As of this writing, the United States is losing 15,000 lives EVERY SINGLE WEEK — most of them someone’s grandparent. Young children — always upset by death — are bound to be even more disturbed by a silent killer that strikes so quickly and lethally. They need a book that can help them deal with the grief and — let’s call it what it is — terror. And Marion Donlon has provided it. For free!

In this short story, a mother explains the inexplicable to her young son: how they could not visit Gramps at his death, why the coffin was closed at the funeral, why the family couldn’t gather at the hospital, or even later, the fear of death. Parents will find almost as much solace in this gentle, touching book as will its young target audience.

This slender book for children aged 5 and older is also available in French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) in exchange for an honest review.

Publishers Synopsis:

“I wasn’t able to tell him that I loved him!” “Did he think we had abandoned him?” “Am I going to die too, Mommy?” “Where do you think he is now?” “What about you, Mommy, what do you remember about him?”

Gramps is a short story for children, in the form of a dialogue between a mother and her son, that tenderly and lovingly deals with the loss of a grandfather to Covid-19.
For 5 years+. (also available in French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese)
FREE

Review:

A beautiful story of a mother and son grieving the death of “Gramps” due to the COVID-19 virus of 2020. Although there is no illustrations, and the storyline is a little indirect, the book presents a great way to navigate the discussion of a loved one due to COVID-19 and could serve as a useful guide for parents, particularly those unsure of how to discuss this with their children.

The story is beautiful, and my heart goes out to anybody who has lost a loved one due to this horrible virus, but this story is missing a lot of things. Also, never in any way did I expect to read the words “black hairs on your willy” in a book about COVID-19. I know what the intention was there but I think it was just a bit unnecessary. But still a wonderful book.

My sincerest thanks to Netgalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

3/5 stars

I thought this was a beautiful story however it would not have been suitable for my 6 year old due to referring to willy. I just didnt think it was appropriate but other than that it was well told and relateable for a child on their loss

Working in the third sector for palliative care I was extremely intrigued to read this book. It is a conversation between a boy and his mother after losing the boy's grandfather and the boy asks questions such as did his grandfather know he loved him? and they discuss what they most miss about him.

What i did find bizarre is that boy asks his mum if he will be a dad like daddy? The mum says yes.. which I found strange as in such a diverse world why not say maybe? Or would you like to be? I just picture that if it was a little girl, wouldn't we wan't her to know that her sole purpose isn't just to be a mother? (Maybe I have just read too much around sexism lately).

The other weird thing is the mother says the boy will one day have 'black hairs on his willy'. In a book about grief it just seemed out of place. it felt we were trying to tackle two things here rather than just grief yet it didn't explain anything more about puberty.

Overall, some elements of a comforting conversation but I am not sure I would give it to my child to help them understand loss.

During these unprecedented times, it is the job of writers to put pen to paper to describe the world around them. That is just what this author did in a very heartfelt, emotional way. The title and story so bluntly paint a very real story of grief. I wonder exactly what age group this is tailored to as I am sure many children are confused by the losses of loved ones around them.

This is a beautiful, sad but wonderful book. I think that it would be best to read it aloud or together with a child.  This title honestly and movingly conveys what it means to lose a cherished family member.  The story is about the loss of a young boy's grandfather.  It is clear that this grandfather will be deeply missed and the boy is given plenty of opportunity to reminisce and hear stories about his family.  In addition, the book explains why a child could not visit a relative with Covid and allows for different beliefs about what happens when someone dies.  The boy is assured that his grandfather will be honored and remembered. The boy, himself,  is reassured that he will live for many years.


Of course it is deeply sad to need a book like this.  I think though that it will be a welcome resource for families who don't know what to say or how to explain death to young children.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title in exchange for an honest review.  Highly recommenced!

A very heartwarming and interesting dialogue between a mother and son over a grandparent that just died. The only strange thing was the talk about pubic hair...it was a little laughable and not really necessary or informative for the story.

It made me smile, it made me weep, what a short but powerful punch it packs! This is the perfect book to help explain loss of a loved one and to help understand grief.

Short story in the form of a dialogue between mother and son that deals with the loss of a grandfather to Covid-19. So touching and since, brought tears to my eyes.

Be prepared to weep copiously. A mother and her small son grieve for the beloved grandpa lost to Covid-19, especially [for the child] because of the quarantine preventing the family's presence. As they both recall verbally their favorite memories of Gramps, a little peace begins to settle in.

How warm is that book! How emotional is that book! I loved it very much.
It will make you cry, however, it will make you laugh too.
It is short story in the form of a dialogue between a son, who had lost his gramp for COVID-19, and his parents, mostly his mother, trying to explain to him the meaning of death and how he is not going to see his gramp anymore.
You can read it to your children these days especially who had lost their beloved ones.

I so appreciate this resource in a time when I have been looking for exactly this—a book to help children understand and cope with the loss of a grandparent due to covid19, I am a therapist in New York, at the epicenter of this outbreak. This is unfortunately very needed right now. This book is simply written and helps children understand, answering some of the questions they might be afraid to ask through the conversation form of the book. Thank you for writing/publishing this in such a timely manner. Truly. Thank you.