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In this poignant story about the death of a grandmother, a young boy draws support from shared family memories and processes a range of emotions including fear, grief, and joyful remembrance---and comes to recognize his own important place in the loving circle.
About the author
Nancy Bo Flood (nancyboflood.com) earned her PhD in Experimental Psychology and Child Development at the University of Minnesota and has authored a variety of award-winning books, including a handbook for counseling children and I Will Dance, a story based on a real girl named Eva who was born with cerebral palsy. Nancy has lived on the Pacific island of Saipan, where she worked with teachers and parents to create resources and programs for students with disabilities, and for the past twenty years she has taught on the Navajo Nation and co-founded an early-literacy nonprofit Read at Home, which encourages parents to read regularly with their children. Her books have been recognized with a variety of national and international honors, but always Nancy states, “The best reward is when a child glances at me while reading one of my books and proudly says, ‘I am in this book.’”
Summary
This picture book from a child psychologist and counselor uses a touching and relatable story about a young boy’s grief to help children 4-8 understand what it means to lose a loved one and how to process their own emotions of fear, grief, and joyful remembrance.
When Grandma tells Lee she will soon be “going home,” Lee is confused. Isn’t Grandma already home? But as Grandma’s health gets worse and her death approaches, Lee learns what it means to “walk Grandma home” to heaven, while also reflecting on his good memories and dealing with his grief alongside his extended family.
Walking Grandma Home:
- Presents a child’s perspective on losing a loved one that young readers can relate to
- Is ideal for kids who have recently experienced a loved one’s death or are learning about grief for the first time, as well as for children with aging grandparents and family and friends experiencing loss
- Equips parents and caregivers to process a child’s emotions in a healthy and loving way
- Has a page of questions and activities to help children process their own grief and allow caregivers to personalize the story to the child’s experience
- Features text from counselor and author Nancy Bo Flood and beautiful illustrations by Ellen Shi
