Reviews

Kirkus

Another purposeful bibliotherapeutic story from this practiced author. After Daddy is killed in a car accident, Clare and her mother come to terms with their grief with the help of time, a sympathetic, attentive grandfather, and a dollhouse Daddy made for Clare: a reminder that, in her inherited “”talent for making things,”” Daddy lives on. Not outstanding, but written with care and sensitivity; sympathetically illustrated.

Amazon Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3– Through a third-person narration, readers learn of Clare’s emotions after her father dies in a car accident. What she experiences are universal stages of grief, all explored realistically. Her grandfather is a strong, sensitive character who knows how to re-direct her actions. He tries to answer her questions; when he cannot, he provides her with avenues of thought. The illustrations–a combination of watercolor, colored pencil, and ink–are childlike in perspective and placed on the right-hand page, opposite the text. Overall, the drawings are competent, although the location of the pipe organ in the church is highly unlikely. The writing is weak and not at all eloquent. Grammar is questionable, word order is discordant and does not read aloud well, and there are inconsistencies in the use of action words. However, the subject is addressed in a straightforward, accurate manner, and the book will suit those who need to explain the death of a parent. Acceptable for collections that can support another book on the grieving process. –Carolyn Vang Schuler, Monroe County Library System, Rochester, NY

Amazon Reader Review

Saying Goodbye to Daddy is a good resource for when a child has lost a parent suddenly. It starts off with breaking the news to the child. The feelings of confusion, saddness and anger are well described in this book. It gently discusses the finality of death in a way that mimimizes the fear. It also discusses the funeral home and the funeral. The child is given the opportunity to deside if she wanted to go to the calling hours and the funeral. The child was allowed to be angry. She was allowed to discuss her fear that she had somehow caused the accident because her father was upset with her breaking a cup. She was supported by a sensitive and loving family. She was assured that she would always be taken care of. The story showed that the adults were also grieving but they were able to provide the needed support this child.. There was an adult always present with the child and the adult was supportive, kind and loving. Overall, the story shows the need for a child and their family to talk openly about death, reminissice about the person who died , discuss the rituals following the death…ie calling hours, funeral and to discuss feelings after a significant loss. Due to the support given by the family, the child has a degree of peace by the end of the book. Good book for schools, churches and other community resources that might be tapped by people in the community who may be faced with having to provide some support to a child who has had a parent die. I will be adding this book to our Hospice library.