My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join in for children's book recommendations.

Children's books

Books about life and death - any suggestions

9 replies

brendarenda · 16/11/2012 11:21

Does anyone know of any books that be an appropriate way to help a 5 yo and a 7 yo prepare for the loss of their terminally ill grandfather? Most of the books I've seen are about the aftermath (ie dealing with death and funerals) and it's the bit before that I'm looking for. Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Report
Portofino · 16/11/2012 11:24

"Goodbye Mog!" or "I'll love you For Ever" both cover the circle of life and death really well. Buy extra tissues.

Report
maillotjaune · 16/11/2012 11:25

It's not about people at all, but mine found The Lonely Tree helped when my uncle, who they saw a lot of, died. You don't need to say it is about anything happening in real life - but at 5 my DS1 suggested it reminded him of how he felt.

Report
Portofino · 16/11/2012 11:26

I meant to add - these would work as a good starting point for a discussion on the subject, without being too "in your face". I am sorry to hear about their Grandad Sad.

Report
madamehooch · 16/11/2012 11:42

I've just read a wonderful picture book called 'My Grandpa' by Marta Altes.

It doesn't deal with death but it does deal with why Grandpa does certain things (I think it alludes to him having Altzeimers.) You could use it as a spring board to discuss why their grandfather is having his treatment, has to sleep more etc.

Report
brendarenda · 16/11/2012 11:52

Thank you. I'll check these out. I'd forgotten about Goodbye Mog - we've read that before and it would be a really good one for now. I was too busy trying to think of 'grandad' books - when actually books about pets and trees, etc would be much better.

OP posts:
Report
Portofino · 16/11/2012 12:30

This is the other one I mentioned I am welling up just looking at the Amazon reviews.

Report
Luce808 · 16/11/2012 22:52

Grandpa by John Burningham, Badger's Parting Gifts (utterly lovely book about how people live on in those they leave behind), The Heart in the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers.

Report
elkiedee · 20/11/2012 13:17

Do they know already? My boys love my mum, who was diagnosed with cancer initially in 2010, but was treated relatively successfully twice - this time, the diagnosis is that she will die in the next year or two. She was told while we were staying there, and initially understood that her prognosis was 6 to 9 months (hopefully now it may be a bit longer). DS1 (5) picked up what was happening from a conversation between dp and my mum.

While I'm interested in this thread and would love to find books which would help them (or me), I think that at 5 and 7, it might be useful to talk about how grandfather's illness will affect him, and plans for what might happen - is he likely to go into hospital/hospice care?

Artichoke Hearts is a beautiful book about a 12 year old girl whose grandmother is going into a hospice at the beginning of the book, but it's probably too old for your sons, I will mention it in case it's useful to others....

Report
butisthismyname · 20/11/2012 13:19

'Badgers Parting Gifts' Lovely.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.