Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends. I’m taking a break from reading fabulous #50PreciousWords entries in order to share a fabulous new book that launches March 14. GRANDPA’S WINDOW by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Udayana Lugo will capture your hearts and help young children who are experiencing loss.
GRANDPA’S WINDOW
Written by Laura Gehl
Illustrated by Udayana Lugo
Published by Flyaway Books
Ages: 3-7
Themes: Loss, imagination, family
Synopsis: From Amazon:
Every window at the hospital faces dull, gray buildings―except the one in Grandpa’s room. Grandpa can see the ocean every day! When Daria visits, she and Grandpa look out at the beach, hoping they will build sandcastles and fly kites together again.
This touching exploration of a child’s experience of loss offers an unexpected ending, encouraging creativity and self-expression in the midst of grief.
Grandpa’s Window addresses the grieving process, both as a family member approaches the end of life as well as after death. The book includes a note for adults by Dr. Sharie Coombes (www.drsharie.com), child and family psychotherapist, about how to support children who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Why I Love This Book:
1. I love books that deal with tough topics like loss of a family member.
2. I love how the beautiful text and glorious art partner to create a book kids will love to read.
3. I love that a child’s imagination can help heal their heart.
And lucky us…Laura stopped by to chat about the path to publication for this book.
VIVIAN: What was a challenging moment for you when working on this book?
LAURA: I had just lost my mom when I first started writing GRANDPA’S WINDOW. I was so grief-stricken myself when writing that my initial drafts were just too sad. There was hope and healing…but there was too much sadness. Over time, as I worked through my grief and helped my kids work through theirs, I was able to regain my perspective and get the balance right.
VIVIAN: Any other interesting moments along the path to publication you would like to share?
LAURA: Initially, the book featured a grandmother, which makes sense, because my kids had just lost their grandmother (my mom). But then my dad died, dealing my kids a second horrible blow, and my publisher wondered about changing the grandmother to a grandfather. It felt exactly right at the time to make that change. Both of my parents are reflected in aspects of the grandfather in the published book, including his difficulty breathing, his inability to communicate verbally toward the end, and the joy he gets from his granddaughter’s art.
Thank you so much, Laura. I know it took courage to move ahead with this book. It’s a book that will help many people…and not just children.
There are additional resources written by Laura for parents and teachers on the Flyaway books site: https://www.flyawaybooks.com/book/grandpas-window
And the lovely Laura is offering a giveaway of a copy of GRANDPA’s WINDOW…please make sure you leave a comment and also share the post on your social media to spread the word about this important book!
I hope you all have a beautiful weekend. I plan to finish reading the #50PreciousWords entries and will be meeting with all of the judges – the stories are amazing – it will be a challenge to choose. The Literacy Initiative is a great success so far – and books are still being ordered at Balin Books in Nashua and there is plenty of time since I won’t be delivering the books to the schools until the beginning of April. I’m also collecting a sizable pile of books that several authors have sent me of their own books! The school librarians will definitely be smiling!
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
❤️
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cool-honoring the deaths of family members kinda like the arthur episode
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This is such an important book for all families!
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This is so needed, thanks for writing it! ♥️
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This story already tugs at my heart. I was five when I stood next to my mom at my paternal grandmother’s funeral. Mom was quietly crying. A man I didn’t know told her that she should not cry. I’ve never understood. Grief is personal. I must read Grandpa’s Window.
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Wonderful interview. Thank you for writing this book. Tough topics can be tricky to write for such a young age.
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I try to fill my grandchildrens’ hearts with enough love to last them a lifetime. I haven’t even read the book, and, already I feel the tears slipping through.
Thank you.
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A unique book that hospitals should have in their waiting rooms or given to families with younger kids after a loss of a loved one.
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Thank you for sharing this book with the world. Much needed.
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This is such an important topic for us to read and talk about. I look forward to reading. I’m so sorry for your losses, Laura. Thank you for sharing. Rosanna Montanaro
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These stories are hard to read, hard to share, because they tug at the heart. They can also bring comfort in sharing the same pains another child went through and how to deal with this pain. I’m sorry for your loss.
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This book will be a great help to grieving children. Laura, as you grieve the loss of your mom and dad, God bless you with the peace and comfort that can only come from Him.
Nan Carlton Mosteller
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This looks like a beautiful book and is so important! Congratulations, Laura, and I am so very sorry about the loss of your parents.
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This book looks very special. Can’t wait to read it. Would love to know even more about the authors process with this one. As hard as it was to write, I hope it became therapeutic at some point, and now it is a beautiful tribute to her parents. 💫
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Sounds like a beautiful story. Sorry for your loss, Laura. What a treasure this book will be to your children.
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A beautiful and brave book – much needed – and a beautiful tribute to your parents, Laura.
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Touching and very helpful – libraries everywhere should have it!
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This book will help so many readers with this difficult time in their lives as well as help others gain empathy to support those currently grieving. I shared on tumblr to help spread the word about this important and necessary book: https://yesreaderwriterpoetmusician.tumblr.com/post/711414434724233216/via-perfect-picture-book-friday-grandpas-window
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Laura, this book looks lovely. I can’t wait to read it. Thank you for sharing, Vivian.
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Laura, the story-behind-the story is so sad, but it gave birth to a precious story that will help others. Condolences and congratulations.
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