Petra and the Brightest Star
A story about loss and bereavement
 
“Tell me all about the brightest star,” Mr Moon says to Petra. “It sounds like she was very special.”
 
When the star fades away, Petra wonders how being a planet in the sky could ever feel happy again. With Mr Moon’s help, she slowly learns that even when someone is no longer here in the same way, the brightest star can still shine brightly in her heart.
Join Petra, Mr Moon, and our mascot Rags, as she gently discovers ways to hold onto love, memories, and connection—even through grief and change.
 
Petra and the Brightest Star is part of the Challenges Collection (red) and has been thoughtfully written to gently reflect the experience of loss and grief, helping young children feel understood, supported, and less alone when someone they love has died.
Written by Gillian Murgatroyd, a children's psychotherapist specialising in play and creative arts therapy, this story has been designed to support emotional understanding through play, imagination, and connection.
 
Each book in the Emotions at Play series also includes:
A simple science experiment linked to the story
A game for connection to help strengthen relationships between child and caregiver
A creative art activity
A hands-on craft idea
Gentle sensory play suggestions
Fun facts and jokes woven throughout for lightness and engagement
But the story doesn’t end there…
At the back of every book, you’ll find a QR code that leads to additional support materials created for the adults around the child. These include:
Information about the specific emotional theme the story explores
Practical tips and strategies that Gillian would typically share with parents, carers, teachers, and therapists in her own clinical practice
Guidance to help support emotional understanding at home, in schools, or in therapy settings
Free downloads - Star and heart breathing board 
The books are illustrated by Sarah-Leigh Wills, an award-winning illustrator who has created hundreds of children’s books, bringing Petra’s world to life with warmth, colour, and imagination.
 
The Emotions at Play series combines therapeutic storytelling, playful connection, and real-world support for families and professionals—helping children make sense of their feelings in a safe, creative, and meaningful way.