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Honest, caring words and hands-on activities to help kids accept and grow through the loss of a beloved pet.
Why did this happen? How do I feel? What can I do? What happens next?
The death of a pet is often a child's first encounter with grief. How your child learns to cope through this experience may affect his or her attitude into adulthood. Drawing on concepts from psychology and a broad multifaith perspective, this supportive workbook provides a sensitive and practical resource that will help children ages 7 to 13 cope with the death of a beloved animal. Children can write, draw, read, create and express feelings via concrete, hands-on activities including:
- Becoming a Memory Detective to piece together clues to remember their pet
- Planning a memorial service and making a pet memorial
- Recording photo memories of their pet
- Honoring their pet’s memory by giving to others
Open and gentle, this book will help your child—and you as the parent—understand difficult concepts and communicate deep feelings as your child grows through this personal season of mourning.
"Sensitive, inviting and respectful of both kids and animals … may help grieving young people tremendously as they take up life again after a beloved pet has died."
—Sy Montgomery, author, The Good, Good Pig and Journey of the Pink Dolphins
“Provides a mirror not only into the life of a pet, but also into the heart and soul of the pet's young owner.”
—Nancy Sohn Swartz, author, In Our Image: God’s First Creatures and How Did the Animals Help God?
“Spiritually wise and psychologically sound … leads parents and their children tenderly and creatively through the painful process of healing—the authors well understand that children do not lose just their pet, they lose a beloved member of their family.”
—Rev. August Gold, author,Where Does God Live?
“[The death of a pet] can loom large and last long in the lives of young children (and their parents). This book provides a sensitive process for integrating this experience into a richer understanding of who all of God’s creatures are to each other.”
—Eliot Daley, former producer, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood; author, Father Feelings
“A beautiful workbook that allows children to express their emotions through a variety of activities.... Will help adults guide young children through the grief process.... Recommend[ed].”
—Congregational Libraries Today
“Strongly recommended.... Will enable a child to express and deal with their feelings.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Wonderful.... Giv[es] permission to a bereaved child to mourn a pet ... [and] teaches them also to come to terms with death.”
—Union of Liberal and Progressive Synagogues Newsletter
Acknowledgments
A Special Foreword for Parents by Lynn L. Caruso
What This Book Is about and How to Use It
A Message for Parents
A Message for Kids
Let Me Tell You about My Pet
My Pet's Name
How My Pet Died
Pet Cemeteries
Our Special Memorial Service
Pet Heaven
Making a Pet Memorial
My First Memories
What Other People Remember about My Pet
"It’s Just a Pet"
Memory Detective Mind Benders
Photo Memories of My Pet
Remembering by Giving
My Life As a Pet: Pet Autobiography
Grieving with Other Pets
Ten Great Things I Remember
Pet Complaints Department
What about Another Pet?
Remembering My Pet in the Circle of Life
Glossary
Recommended Reading for Kids