own struggle to make sense of such a profound loss.
In the early shadow of his passing, I longed for a story like this—something gentle and poetic, that could help me move toward understanding and acceptance. This book is the offering I needed then. Now, through my lived experience, I know just how much it can support others navigating the same terrain.
Crafted as a trauma-informed, therapeutic resource for readers aged 7+, Elegy for an Elephant follows three children – Wonder the whale, Grace the swallow, and Hope the dove – on a journey between the sea and stars as they seek their father’s soul. Told through metaphor and animal allegories, the story is designed to open safe, non-triggering conversations around grief, love, and the shapes healing can take.
While the story gently touches on suicide, its deeper message is universal: how we carry loss, and how – through connection, courage and care – we begin to find our way forward and honour the legacies of the dearly departed.
As 18 symbolises life in my faith, 18% of profits from this book will be split evenly between Lifeline, Movember and Support After Suicide Services proudly supporting their meaningful work in suicide prevention and bereavement support.
This book has been peer reviewed by members of the mental health care community including children psychologists, psychotherapists, suicide bereavement specialists, grief counsellors, therapists and other mental health care support workers. It is with their ongoing thoughtful and considered advice, the manuscript has been refined to ensure it fulfils it’s objective of being a healing resource that handles this subject matter gently and sensitively.
The artwork in this book was painted with watercolours, pencils, sea salt and sea water sourced from Sydney, Melbourne, Aireys Inlet and Cape Town.
“A touching, heartfelt book, Elegy for an Elephant is a poignant, impressive debut. Abramowitz handles the heavy subject matter deftly. Lyrical language sensitively navigates an emotional topic. It is a hard story to tell. It carries the soothing message that you are not alone… and demonstrates the power of stories in allowing us to better understand how others feel, as well as giving a voice to those who are hurting.”
– New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards 2024 Judges’ Comments
“Elegy for an Elephant is a brave work that deserves the widest possible readership. It deals with the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide with a lightness and a poignancy that renders it both deeply moving and richly uplifting. The illustrations are delicate and luminous, it is a beautiful work.”
– Matt Ottley, author of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness
“Young grievers, and those of all ages, dealing with the painful, confusing, loss of a loved one to suicide, will feel gently held and supported by Ryan’s thoughtful words. On each page exquisite illustrations drawn from the natural world unfold, inviting the reader to breath into the possibility of healing and hope for the future.”
– Dr Diana Sands PhD, Director, Centre for Intense Grief, Sydney Author of Red Chocolate Elephants for Children Bereaved by Suicide
“Supported and endorsed by child grief professionals, this book fills a vital gap in helping children to understand – and to navigate – their own grief and loss. The illustrations, with their unusual beauty, ignited my sense of awe. I poured over the landscapes with their varied perspectives and points of view for a long, long time. This book reached straight into my heart (in the best way), and it’s possible that I won’t ever be quite the same again.”
– Elizabeth Vercoe, Kids Book Review, author of The Grief Book
“I find it inspiring that through this offering, Ryan is able to recycle such a tough life event into something meaningful, beautiful and poetic; which in turn will help others.”
Winner, ‘Author/Illustrator’, Northern Lights Book Awards 2023
Winner, ‘Small Press Children’s Picture Book’, Nautilus Book Awards 2024
Shortlist, ‘UTS Glenda Adams Award for Outstanding New Writing’, New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards 2024
Winner, ‘Nature Books’, Literary Global Children’s Book Awards 2024
Finalist, ‘Parenting and Family’, Literary Global Children’s Book Awards 2024
Finalist, ‘Death & Dying’, National Indie Excellence Awards 2024
Roses in the Ocean Community Grant Recipient 2022
City of Port Phillip Cultural Development Fund Recipient 2022
Presentation, International Assosiation of Suicide Prevention World Congress 2025
As 18 symbolises life in my faith, 18% of profits from this book will be split evenly between Lifeline, Movember and Support After Suicide Services proudly supporting their meaningful work in suicide prevention and bereavement support.
This book has been peer reviewed by members of the mental health care community including children psychologists, psychotherapists, suicide bereavement specialists, grief counsellors, therapists and other mental health care support workers. It is with their ongoing thoughtful and considered advice, the manuscript has been refined to ensure it fulfils it’s objective of being a healing resource that handles this subject matter gently and sensitively.
The artwork in this book was painted with watercolours, pencils, sea salt and sea water sourced from Sydney, Melbourne, Aireys Inlet and Cape Town.
“A touching, heartfelt book, Elegy for an Elephant is a poignant, impressive debut. Abramowitz handles the heavy subject matter deftly. Lyrical language sensitively navigates an emotional topic. It is a hard story to tell. It carries the soothing message that you are not alone… and demonstrates the power of stories in allowing us to better understand how others feel, as well as giving a voice to those who are hurting.”
– New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards 2024 Judges’ Comments
“Elegy for an Elephant is a brave work that deserves the widest possible readership. It deals with the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide with a lightness and a poignancy that renders it both deeply moving and richly uplifting. The illustrations are delicate and luminous, it is a beautiful work.”
– Matt Ottley, author of The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness
“Young grievers, and those of all ages, dealing with the painful, confusing, loss of a loved one to suicide, will feel gently held and supported by Ryan’s thoughtful words. On each page exquisite illustrations drawn from the natural world unfold, inviting the reader to breath into the possibility of healing and hope for the future.”
– Dr Diana Sands PhD, Director, Centre for Intense Grief, Sydney Author of Red Chocolate Elephants for Children Bereaved by Suicide
“Supported and endorsed by child grief professionals, this book fills a vital gap in helping children to understand – and to navigate – their own grief and loss. The illustrations, with their unusual beauty, ignited my sense of awe. I poured over the landscapes with their varied perspectives and points of view for a long, long time. This book reached straight into my heart (in the best way), and it’s possible that I won’t ever be quite the same again.”
– Elizabeth Vercoe, Kids Book Review, author of The Grief Book
“I find it inspiring that through this offering, Ryan is able to recycle such a tough life event into something meaningful, beautiful and poetic; which in turn will help others.”
Winner, ‘Author/Illustrator’, Northern Lights Book Awards 2023
Winner, ‘Small Press Children’s Picture Book’, Nautilus Book Awards 2024
Shortlist, ‘UTS Glenda Adams Award for Outstanding New Writing’, New South Wales Premier’s Literary Awards 2024
Winner, ‘Nature Books’, Literary Global Children’s Book Awards 2024
Finalist, ‘Parenting and Family’, Literary Global Children’s Book Awards 2024
Finalist, ‘Death & Dying’, National Indie Excellence Awards 2024
Roses in the Ocean Community Grant Recipient 2022
City of Port Phillip Cultural Development Fund Recipient 2022
Presentation, International Assosiation of Suicide Prevention World Congress 2025
Elegy for an Elephant is currently being used in grief centres, mental health settings, and school communities across Australia. Elegy for an Elephant is available for bulk orders, translation, rights acquisitions, partnerships and integration into mental health campaigns. Ryan is available for speaking engagements, lived experience panels and grief-informed art workshops.
Get in touch here.
Released World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September 2023) to raise awareness and honour loved ones lost to suicide.
I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians and Owners upon whose land and waterways this story was imagined and created. I pay my respects to Elders – past, present and emerging, and recognise their ongoing connection to telling stories on Country.
‘Elegy for an Elephant’ is an imprint of Narratives of Nature, est. 2023.
ISBN 978-0-6458021-9-1