What Happens When a Loved One Dies?

February 22, 2016
In this second book in the Just Enough series, after 2015’s Where Do Babies Come From?, Roberts, a child psychologist, looks to the other end of a lifespan. Three children of different ethnicities, each with a recent death in their lives, appear in rotation, asking simple questions about dying, which Roberts answers in a gentle but straightforward manner: “Death means that a living thing is no longer alive. A tree full of leaves and blossoms is alive. An old tree that has fallen over in the forest is no longer alive. It is dead.” The conversation flows organically, in the same way that a parent’s dialogue with a child might, as Roberts touches on topics that include human death, funerals, the afterlife, and grief. Roberts tends to keep the answers general, allowing families to personalize discussions to their own traditions and beliefs. Revell’s smudgy, brightly colored illustrations provide a friendly, reassuring backdrop for the big questions being discussed. Ages 3–6.

April 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-This title about the hows and whys of death is a necessary addition to any children's collection. Roberts does a commendable job providing answers for the practical questions surrounding death ("What happens when someone dies?.... That person's body stops working") and the spiritual ("Where does that person go?.... Many cultures believe that a person is made up of both a body and a soul"). Roberts chooses to forgo a formal narrative style, instead opting for a question and answer format. This allows for the introduction of different and diverse families into the narrative. Colorful illustrations focus on the many emotions and traditions of grieving, giving young readers opportunities to make textual and visual connections. VERDICT Because of the lack of materials on death and grieving in many children's collections, this title is highly recommended for purchase.-Paige Mellinger, Gwinnett County Public Libraries, Lillburn, GA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2016
A "just enough" introduction to the experience of death. Designed for adults to share with very young children, this gentle informational text begins with the part death plays in the natural world and goes on to answer the questions of children who lose grandparents. (Just who has died can be inferred from illustrations; it's not directly stated in the text.) The author, a child psychologist, explains why people die and talks about funerals, describing them as usual but not universal. Answering the question "What happens to the person who has died?" she introduces the idea of a soul, carefully prefacing it with the phrase, "Many cultures believe...." She uses the same kind of formulation for concepts of afterlife, heaven, and reincarnation. She reassures young listeners that it's normal to be sad and offers ways to cope with grief: a commemoration, writing and drawing, sharing memories and talking about the loss. Revell's digitally painted illustrations support the text. They're consciously multicultural, including images of a candle, casket and flowers, burning incense, and a mosque. A freckle-faced boy and dark-skinned curly-haired girl are the main characters, but some pages feature Asian families. She emphasizes the children's heads and eyes, making them very appealing. There are birds, butterflies, flowers, and even a rainbow. A boon for families with young children. (Informational picture book. 3-6)

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