Maybe Dying is like Becoming a Butterfly

Children’s Book Council’s Hot Off the Press Selection! One of The Children’s Book Review's "10 Picture Books That Celebrate Grandparents"! "A young child and grandfather have a conversation about death.When Grandpa suggests that a caterpillar might die if Christopher puts it in a jar, Christopher asks some questions about death, beginning with "Are you going to die, Grandpa?" The response: "Someday, sweetheart. But I hope not too soon." (…) Their simple exchange covers a lot of philosophical ground. Grandpa acknowledges no one knows when they will die and that Christopher could die before him, but that the chance is small. Grandpa allows that "no one really knows" what happens after death, but he tells Christopher that some people think of heaven ("a place without sadness or war"), others of rebirth ("each time, you get wiser"), and others of "nothing" ("the same as before you were born"). The pair discusses the whys of death ("dying is part of life"), birth ("to learn all sorts of things"), and feelings of fear or comfort about dying. A concluding letter from Christopher to Grandpa, accompanied by an illustration of Christopher alone, offers the titular analogy about becoming a butterfly. Backmatter offers a brief comment and tips for discussion from a grief therapist. Straightforward, gentle, useful, and engaging." - Kirkus Reviews “Excellent book for explaining a very tough subject to young kids. If you students or children are asking about dying and are around 2-6, this is a great book for them.” – Andrea Alexander (Educator at Northside Center) “An important book for a very important and mostly difficult topic. If you've ever had to explain death to a child or think there may come a time when you will (think goldfish or puppy, as well as grandparents), this would be a gentle way to approach the topic. Beautifully illustrated and artfully told using an androgynous child and their grandfather to answer one of life's most puzzling (possibly THE most puzzling) question.” – Brenda Kerwin (Librarian at Houghton Memorial Library)