4Real Forums: Need a book suggestion . . .

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Topic: Need a book suggestion . . .

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teachingmom
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Virginia Bluebells

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Posted: Jan 30 2006 at 11:41pm \| IP Logged

Hi all,
Most of you probably saw my prayer request for my friend whose two-week old niece passed away this past weekend. Now she has a request that I hope one or more of you can help me with. She would like a suggestion for a book on death that honors the Catholic/Christian faith that she could read with her 5yo son to help him to deal with the sudden death of his newborn cousin. Any suggestions?

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~Irene (Mom to 6 girls, ages 7-19)

Elizabeth
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Posted: Jan 31 2006 at 2:46am \| IP Logged

This is a tough one. Tomie de Paola takes on death in Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs but it's the death of a grandparent and not a child. A Taste of Blackberries deals with the accidental death of a child, but it's not particularly Christian and it's for older children. .The Bridge to Terabithia is much the same.

The very best handling of death of a baby and the grief that ensues and then, living again, is Across the Puddingstone Dam but I don't think it's for a five-year-old. I would read it aloud to children around 8 or so and older if they had experienced loss through miscarriage or infant death. Of course, if that were the case, I KNOW I couldn't get through the book aloud

. I read it in manuscript form and I read it again when it was bound and it's so well done, it nails so perfectly the emotion of infant loss, that it is an intense reading experience. But, while not being overtly Catholic, it's an expertly woven tale of hope and of the redeeming value of suffering. I think it's Lissa's finest work.

Doesn't help your friend much though; I'm sorry

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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)

Rachel May
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Posted: Feb 01 2006 at 1:27pm \| IP Logged

I was thinking about this last night wishing I knew a great book on this topic. What came to mind were biblical passages, Jesus saying, "Let the children come to me." and how every child has an angel, and the quote from Matthew (?) about how every hair of your head is counted. I think of them as being reassuring quotes to discuss with a child in the context of death.

In our house, we talk about people "going home" or Jesus "calling them home." This is beautifully illustrated in the Miracle of Marcelino when Marcelino trustingly climbs into Jesus' lap to be taken to see his mother (in Heaven). This movie made me bawl, and ALL my kids loved it. Jesus received many offers of bread and water after that (there was no fear that He would take them to Heaven), and it gave us an opportunity to discuss the issue of death.

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Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)

ALmom
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Posted: Feb 01 2006 at 7:05pm \| IP Logged

This isn't a book recommendation, but perhaps it would be helpful. One of the books I had on miscarriage (unfortunately I passed it on and no longer remember its name) had a section about helping dc deal with the loss of a baby through infant death, stillbirth or miscarriage. The gist was allowing the dc to talk and express themselves - young children often do this with drawings, etc. I don't know the age but perhaps mom and child could make a memory book together to stir conversation. Also visits to the cemetery and family rituals to remember the anniversary of birth and death, etc.

I'm sorry I don't really have specific book names.

Janet

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