Gilbert's Cake is told from the heart by Emily Mir, with illustrations by Helen Nieuwendijk, in a one-of-a-kind picture book that belongs on every bookshelf.
"At Hattie’s house, there were four pairs of boots at the door. But there were five people in Hattie’s family."
It’s Gilbert’s seventh birthday. Hattie’s parents and twin brother set off over the sand dunes to watch the waves. But Hattie knows a birthday is not a birthday without a cake . . .
Introducing Gilbert’s Cake by Emily Mir and Helen Nieuwendijk
This deeply poignant story about celebrating a life – even when that life was brief – is both courageous and inspiring.
Written by Emily Mir, Gilbert's Cake was inspired by the author’s experience of stillbirth and raising two subsequent children.
Gilbert's Cake is a tender meditation on grief, love and family. The story follows the backyard adventures of a little girl who draws her family together in celebrating the brother she never got to meet.
32-page Hardcover Picture Book
Pre-order now- books available early August 2025
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Readers sharing about Gilbert’s Cake…
“Each family member in the story processes Gilbert’s anniversary in their own unique way, yet they find their way back to each other through the love they hold for Gilbert, and each other. This is such an important message around allowing each other to grieve individually, and continuing to turn towards each other in the process.”
— Ann-Maree Imrie, bereaved mother of Xavier Rocket; Stillbirth Foundation Australia ambassador; author of “You Could Have Been,” a picture book for bereaved parents
“The death of my baby was so overwhelming that articulating my own thoughts was hard enough. A special book like ‘Gilbert’s Cake’ would have been such a help, especially in the early years of my loss, in responding to the questions from my living children and supporting them in their grief.”
— Amanda Mitsios, bereaved mother of Zachary; social worker
“Much love and hope has been poured into this book; it is a heartwarming and comforting story that acknowledges all members of a family. It celebrates the creation of continuing bonds through traditions and embracing signs that remind family members of the child who has died.”
— Sara Grant – bereaved mother of Jesse and Bo; pregnancy and infant loss bereavement support worker
About Author Emily Mir
Emily’s first baby, Gilbert, was stillborn in 2010. Two years later, she and her husband welcomed Gilbert’s twin siblings. As young children, the twins wanted a party, complete with balloons and a cake, to mark Gilbert's birthday. Though it was painful at first, an annual tradition began.
After working with families who have experienced miscarriage and stillbirth, Emily was inspired to share her family’s story of love, loss and pelicans.
As a counsellor and bereaved mother, Emily hopes that this story sparks joy and love and speaks to the importance of connection and holistic ways of healing in the face of loss and trauma.
Emily is a social worker who lives with her family and pet rabbit in Willunga, South Australia.
Helen has studied painting, drawing and sculpture at art schools in South Australia and New York, holds a Masters in Visual Arts, and has taught at tertiary level as well as privately mentoring adults and children.
The delight of picture books, however, has always captured Helen's fancy: reading, holding, collecting, enjoying them and now, illustrating them.
Helen lives in South Australia. Gilbert's Cake is her first picture book. Helen has always had a deep understanding of Emily’s story and has made the most stunning interpretation of it through her beautiful art work.
About Illustrator
Helen Nieuwendijk
About Gilded Snail
Gilded Snail co-publishes the best of picture-book art, fable, and metaphor by providing the platform, expertise and infrastructure that help transform the pain of individual experience into the universal language of illustrated stories.
Margrete Lamond is the award-winning children's book publisher behind the imprint.
Gilded Snail is where personal stories grow wings to fly into the hearts of others whose own stories are too heavy to tell, but who long for their story to be heard.
It takes a village to raise a family, and a community to publish a book. Together, we made it happen!
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