Mel’s Thoughts:

Where Do We Go?, by James F. Weinsier, illustrated by Cliff Beaman, is a book about the subject of death.  Death can be a difficult subject to discuss with children….they have so many valid questions and concerns.  This book doesn’t necessarily give all of the answers, but it sparks a child’s imagination and even discussion into what it will be like after they die.

Death is not easy to even think about, but it’s something we all face some day.  To think of a child dying is just the most awful, horrible tragedy that could ever occur.  In the beginning of this book, I noticed that it was dedicated to the author’s son and grandson, who already know ‘where’…and that there was an illustration of an older boy in a superhero outfit, holding a baby.  This immediately gripped my heart, as I realized that this book was written from the author’s own painful experiences.  In fact, Mr. Weinsier wrote this book after the devastating losses of his father, son, and grandson, all in the same year, 2006.  He wrote it to help answer the questions and concerns that his other grandchildren had, in regards to death.

Where Do We Go? is filled with rhyming prose from page to page….the illustrations are colorful and imaginative.  It’s written as if a child is posing all of the questions.  Things such as what the weather will be like, will there be fireflies, will we live out our dreams, will our pets be there, do we stay the same age, Can you swing on swings as high as the sky, etc.  The book is designed to be used by parents of any faith, denomination, etc, so it doesn’t go into great theological detail.  However, it does end with the fact that no matter what, we will always be in the hearts of those who love us when we die.

As a Christian parent, I really feel that this book would open up discussion for us to have with our boys.  Sure, it doesn’t explain our beliefs and faith….but it brings up questions and ends on a positive note.  It sparks that discussion and awareness that helps move the fear and awkwardness away, so that great conversation can take place, thus instilling our values and beliefs into the discussion.  I do recommend this book as a conversation starter.  Sometimes it’s hard for us as adults and parents, let alone kids, to understand death….this just helps to get parents down on their kids’ level, so to say, as they approach this painful and difficult subject.

Melissa J’s Thoughts

Where Do We Go? may catch some parents off guard with the subject matter, given the adorable illustrations the book has. If a parent picks this book up thinking it’s going to be cute—it is. It also has a serious subject matter that will more than likely generate discussion that some parents may not be ready to have with their children–death.

If death hasn’t been discussed or brought up yet, I can see some parents wanting to stay away from this book. However, if death has, or is, something that has been brought into the child’s awareness, this is a great book to deal with it. It deals with a scary subject in a cute manner, asking questions such as,

“Will falling leave there even be red? Maybe they’ll be blue!

What about our impossible dreams? I’ll bet they’ll all come true!

and

Are we going to get any older, or stay the same age we are?

Maybe we can choose our favorite age we’ve liked the best so far.

The artwork is my absolute favorite part of this book and it kept my daughter captivated all the way through. Cliff Breaman’s illustrations bring the lightness that a book such as this needs.

Is this a book I would search out? Not if we weren’t dealing with death in our household. Is it a book that I would want if death was a circumstance in our lives? Absolutely. It brings wonder and even excitement to life after death and ends with the promise, that even when we aren’t here anymore, we’ll live forever in the hearts of those who love us.

You can purchase Where Do We Go? from Amazon for $12.95.

Giveaway

Ends April 12

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(Disclosure: We were each provided a copy of this book, free of charge, by Five Star Publications, Wondrous Publications, LLC, and Mr. James Weinsier, for the purposes of this review.)