Shelaswau Crier

Truly Inspired! A truly helpful book for those dealing with grief and to help explain grief to others. Thank you, Nikki Grimes. This book is truly inspired. I came across this book at a library book sale and it was incredibly helpful when my son passed away. I didn't read the book all at once but picked it up in pieces as my family and I traveled our own journey through grief. Grimes' words helped remind me to be present for my other children when I felt I couldn't go on in a world without my son. Many of the sentiments expressed by the children in Grimes' book, like concern for their parents, were feelings and sentiments I heard my own children voice as well. She captures the anger, the "you left me," the confusion, memories, and pain. I highly recommend this book for people dealing with the death of a child - siblings, parents, grandparents, and other loved ones. The book may also be helpful for educators to share with students when one of the students has experienced the loss of a sibling. The interaction with peers who had no understanding of such grief was very difficult and often painful for my kids, middle school through college, following their brother's passing. I could see this book providing those children some insight into grief and helping them to be more compassionate and thoughtful towards classmates who have lost a close family member and are "just not over it." Excellent work! I will forever be grateful for this book and to Nikki Grimes for writing it and have shared this amazing book with another mother who lost her son.