Why Did Grandpa Die? A Book About Death

by Barbara Shook Hazen

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 030723276X
• ISBN13: 9780307232762
• Release Date: April 1985
• Publisher: Golden Books
• Length: 26 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Wish this was more readily available.....

I was struck by the level of conversation inspired by reading this title yesterday with my five-year-old daughter Emma. While we don't necessarily share some of the views of the author, it opened the doors to facing head on what we believe AND some of the practicalities that come when we lose someone ( a funeral that might be longer and not much fun for children, not being able to cry, and no longer being able to drink Grandpa's world famous pink lemonade.Little Molly also can't cry until further along her grief process, which is also a good thing for children to know... that we don't always grieve in the same manner and some adults cry so much it can be scary.I only wish this book was available more widely. It could easily be shared across belief systems because it doesn't take a point of view, it is more - not sure if this is a real term or not - point of experience book.

Help for grieving children

When Molly was a baby, everyone said she took after Grandpa. She had his dimples, his curly hair and his curiosity. She gave him her first smile, and as Molly grew, she and Grandpa grew closer. He took her to parks, taught her to sail a boat, made pink lemonade for her. The liked a lot of the same things--mushed ice cream, wildflowers, walks in the woods--and disliked the same things. Grandpa once explained to Molly what happened to a butterfly that died. "He won't ever fly or move again," he told her, though it was nice to remember how he was when he was alive.Grandpa promised to take Molly sailing in a real boat the next day, but when Molly awoke, Grandpa didn't feel well. He went to the hospital, and did not get well. He got sicker. He died.In the next 12 pages, as Molly's parents told her that Grandpa died, took her to the funeral. Molly felt Grandpa's death was not fair. She could not cry. She missed him all the time. "Tears help you let out your sad feelings and then you can begin to feel better," her mother told her. Molly slowly adjusted in ways I will not reveal.This book can help children heal. I have used it more than once to help our children overcome the deaths of people close to them. It is extremely helpful, and I strongly recommend it. Alyssa A. Lappen