Death Is Stupid

Death Is Stupid

Picture book
When my son was in middle school a neighbor a year ahead of him
died unexpectedly. She had gone to the hospital for what was supposed
to be a routine operation. She never woke up. She'd been a long time
close friend of all my children. I sure wish Anastasia Higginbotham's
Death Is Stupid had been published then. Just as she did in Divorce
Is The Worst, Higginbotham takes on a truly tough subject with dignity
and grace.
A young boy has lost his beloved grandmother. As he goes
through the funeral and beyond a narrator talks about things that can
happen when a loved one dies. Even your nearest and dearest may tell
you things that seem stupid, if not downright alarming. She's in a
better place. She's at peace. She can rest. She's only sleeping.
Readers are told that everyone eventually loses someone, that
just the act of going on living takes courage, and that people
experience and express grief in different ways. For many kids (and
adults) a lost one can be a cat or dog or other non human being. The
legitimacy of sorrow in this case is emphasized. At the end of the
book there is a lovely array of ways to cherish the memories of a lost
loved friend or family member.
Illustrations done in the form of lively collages are the
perfect accompaniment for the thoughtful and sensitive text.
Death Is Stupid is a must purchase for school and public
libraries and guidance counselor collections. It's also a wise
investment for parents. Sadly, thanks to tv and social media, very
few youngsters are not exposed to the reality of death.
On a personal note, the last Wilson Center Wednesday for the fall
semester was truly something special. After a scrumptious supper we
all set in to bake, frost, decorate, and eat Christmas cookies. I
stuck with gingerbread with frosting and coconut. They were so good.
I brought some home to share with my husband. There was lots of
sharing of treasured memories. It was for sure quality time.
A great big shout out goes out to my Wilson Center family.
jules hathaway



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