Look Up: A Heartwarming Story for Children About Losing a Loved One and Learning How to Cope
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
Richard John Allen, a best-selling author on Amazon in Grief and Loss, has written a book designed to help parents explain the death of a loved one to their children. The story follows a little girl named Anna and her mother as they cope with the loss of Anna's father. The book offers a gentle approach to discussing the permanence of death with young children, while also providing an impactful message that resonates with adults. It includes references to Heaven and quotes from The Bible, acknowledging its presence in various religions.
Age
3-12
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did the story make you feel when the character lost their loved one?
What do you think helped the character feel better over time?
Can you think of a time when you felt something similar to the character? What helped you?
What are some ways we can remember someone who is no longer with us?
How can we support friends or family members who might be experiencing loss?
Tip: Role play these questions
Create a comfortable and quiet reading environment to make it easier for children to express their feelings.
Use pauses after reading significant passages to allow your child time to process the information and express their thoughts.
Show empathy and understanding towards the characters' feelings in the story, mirroring this back to your child’s responses.
Encourage your child to draw or write about their favorite part of the story or about a personal memory of someone they miss.
Reinforce that it’s okay to feel sad or confused about loss, and share personal experiences to connect with your child.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding Grief
Explanation: The narrative centers on a child experiencing the loss of a loved one, depicting the various stages of grief they go through.
Real-World Application: Children will learn to recognize and articulate their emotions, and understand that feeling sad or confused is a natural part of loss.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: The book illustrates how friends and family members support the grieving child, teaching the importance of empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to be supportive and understanding towards friends or classmates who may be experiencing similar situations.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Through the journey of the main character, the story highlights the gradual process of healing and returning to everyday activities.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to find strength and continue engaging in their routines and hobbies, even during tough times.
Example Lesson: Memory Keeping
Explanation: The story shows the protagonist finding comfort in keeping memories of their loved one alive through stories and cherished objects.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of memories and how they can help keep a connection with those who have passed away, encouraging them to share stories and create memory boxes.
Example Lesson: Expressing Feelings
Explanation: The story gives space for the child to express feelings through conversations with adults and internal monologues.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the importance of talking about their feelings with trusted adults, which can help in processing emotions and finding comfort.