The Rough Patch (book)

The Rough Patch is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Brian Lies. Published in 2018, the story explores themes of grief, loss, forgiveness, and reconciliation through the anthropomorphic characters of a farmer named Evan and his dog.

The narrative focuses on the strong bond between Evan and his dog and their shared love of gardening. When a sudden loss occurs, Evan is overcome with grief and builds a large, thorny fence to separate himself from the world and his garden. He allows the garden to become overgrown with weeds, creating "the rough patch." The story follows Evan's journey through his grief and his eventual path towards healing and reconnection with his community and himself, eventually finding a way to transform the rough patch.

The book is noted for its use of metaphor and visual storytelling to convey complex emotions in a way that is accessible to children. Critical reception of The Rough Patch has been generally positive, with reviewers praising its sensitive handling of difficult topics and its impactful illustrations.