What Happened to Daddy's Body?

August 1, 2016

K-Gr 3-A companion to the Barbers' Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?, this selection discusses the physical aspects of a parent's death. Four-year-old Alex is reflecting on his father's recent passing. Like many children who have experienced trauma, he needs to revisit the event in order to gain a sense of clarity and control over the scary situation. ("'Mummy, ' I ask, 'Remember you said that Daddy can't use his body anymore? Can you tell me what happened to it?'") Those seeking more nuanced conversations might prefer to go elsewhere, as the mother's patient responses do directly delve into the topics of cremation, burial, and the role that ashes or a decomposing body play in nature. Straightforward scientific explanations are offered through simple text and black-and-white illustrations, while familiar activities like picnics and birthday parties are represented cheerfully and in bright colors. The Barbers validate the idea that ordinary activities are essential in overcoming grief. They deftly convey that despite physical death, the parent who is gone lives on in our hearts and in an array of commemorative activities. Alex's own sorrow was somewhat mitigated when he acquired a new stepfamily, and while this is not an outcome every grieving child can anticipate, the "life goes on" message is reassuring. VERDICT Purchase along with the Barbers' Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? to support children who are at various points in the grieving process.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

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