death positive parenting, life cycles, end of life awareness

As my clients prepare their funeral arrangements, many are considering the impact of their passing on beloved grandchildren. Selecting a book (or a few) in advance can be a beautiful gift not only for your young family members, but also for their parents.

We don’t always have the right words, but this may help:

LIFETIMES: THE BEAUTIFUL WAY TO EXPLAIN DEATH TO CHILDREN BY BRYAN MELLONI

The font on the cover was nearly enough to turn me off, but it was a $0.25 at the library book sale so I grabbed it and it’s quickly become a family favorite. The gentle but direct illustrations showing a range of life and death against an unjudging white background allowing even the youngest reader to explore the concept of life cycles. Progressing from small insects to human beings, it doesn’t shy away from the real truth. Kids love being told the truth.