This guided activity book for children ages seven to twelve offers information about death and grief. It discusses the difficulty of talking about death and how it is normal. The book also talks about exploring a special memory, having rough patches to go through, and then being able to get through another day. The biggest focus is on expressing feelings, honest ones, and not what one thinks one should say. It examines reasons for death and that it is not the reader’s fault that a parent died. Also, it shows how it is important to note that others are also going through grief, but they aren’t angry with the child. The text discusses funerals and caskets, cremation and urns. There may be a celebration of life and the possibility of going to a cemetery. The focus on how to know one’s parent is there in spirit and being able to talk to one’s deceased parent is also valuable, as are the techniques that can be used to help with the grief.

This important interactive book offers various learning styles to help children process their thoughts and feelings related to their loss. Not only does it offer excellent written information about grief, but it also utilizes coloring, drawing, writing, colors, and pictures for activities that will engage the child. In an easy-to-read format, it focuses on the loss of a parent, stepparent, or guardian, which somewhat limits the book regarding other losses. However, it can be adapted to help one to cope with other deaths. Grief and loss are so often dismissed in this culture, and sometimes people don’t truly understand what a child can go through. This book can help the child work their way through such trauma.

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