Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Annelie Geissler
Categories
Children’s picture books

UNDER ANNA'S UMBRELLA

Amanda Driscoll Luisa Uribe

When a loved one dies, grief can isolate us as if we're hiding under an umbrella of sadness. This touching and wise story will comfort the readers who need it most.

Anna never goes anywhere without her umbrella. Not since the stormy day of her father's funeral. Under her umbrella, she feels safesafe to be angry and sad. She refuses to put away her umbrella no matter the weather, both outside and in. And then one rainy day she notices a boy getting drenched, and when she invites him under the umbrella with her, things begin to change.

This heartfelt story explores how grief, like an umbrella, protects us, but also blocks light from our lives. However, with time and healing and help from a friend, we can lower our umbrella to see the sun. And maybe even a rainbow.

Amanda Driscoll was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, where she grew up drawing horses. Her love of art led her to Murray State University, where she received a degree in Fine Art and Graphic Design. She now works as a designer and children's book author/illustrator, and lives with her family outside of Louisville.

Luisa Uribe is an illustrator and designer of children's media. She graduated as a Graphic Designer from the National University of Colombia and has an MA in Art and Design from Loughborough University. She received the Founder's Award from the Society of Illustrators for her first picture book, The Vast Wonder of the World. Luisa lives in Bogotá, Colombia with her partner and two cats.

Available products
Book Published 2025-04-22 by Rocky Pond Books

Comments

Evocative and somber digital illustrations have a unified color palette that lightens as Anna connects with a new friend and begins to reemerge into the world. The spare language creates space for the book to be read on many levelsthrough the lens of how grief affects day-to-day life but also as a story about letting go of attachment objects, making a friend, and doing things at your own pace.

Anna's story begins with a sudden rainstorm that leaves her family drenched. Protected by her umbrella, she decides she'll never be without it again. As days turn into weeks, Anna carries the umbrella everywherebaseball games, classrooms, and beyondeven when it inconveniences others. Then, during another rainstorm, she meets a boy who shares her umbrella and helps her rediscover joy. Slowly, Anna realizes she no longer needs the umbrella as a shield. This poignant picture book uses simple, effective text to capture young readers' attention. While the metaphor of the umbrella as Anna's grief might resonate more with older children or adults, the emotional journey is clear and relatable. The digital illustrations are soft and evocative, subtly emphasizing Anna's hidden emotions, like the absence of her eyesa detail her mother lovingly mentions. Ultimately, this story offers a gentle reminder that sadness and anger, though powerful, are not permanent. It's an affirming message for children experiencing grief, especially after the loss of a parent. A moving and beautifully illustrated picture book, recommended for addressing themes of grief and healing with young readers.

A child struggling with loss can't let go. Amid the lashing rain, Anna and her family stand somewhat apart from a group of mourners in a cemetery, each holding an umbrella. The titular accessory becomes a symbol for grief as Anna refuses to put it down, holding it over her head in school, at ballet practice, and in the stands of a baseball game. The spotted red canopy initially makes Anna feel safe, but as those around her try different ways of coaxing her out, she experiences anger and loneliness. Finally, another rainstorm convinces her to share her umbrella with a new friend, Henry, and eventually she decides to put it away for good.the umbrella makes for a tangible representation of the isolation and frustration that often accompany loss. The appropriately muted, uncluttered artwork sets a somber tone; Uribe has opted not to fully show Anna's face until she meets Henryan effective way to convey her feelings of alienation.