When People Die; Our New Baby

In When People Die five children discuss their ideas about death: why and how people die, the inevitability of death, what happens after death and their feelings following the death of a person or pet they have loved. Coping strategies are introduced, and while the children often seem more mature and didactic than one would expect of 7- to 8-year-olds, the facts are covered well, and there are many excellent discussion points.

Our New Baby also uses an interview technique to discuss with four children their reactions to the arrival of younger brothers and sisters. Two of the children are ‘expectant siblings’, while the other two already have younger brothers and sisters and can discuss the problems in retrospect. As the children are aged 7 to 8, the book covers the basic facts of life, both before and after birth, but the emphasis is on feelings. There is lots about anger and hurt and being fed up and jealous; but the children also talk about the happiness and excitement a new baby brings. In both picture books a combination of multiracial photographs and cartoons helps make the information accessible. Didactic, but very good for discussion.