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Losing a family member is always hard, but a first encounter with the concept of mortality can be confusing and awkward for the very young. Sadness is certain. Yet learning how to grieve and what grief is can be a challenge for children. This activity book provides young readers a safe place to explore their feelings in a constructive and healthy way, with coloring and free-writing exercises that offer a way to process the hurt. Of course, no two situations or people are unique. So every perspective on losing a grandparent or other loved one will also have differences. Offering helpful suggestions but giving the reader the reins to navigate such a difficult time ensures that the journey is a personal one that reflects one's outlooks and feelings.
Books for children often try to use allegory or metaphor to approach difficult subjects in a way that allows readers to learn without depriving them of their innocence. However, life does not follow a set script, and tragedy can force a child to deal with the reality of something much sooner than anyone would desire. By being direct and literal in its approach to death within the family and teaching one how to come to grips with it, this book offers a much more realistic and healthy way of emotional growth and support at a time when it is so sorely needed. The interactive elements of the book occupy the readers' time and energy while at the same time allowing them to be fully honest about their feelings and work through them over time. While the material may be an uncomfortable topic to broach with someone, its utility is proven within the circumstances themselves. It serves as a useful and non-confrontational tool for facing one of life's most difficult moments.