There are books that entertain us, books that inform us, and then there are books that hold us gently whilst whispering truths we’ve always needed to hear. Kim-Adele Randall’s Always with You is undoubtedly the latter.

When Kim-Adele asked me to read her debut children’s book, I wasn’t prepared for just how deeply it would reach into the quiet corners of my own heart. As someone who has spent years supporting others through their grief journeys via “Frankie’s Legacy” after the loss of my only son to stillbirth in November 2013, I thought I understood the landscape of loss. What I didn’t expect was to find myself reflected in young Scarlett’s story, seeing the child I once was, desperately searching for signs that love doesn’t simply vanish when people do.

A Story That Transcends Age

Whilst Always with You is beautifully crafted for young readers navigating loss, its wisdom speaks to all of us. Scarlett, our bright and curious protagonist, embarks on a journey many of us know too well: learning to live with the ache of missing someone whilst discovering they haven’t truly left at all. Accompanied by her faithful companions, Pudding the cockapoo and Lenny the well-loved lion, Scarlett learns to recognise love in its transformed states: in ladybirds and dragonflies, in feathers floating on the breeze, in the steady light of stars.

The genius of Kim-Adele’s writing lies in her ability to make these moments feel neither forced nor saccharine. When Scarlett’s mum tells her that “love like theirs never really leaves us, it just changes shape,” it resonates with a truth that feels earned rather than prescribed. This is grief rendered with honesty and hope in equal measure.

The Magic of Being Still

What struck me most powerfully was the book’s invitation to stillness. In our hyperconnected world, where notifications demand our attention and productivity is prized above presence, Always with You reminds us that magic lives in the moments we pause long enough to notice. Whether it’s a ladybird landing gently on a knee or a feather twirling down from the sky, these small wonders become profound when we’re present enough to receive them.

This message feels particularly vital for neurodivergent children (and adults) who often experience the world with heightened sensitivity and awareness. The book validates that deep noticing, that ability to find meaning in the minute, as a gift rather than something to be hurried past.

A Trauma-Informed Approach to Grief

As someone who applies trauma-informed approaches in my professional work, I deeply appreciate how Kim-Adele Randall has crafted a narrative that allows space for all the complicated feelings that accompany loss. Scarlett doesn’t just miss her Bomps and Auntie Tina; she feels it in her tummy, she wishes for comfort, she needs reassurance. The book doesn’t rush past these difficult emotions or attempt to fix them with platitudes. Instead, it models healthy ways of holding grief whilst still moving forward.

The lullaby Scarlett’s mum sings each night is particularly moving: “You are my sunshine, you light the darkest night/Having you is my proudest moment, everything you do delights.” These words don’t just comfort Scarlett; they affirm her inherent worth regardless of achievement or circumstance. For any child who has experienced trauma, abuse, or the conditional love of narcissistic caregivers (something I am acutely and painfully aware of), this message of unconditional belonging is revolutionary.

I wish I’d had this book as a child navigating my own complex family dynamics. To have read that I was loved not for what I did or how I performed, but simply for existing, for being me, might have changed something fundamental about how I saw myself.

The Wisdom of Granny

One of my favourite passages comes during Scarlett’s evening with her Granny, stargazing and reflecting on Bomps. Granny shares: “Life isn’t really about racing to the end. It’s about noticing the moments, learning something new every day, and living each one like it matters. Because it does.”

In our achievement-obsessed culture this reminder could not be more relevant. We’re so often focused on the next certification, the next role, the next milestone, that we forget to inhabit the lives we’re actually living. Granny’s wisdom applies equally to a child learning to navigate loss and to an adult professional learning to navigate the relentless pace of modern work.

For Parents, For Children, For All of Us

Always with You is ostensibly a book for children dealing with grief, but its reach extends far beyond that specific audience. It’s a book for:

  • Parents navigating their own grief whilst trying to support their children through loss
  • Adults who never received the gentle reassurance that love persists beyond death
  • Anyone seeking permission to slow down and notice the small miracles surrounding us
  • Those of us learning that vulnerability and tenderness are strengths, not weaknesses
  • People discovering that their own magic lies not in perfection but in their “brave heart and beautiful curiosity”

The illustrations throughout the book are tender and evocative, capturing the warmth of family connection and the quiet beauty of nature’s messages. They complement the text perfectly, creating a reading experience that feels like being wrapped in a soft blanket on a difficult day.

A Personal Note

Reading this book reminded me why I do the work I do, both in cyber security and in supporting others through grief, loss and trauma. At its core, all meaningful work is about connection: helping people feel seen, safe, and supported. Whether I’m creating accessible security awareness training or holding space for someone in grief, the fundamental human need is the same. We all need to know we’re not alone. We all need reminders that we carry love within us, even when it feels impossibly far away.

Kim-Adele has created something truly special with Always with You. It’s a book that will sit on bedside tables and be returned to again and again, not just in moments of loss, but whenever we need reminding that we are, as Scarlett’s mum tells her, “Made of stardust and sunshine.”

Final Thoughts

In a world that often feels fractured and overwhelming, Always with You offers a gentle hand to hold. It reminds us that grief and love are not opposites but companions, that our loved ones remain woven through our days in ways both subtle and profound, and that paying attention to the small, quiet moments is perhaps the most radical act we can undertake.

Kim-Adele Randall, thank you for creating this beautiful book. Thank you for your vulnerability in sharing something so personal, and for trusting readers to receive it with the tenderness it deserves. I have no doubt that Always with You will find its way into the hearts and homes of countless families who need exactly this message.

To those reading this review: whether you’re navigating loss, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking a reminder that love transcends all boundaries, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Keep tissues nearby, keep your heart open, and prepare to be gently transformed.

Rating: 5/5 stars

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Always with You by Kim-Adele Randall is published by Austin Macauley Publishers and available now. It’s a book I’ll be recommending widely and returning to whenever I need reminding of what truly matters.

Buy from Amazon or Austin Macauley Publishers.