This poignant picture book helps children (ages 4 to 8) understand the complexities of grief, death, and dying in an honest, hopeful way.
In a quaint coastal town in Maine, a young girl and her family grapple with the death of a loved one. With the help of a surprising new friend, Lela walks through different seasons of grief. Along the way, she learns meaningful lessons about loss and how to find hope and joy amid the sadness.
Tenderly written and illustrated, this heartwarming, fictional tale equips children to cope with the confusing and conflicting emotions that come with the death of a loved one. For parents and caregivers, this book helps them initiate important family discussions about grief and loss.
“I have watched Clarissa guide her children through loss with honesty, messiness, and magic. This book somehow captures those qualities of grief and hope. With gentleness and wonder, she nurtures readers toward peace.”
—Melissa Zaldivar, author of What Cannot Be Lost and host of the Cheer Her On podcast
“Hope Comes to Stay is the kind of compassionate book that enfolds the reader and says, ‘I see you.’ There are no cloying cliches or platitudes here, only wise, honest, and hope-filled words alongside richly layered illustrations depicting family life after the death of a parent. A much-needed addition to children’s bookshelves, and a trustworthy resource to give to grieving families.”
—Marissa Burt, author of Storybound
“Through stunning illustrations and gentle storytelling, Hope Comes to Stay will bless families navigating the painful road of loss.”
—Phylicia Masonheimer, blogger author, speaker, and podcast host
Features
Beyond Comfort
Believers want to be helpful when they tell children who’ve experienced loss that they will see their loved one again in heaven someday, but this encouragement doesn’t address the many complex and contrary emotions that children will feel as they walk through grief. Hope Comes to Stay deals with the myriad feelings that children will experience as they face loss.
Teaching Through Storytelling
Fiction can be a powerful tool for sharing important lessons with young and old alike. The story of Lela and her family shows, not tells, children how they can walk through the different seasons of grief with hope and courage.
Soft and Soothing Illustrations
Gretchen Ellen Powers’ stunning watercolor illustrations adorn the book throughout and complement the writing in a powerful way. Parents and children will be comforted by these lovely images depicting Lela’s journey through grief.
