Hattie's Heart Hurts!: a children's story and personal journal about grief and loss

By Cindi Walton

Chapter book for children 5-10: Hattie's Heart Hurts is the story of a young hedgehog who is struggling with the death of her Grandma Leona. Hattie's father gives her a journal and encourages her to fill it with memories and anything that helps her to remember the good times she had with her Grandmother. Hattie finds herself making a "Memory Tree" with each leaf containing a written memory of her beloved Grandma Leona. With each memory, Hattie's heart hurts less as she fills her journal with wonderful memories of the past and comes to realize that as long as she has her memories, her grandma will forever be in Hattie's heart. The back of the book provides a personal journal section for the child to make their own "Memory Tree" or draw pictures of some of their favorite memories of their loved one. This book was written by a Nana who sincerely believes that loving memories and the support of others is the best way to make a hurting heart heal Hattie's Heart Hurts can easily be understood by the younger child as it is read to them or can be read alone by a child with second grade reading skills. The activities/journal in the back of the book will require adult assistance for the younger child who is grieving. This book dealing with bereavement is also beneficial when used in group therapy grief sessions for individual and families alike.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 150547339X
• ISBN13: 9781505473391
• Release Date: January 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 44 Pages
• Weight: 0.16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"