The Healing Book Facing the Death and Celebrating the Life of Someone You Love

Author: Ellen Sabin
Type or emotional/crisis issue addressed: Death and Loss
Year of Publication: 2006
Publisher and Location: Watering Can, China
ISBN# 097598683
Target Age Level: Elementary
# of Pages: 63
Quality of Illustrations: Good
Brief Summary: This book is set up like a work book, the child can read through with an adult or independently. It helps them identify what they’re feeling after someone they love died. It lets them know that whatever they’re feeling is okay. They can write down their questions about death, where people go, what happens after they die, etc. Then it goes through remembering the person who died. The child can make a scrapbook about the person who died. They can include different memories including pictures or stories. It also offers some ways to feel better, and gives space for a journal for the child to express themselves.
Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: It’s a great book that could really help a child process the loss of someone they loved.
Activity: Work through the book with a child. It may take some time. Let the child work through the book at their speed.

When a Pet Dies

Title: When a Pet Dies

Author: Fred Rogers

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death of a pet

Year of Publication: 1998

Publisher & Location: Penguin Group

ISBN#: 9780698116665

Target Age Level: Preschool, early elementary

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: photographs

Brief Summary: This book is written by Fred Rogers from Mr. Roger's neighborhood and explains the emotions that a child may experience when a loved pet dies. The book reassures the child that their feelings will get better.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book: none

Post Reading Activities: Have the child draw a picture of their pet or retell and write a story about one of their favorite memories with their pet. Discuss how they feel and provide comfort and reassurance.

Goodnight, Mr. Tom

Author: Michelle Magorian

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Abuse, War, Loss, Adoption

Year of Publication: 1981

Publisher & Location: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. New York

ISBN#:0-06-440174-X

Target Age Level: Junior High, High School

# of Pages: 318

Quality of Illustrations: NA

Brief Summary: William comes from an abusive home during world war II and is placed as an evacuee with a man whom he calls Mr.Tom. Mr. Tom is struggling with the loss of his wife and later on both experience another loss of a loved one.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: One scene in the book becomes very descriptive which may be too much for a student who still is or recently has been in an abusive home.

Activities: Discuss some challenges that may come from being in an abusive home/a loss and how over time the pain gets softer (sea glass analogy).

My Grandfather's Blessings: Stories of Strength, Refuge and Belonging

Author: Rachel Naomi Remen, M.D.

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death, Illness

Year of Publication: 2001

Publisher & Location: Riverhead Trade

ISBN#:

1573228567 (isbn13: 9781573228565)

Target Age Level: Young Adult, Adult, High School

# of Pages: 400

Quality of Illustrations: none

Brief Summary: When doctor and author Rachel Naomi Remen was young, she was caught between two different views of life: that of her rabbi grandfather and that of her highly academic, research-oriented parents, who believed religion was the opiate of the masses. As Remen gravitated toward academics and serving the world as a medical doctor, her grandfather became an "island of mysticism in a vast sea of science." But over time, Remen discovered that two seemingly divergent paths could lead to the same destination, especially as she learned to blend her spiritual beliefs with her medical treatment.

Remen uses the heart-rending stories of her patients to teach readers how to follow in her example, that is, combining a life of service with a life of receiving and giving blessings (a combination that avoids common problems such as burnout, self-sacrifice, and navel gazing). Remen also includes personal stories of her grandfather, who showered the world with his mystical beliefs and wizened blessings. --Gail Hudson

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: good book, deals with different types of loss. for older readers.

Activities:
Since it is for older readers, a discussion would probably suffice. Although each chapter is a different story and are typically not long, you could find one (the one about collectible toy cars is a good one to use) that you could do activities with.

Dog Heaven

Author: Cynthia Rylant

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death, loss

Year of Publication: 1995

Publisher & Location: The Blue Sky Press, New York

ISBN#: 0-590-41701-0

Target Age Level: Lower Elementary

# of Pages: 30

Quality of Illustrations: Excellent, colorful paintings done by the author; depiction of various ethnicities

Brief Summary: This book discusses where dogs go when they die: Dog Heaven. In Dog Heaven, God has created a place where dogs are taken care of by angel children, given as many dog biscuits as they want, can run free in the fields, and even visit the people they love back on earth from time to time. This is a great book to address the loss of a pet and is very positive and hopeful. All dogs are well taken care of and can stay there as long as they want, waiting for old friends.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: God is mentioned many times in connection with Dog Heaven, so consider children's religious beliefs before using this book.

Activities: Discuss children's experiences with losing a pet. Have children draw a picture or write and illustrate a short story about their own pet's heaven (e.g., Dog Heaven, Cat Heaven, Fish Heaven). Children may share their pictures/stories in small groups.

Goodbye Mousie

Author: Robie H. Harris

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death & Loss

Year of Publication: 2001

Publisher & Location: Margaret K. McElderry Books, NY

ISBN#: 0-689-83217-6

Target Age Level: Pre-K, Lower Elementary

# of Pages: 17

Quality of Illustrations: Very good

Brief Summary: This book is taken from a young boy’s perspective. He wakes up one morning and his pet mouse is dead. He briefly goes through grieving cycles and does great at labeling his emotions. With his family, they bury mouse with things to keep him safe and happy.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: Written with the support of teachers, children analysts and pediatricians. Winner of the Parent’s Guide Award.

Activities: This book is great at showing the grief cycle: denial, anger, sadness etc… It also helps in explaining that death does happen. Questions related to these could be asked, “How does he feel?”, “Why?”, “What made him feel better?”, “What could you do to feel better?” Decorate boxes with memorabilia (drawings, pictures etc…) and then bury them or put them in a safe place.

The Best Cat in the World

Author: Leslia Newman

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Loss and Grief-Possibly parent remarrying after the loss of a loved one

Year of Publication: 2004

Publisher & Location: Eerdmans Books, Michigan

ISBN#: 0-8028-5252-1

Target Age Level: Pre-K, Lower Elementary

# of Pages: 28

Quality of Illustrations: Good

Brief Summary: Victor loses his cat to death. His mom gets him a new one but he struggles with how different she is. He learns to remember his old cat but still sees all the wonderful different things that his new cat does and he grows to love her.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children:
Discuss with the student why it is okay to be sad when we lose someone we love and to remember what they used to do. Discuss how finding great and wonderful things in someone new doesn’t take love away for the first person, relating it directly to the situation.

Activities:
Have the students make a list or draw pictures of the things they liked about the person they lost, then have them do it for the new one (e.g. mother that left them or passed away etc… then the new step-mother).

I'll Always Love You

Author: Hans Wilhelm

Type or emotional/crisis issue(s) addressed: Death, loss, pets

Year of Publication: 1985

Publisher & Location: Scholastic; New York, NY

ISBN#: 978-0517556481

Target Age Level: Lower and Upper Elementary, Pre-K

# of Pages: 32

Quality of Illustrations: simple, colorful

Brief Summary: "In this gentle, moving story, Elfie, a dachshund, and her special boy progress happily through life together. One morning Elfie does not wake up. The family grieves and buries her. The watercolor illustrations, tender and warm in color and mood, suit the simple text perfectly."--School Library Journal.

Personal Comments/Biases, and/or Things to Consider When Using This Book With Children: Good, simple book about death, loss and grieving. Although the death is of a pet, it can be transferred over to human death and loss.

Activity:
Talk about each stage with the boy and the dog. Discuss how people reacted differently to the dog. Discuss why they think the boy told the dog he loved him, even though the dog can't understand him. Talk about ways to show someone that you love them. Have the children write a note to someone (including pets) whom they love (alive or dead).