What Happened to Daddy's Body?: Explaining what happens after death in words very young children can understand

by Elke Barber, Alex Barber

Overview

My daddy died when I was (one...two...) three years old. Today we are out in the garden. It always makes me think about my daddy because he LOVED his garden. Sometimes, I wonder what happened to my daddy's body...

This picture book aims to help children aged 3+ to understand what happens to the body after someone has died. Through telling the true story of what happened to his daddy's body, we follow Alex as he learns about cremation, burial and spreading ashes. Full of questions written in Alex's own words, and with the gentle, sensitive and honest answers of his mother, this story will reassure any young child who might be confused about death and what happens afterwards. It also reiterates the message that when you have experienced the loss of a loved one, it is okay to be sad, but it is okay to be happy, too.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781787756465
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	04/21/2020
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	8.43(w) x 10.94(h) x 0.31(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Elke Barber (Author)
Elke Barber's life changed in April 2009 when her husband Martin suffered a fatal heart attack. Aged only 34, she found herself a young widow and a single mum to two kids under four. A self-employed graphic designer and long-time lover of children's books, she decided to share their story to help others in similar situations. Using the conversations she had with her then three-year old son, together they wrote Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? and What Happened to Daddy's Body? - both published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She is now happily remarried, a mum and step mum to seven children, soulmate to John and a public speaker who is passionate about improving the bereavement support for young children. If you want to find out more about Elke and her family, please visit www.isdaddycomingback.com.

Alex Barber (Author)
Alex Barber is now ten years old. He was only three when his daddy died. He misses him every day, and will never stop missing him. He loves Doctor Who and his favourite hobby is football. He helped his mum Elke write Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? and What Happened to Daddy's Body? by asking the many direct and difficult questions only a young child can ask. He calls his mum's new husband 'Dad' (not 'Daddy'!), and says he is lucky because he has two dads, only one of them can't be here.

Editorial Reviews

Elke has once again captured what is needed for aiding bereaved children's understanding. Sensitive, caring and developmentally appropriate, this book is a fantastic resource for explaining what happens to a person's body after death. I'm sure it will help countless children and their caregivers with some of the most difficult questions.

Donna Hastings

There is a saying that if a child is old enough to ask a question, they are old enough to be given an answer. We need to protect our children with the truth in sensitive and caring ways. This book does exactly that, through thoughtful and expressive illustrations, augmenting a dialogue based on real conversations. Exploring and sharing this book again and again with your child will become part of your journey of healthy grieving.

Steve Sweeney

This book will be a great resource for anyone wanting to answer a child's questions after a death, but who is having difficulty finding age-appropriate words. Elke writes from personal experience of talking with her own children and the openness of her approach comes through very clearly.

Helen Mackinnon

Told sensitively, responding to Alex's questions from the personal experience of his daddy dying, this beautifully illustrated book explains cremation and burial clearly in age-appropriate language. It will help adults explain to young children what happens to the body after someone dies. I highly recommend it to individuals and professionals.

Dawn Hewitt

The simple explanations and quite lovely illustrations are highly reflective of the emotions that Alex must learn to deal with and this story, as well as its predecessor, will prove of real use to grieving families. Superb!

Healthy Books

08/01/2016
K-Gr 3—A companion to the Barbers' Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?, this selection discusses the physical aspects of a parent's death. Four-year-old Alex is reflecting on his father's recent passing. Like many children who have experienced trauma, he needs to revisit the event in order to gain a sense of clarity and control over the scary situation. ("'Mummy,' I ask, 'Remember you said that Daddy can't use his body anymore? Can you tell me what happened to it?'") Those seeking more nuanced conversations might prefer to go elsewhere, as the mother's patient responses do directly delve into the topics of cremation, burial, and the role that ashes or a decomposing body play in nature. Straightforward scientific explanations are offered through simple text and black-and-white illustrations, while familiar activities like picnics and birthday parties are represented cheerfully and in bright colors. The Barbers validate the idea that ordinary activities are essential in overcoming grief. They deftly convey that despite physical death, the parent who is gone lives on in our hearts and in an array of commemorative activities. Alex's own sorrow was somewhat mitigated when he acquired a new stepfamily, and while this is not an outcome every grieving child can anticipate, the "life goes on" message is reassuring. VERDICT Purchase along with the Barbers' Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? to support children who are at various points in the grieving process.—Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT

School Library Journal