By Christine Crosby,
At first, I didn’t “get” this book and set it aside. Then, two little boys I know lost their mother to a fast growing pancreatic cancer. As I looked for resources to help this family, I immediately picked up My Yellow Balloon by Tiffany Papageorge and read it through. What I found was the story of Joey and his new friend, a bright yellow balloon, who one day, unfortunately, slips off his wrist and floats away into the sky.
Beautifully illustrated by Erwin Madrid, a Dreamworks artist, My Yellow Balloon presents the stages of grief and coping with loss in a way that a very young child can comprehend. It has a beautiful ending when Joey finds hope again and the ability to remember the good times he had with his friend.
There has been a lot of sadness in the news recently, from devastating natural disasters to violent protests and much more. It’s no secret that our grandchildren are directly or indirectly exposed to and aware of life’s most difficult occurrences, and in their true curious nature, they may have questions.
Whether your grandchild has observed a loss or dealt with one of their own (death, divorce, moving away, deployment, etc.), helping them understand it all can be challenging.
Providing comfort and clarity, My Yellow Balloon can help grandparents begin a difficult conversation with their grandchildren. Loss is very real, but doesn’t have to be so scary.
