With a much loved family member slowly slipping away from us, I needed help explaining death to my kids, ages 10, 7, and 4. Sandie Bradley said, “Many people who had lost loved ones in recent years attended this service and found the story helpful. One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. of us who climbs up the lily stalk must promise to come back and tell us where he or she went and why. It's a story book to read to them and it has a nice little questions answers section in the back to further help explain how the child might be feeling with the lose of a loved one.

I got this book for Rory when her grandpa died last year and I think it helped me just as much as it helped her. It is not complex and allows children to visualize the similarities between humans and the characters in this short story.

was happening, he had broke through the surface of the water and fallen onto the broad, green lily pad above. First published under the title "Death" in 'Colloquy' (December 1971), the story was revised and expanded in 1982 to become the current bestselling Waterbugs and Dragonflies. I kind of like that idea but not sure if kids would get it and wonder if they might start looking elsewhere for their "missing" loved one. Beautiful illustrations support the wonder and beauty of transformations found in both nature and human experience. Also it really presents a christian perspective on an afterlife and doesn't necessarily deal with the death itself.

The dragonflies find a new and wonderful world outside the pond, but their transformation means they are unable to visit their underwater friends to share their joy and delight. He dives down to the water, but finds he cannot break the surface - his wings prevent him from going below. Simplistic in it's ideas, this children's book illustrates the change that happens with death, keeping in line with our beliefs that death is not an ending at all and that we will be reunited. The dragonfly remembered the promise: "The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why.Since he can't get to his friends, he realises they will just have to find out in their own time about the wonderful world above the water. Part of the service was to bring forward their dragonfly with the names of loved ones written on them. The main story is not exactly spiritual but is an allegory of life that is compatible with Christianity, the notes and scripture references that follow the story explain its symbolism. Looking for a meaningful way to explain to neighbourhood children the death of a five year old friend, Doris Stickney adapted the graceful fable about the waterbug that changed into a dragonfly.

Over fifty years ago, Doris Stickney published these words in a magazine article, after watching adults struggle to talk with children about death, following the tragic death of a neighborhood child. They make a group decision that the next one to go up the stem will come back down and tell the others what's above. Perhaps, because the dragonfly didn't die nor really did the water bug; it changed and became something else.They did notice that every once in a while one of their colony seemed to lose interest in going about. Looking for a meaningful way to explain to neighbourhood children the death of a five-year-old friend, Doris Stickney adapted the graceful fable about the waterbug that changed into a dragonfly.

The Diocesan Growing Faith and Spirituality Officer, the Revd Jo Weatherall, produced a video showing ways to use this book to help children understand death. One day a little waterbug finds himself walking up the stem, and when he lies on the lilypad the sun is so warm that he goes into a deep sleep. He is so excited flying about, and only just remembers his promise to the other waterbugs to tell them what happened. It is a small book that I have given to several friends to help them when talking to a youngster about death. I liked this book for its simplicity and yet a possible explanation of what happens next without getting into heaven/religious grown-up speak.Tear Soup is more for those that are grieving while Waterbugs and Dragonflies focuses on the death and change that comes with it. The dragonfly remembered the promise: “The next one of us who climbs up the lily stalk will come back and tell where he or she went and why.