Book Review: Good-Bye Sheepie

Author: Robert Burleigh

Illustrator: Peter Catalanotto

Interest Level: Ages 5-9

About This Book: Owen and his dog, Sheepie, are best friends. They like to play, take long walks, and chase each other in the yard. But Sheepie is getting old. He can't fetch a stick as quickly as he used to, and sometimes Owen has to help him climb the stairs. Then one day Sheepie doesn't wake up. Owen has to part with his old pal, but his father helps him understand that Sheepie will always be part of their happy memories. -from the book jacket

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This is an important read for any child who has had to say goodbye to a pet. It is very beautifully written. Throughout the school year many of our students lose family pets and it is very upsetting for them. They are grieving. I have quite a few books on the loss of a pet for this very reason. One of the things I notice in children is the confusion they feel. Explaining the grieving cycle to students is SO important. Books on pet loss can be helpful to kids experiencing grief. I look for stories that have characters students can relate to. Good-bye Sheepie is just that story. It's extremely healing. I allow children to read this book alone or with me. The illustrations are also so warm and speak so beautifully of Owen's love for Sheepie. Kids want to talk about their grief and they need adults to help them with their closure while remembering to cherish the memories.

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Book Review: Samantha Jane's Missing Smile

Author: Julie Kaplow and Donna Pincus

Illustrated by Beth Spiegel

Interest Level: Ages 4-8

About This Book: The loss of a parent is a profound crisis for a child. In the aftermath of the death, children face great emotional vulnerability and distress and need help from their surviving parent and other supportive adults around them. Reassurance and support, as well as practical coping tools, are key to the child's ability to recover.

Samantha Jane's Missing Smile is the story of one child's loss. When her father dies, Sammy Jane doesn't know how to express her grief. She fears that her sadness will overwhelm her if she cries. She worries that her sadness will overburden her mother, too, and that her mother won't be available for her. She is angry at the unfairness of her loss. And she feels guilty about smiling ever again.

In this gentle story, Sammy Jane comes to accept her feelings and realizes that they won't go away if she ignores them. She also discovers that sharing those feelings is both comforting and reassuring. WIth her mother's help, she finds ways to keep the memory of her father alive. And finally, she understands what a full, happy life is what her father would want for her.

But sometimes I worry that if I talk to you about Dad,

you'll start to feel sad.

I don't want you to be sad.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Oh boy, where to begin. There are so many good nuggets in this book. First of all, tough subject to write about. Second, anyone who works with or has a grieving child needs this book on their shelf.  Kids often stuff their feelings because they don't want to upset their parents. Samantha Jane tries to push away her own grief so she won't worry her mother. Man, it makes me sad to think about how much that happens in real life. She also struggles with guilt. The guilt of not wanting to experience joy, for fear that she is not honoring her father's memory. My favorite bibliotherapy stories are those incorporating REALISTIC strategies that help kids cope through those rough times. There are some good ones throughout the story. I  highly recommend Samantha Jane's Missing Smile for your shelf.

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Book Review: My Grandma Died

Author: Lory Britain, Ph.D.
Illustrated by Carol Deach
Interest Level: Ages 4-8


About This Book:
This gentle story is written for the very young. It uses simple, honest language to clarify that death is permanent, that the child will never again be able to bake cookies or rock with grandma. The child acknowledges that losing grandma is a greater loss than that of a toy or pet.
My Grandma Died assures the young child that it’s normal to feel angry, frightened and sad when grieving. It also helps a child distinguish between the emotional pain of grief and the physical pain of a scrape or sunburn. Carefully researched and reviewed by therapists who work with preschool and primary-age children, My Grandma Died offers practical, age-appropriate suggestions for coping with loss.

 

Mama says I can draw a picture of how

I'm feeling when I'm all mixed up inside 

 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Okay, do not be scared of how simple and tiny the book looks. It's concrete and to the point, exactly the kind of book you need to read to 4-8 year olds. My Grandma Died gives a child coping strategies on how to meet their emotional needs during the grieving process. When a grandparent dies, it's a big deal. Add this one to the grief section of your shelf, especially if you are a counselor.

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