Hillary Clinton's recovery from such a bruising election is being helped by a six-year-old boy who left signs at the bottom of her street praising her as an "American hero".

The former Democrat nominee and Secretary of State returned to her home in Chappaqua, New York to find signs of encouragement, support and thanks for her presidential campaign efforts.

Upset Ms Clinton had lost to Donald Trump, Liam and his mother then rallied the efforts family friends to pay tribute to her in a montage moments from her front door, according to Politico.

Hillary Clinton in quotes Show all 11 1 /11 Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton After losing the 2016 election: 'To all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.' Getty Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On running for President in 2016: 'I'm going to decide when it feels right for me to decide. ... certainly not before then [the end of 2014].' AP Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On the Monica Lewinsky affair: 'It’s liberating to be able to reach the point in your life where you feel you can forgive. Everybody feels they have been trespassed upon and nearly everybody has trespassed on somebody else, maybe not intentionally.' Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On news and hair: 'If I want to knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle.' Getty Images Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On being asked which fashion designers she preferred: 'Would you ever ask a man that question?' Getty Images Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On equality: 'Well I'm very conscious of how important it is for us to shatter that glass ceiling in my country. A country that has done so much for so many women and really has set the standard for women's rights and responsibilities, and I do want to see that glass ceiling shattered.' Getty Images Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On not winning in 2008: 'I think because I really didn't have a good strategy for my campaign. I didn't plan it the right way. ... As a candidate who was already so well known ... I don't think I ever said, 'Yes, you may have known me for eight years, but I don't take anything for granted. I have to earn your support.' Getty Images Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On self-confidence 'You have to be true to yourself. You have to be enough in touch with who you are and what you want, how you want to live and what's important to you, to make your decisions based on that. Sometimes that's very difficult.' AP Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On 9/11: 'Every nation has to either be with us, or against us. Those who harbor terrorists, or who finance them, are going to pay a price.' Getty Images Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On women around the world: 'If women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. And when families flourish, communities and nations will flourish.' Getty Images Hillary Clinton in quotes Hillary Clinton On her political life: ‘I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession which I entered before my husband was in public life.’ Getty Images

“Liam said there ‘should be lots and lots of signs’ because ‘she’s probably even sadder than me’”, his mother reportedly said in a note sent to friends calling for help. “So he wants to go back and leave lots of signs on Thanksgiving to say thank you, show support, love and encouragement.”

Ms Clinton was clearly touched by the gesture and shared a picture of the "heartwarming" signs on Twitter on Thursday.

The 69-year-old has largely been absent from the public eye since her shock defeat just over a fortnight ago.

Aside from one speech where she spoke of the temptation to retreat into herself and “curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again”, Ms Clinton has only been spotted by supporters in everyday situations including hiking with her dogs and visiting bookstores, posing for pictures with fans that later went viral.