Dealing with loss is difficult for all involved. At times, talking about that loss can be even more difficult. This can become even harder when there is a child involved.
“Every day gets better,” is what Chippy Chipmunk thinks at the end of the latest installment in the series by award-winning nature photographer Kathy Miller, “Chippy Chipmunk: Friends in the Garden.”
One day, Chippy goes looking for his best friend Pickle, the meadow vole, only to discover that Pickle had died. As Chippy grieves for his best friend, his other friends help him mourn Pickle.
“Loss is a natural part of life,” said Miller in a release about the book, “but most adults in our society are uncomfortable talking about death. This can leave children suffering and feeling isolated. Through the Chippy Chipmunk series, I demonstrate ways friends can help friends cope with loss. They offer food, take on daily tasks, offer to play and share, give them gifts, organize a dedication for the friend that dies, share memories and stories, and so much more. I also provide child-appropriate methods through which nature can be a healing source, such as teaching kids to look for things that are heart-shaped or other reminders of their loved one, or by imagining that beautiful things they see are sent from those who’ve passed.”
Miller was inspired to have the next book focus on this topic when she noticed the limited number of children books that deal with the difficult subject of loss.
Using animals and nature allows the young readers to more easily understand death and is a way for them to relate without scaring them. With the help of his friends, Chippy is able to grieve, but also come to accept Pickle’s loss and be at peace with the hopes that his friend is somewhere wonderful.
“Chippy still missed Pickle but he knew he would never forget him. He always kept an eye out for something to remind him of Pickle,” is written by Miller in the story as Chippy begins to be at peace with the loss.
At the end of the story is a note to parents and a note to educators from a licensed professional counselor and an elementary school counselor to help parents and educators navigate dealing with death when children are involved.
“The loss of a loved one is hard at any age,” wrote Denise L. Whalen, licensed professional counselor. “Children may find expressing what they are experiencing difficult to do. They are frequently reluctant to share their feelings because they may not want to upset the adult around them who are already sad.”
Melissa Carr, elementary school counselor points out how the book can be good for educators in their classrooms. “Storybooks about grief may be helpful for a student who experienced a loss. They may also be used as a read aloud to a classroom that has suffered from the death of a student within their class or school.”
Miller’s new Chippy story is a way to start the conversation on life and death using nature. The book filled with high quality photographs by Miller, recently won a “Mom’s Choice Award” in the Children’s Picture Books: Growing Up/Personal Growth category. Along with the story, are notes to parents and educators, an activity page, an answer key and nature facts.
Though “Chippy Chipmunk: Friends in the Garden” is set to release in January 2015, Miller is supporting local businesses by having early copies at the Gallery of Hamburg, Firefly Bookstore, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Bookstore and Wanamaker General Store at WK&S Railroad in Kempton.
For more on Chippy Chipmunk and Miller visit www.chippychipmunk.com.
