Bereavement book for children - Title suggestions please

[WDDAuthor]

Hello all, I am an 'old' mums netter, but nc for this.

I was hoping the collective mind of Mumsnetters could help me! I have written a book for children around bereavement. It is part story, (my daughter's experience) part workbook, and tells of a girl whose dad died, and the coping strategies she learned. This is not a fluffy book, it deals with death straight on, mention the funeral etc. It is meant for children aged around 6-9yrs.

We are now at the last stretch, illustrations are done etc. But I was hoping you could help me come up with a suitable title!

I want to make it clear that the book is about bereavement, so an unexpected parent doesn't pick up the book and leave their dc with it, not knowing what it's about.

Some suggestions I had so far:
*When Daddy Died
*Walking with Grief
*Dealing with Bereavement

None of them feels right yet! Could you help, please?

I don't know the answer to your question, but the book sounds great and probably just what I need for my DC. They are 6 and 10, DH died last month. Thank you for writing it.

Are there any key points or lines in the book? Like someone says to the child "daddy's in heaven now isn't he?" And you could use that line... although hopefully you have something more original to use

What's the last sentence in the book?

Thank you, I was looking for a factual book for that age group and didn't really find anything.

I would go for a title like "What's it like when someone dies?" Which I appreciate is not very catchy but makes it clear that its a factual type book and not a cute story about woodland creatures remembering their friend.

I also quite like "When my dad died" with a subtitle along the lines of "One child's experience of death and grieving", "How Rosie came to understand death and dying", something like that.

I hope I find your book when it comes out, there is definitely a market for it.

Thank you for writing this, I hope your family are doing okay.

I think your last two suggestions on your list are a bit dry and don't sound too 'friendly' for a child, I think you need to strike the balance between practical and clear story telling, and children's story telling. I think it's an excellent idea though.

I think one could be used as a strapline and one as the title:

When Daddy Died (dealing with grief)
When Daddy Went Away (bereavement for children)

IYSWIM.

Very good idea for a book.

Would something like 'Saying goodbye to Daddy' work? Or maybe saying goodbye forever, or for the last time, or something along those lines?

It sounds like a book that could be really useful and important for lots of families OP. It must have been a hard thing to write x

Ah, thank you all so much for the suggestions so far! It all helps. And big thank you for the encouragement too.

I am so very sorry for your loss, @badlydrawnbear. IT is a very hard path to walk down. Wishing you a lot of strength. Would have send it to you in a heart beat if it was ready.

@CocaColaTruck1, it's not very helpful towards the title, I'm afraid. "You are loved'"

Just going through it again, line by line, and this one stands out a little. How about:

'Upside down and downside up - A story and workbook for bereavement'

?

'Upside down and downside up - A story and workbook for bereavement'

I like this idea but don't like the word bereavement, it's not a very child friendly word. Although I know you would be reading with an adult.

"A workbook to help children understand death and grief/bereavement"?

Ah, @Teaandakitkat, that sounds much better. Thank you. Slowly getting there!

What about something like "Our (or My) Daddy's Gone" and then "A Book about Learning to Talk about Death and Grieving"

I don't think the word bereavement is child friendly.

How about Remembering Daddy

I’m not sure about adding “Daddy” to the title. Daddy may be the on parent left alive and it would be awful for a child to think the remaining parent was going to die too.

I like the idea of a main title that’s child friendly with a sub title that’s more descriptive.

Yes, I can see what you mean. I only suggested that as OP mentioned "When Daddy Died" as a possibility

‘When Daddy Died” actually sounds perfect except for the good point about kids with just a dad.
What about “Jenny’s Dad Died” (with the character’s actual name.
Euphemism seems counterproductive here.

All such good food for thought. Thanks so much for everyone's input so far, I appreciate it.
The word 'death' is used directly in this book, it is definitely not fluffy reading, so your point about euphemism being counterproductive is right, @DressedUpAtAnIvy.
In a guide that I am writing for parents, it specifically mentions not to use the words 'gone' or 'lost', as it gives the child the wrong message, thinking perhaps the person who died will then come back, or be found.

It is so hard to talk about death, which is why this book is so specific for children already having to deal with it.

So for sure, I won't use the word 'bereavement' on the title.

Perhaps something like:

Upside down - A story and workbook to help children deal with death.

or

When Leah's Dad Died - A story and workbook to help children communicate about their grief.

Upside down - A story and workbook to help children deal with death

"Deal with death" is a bit blunt I think, although death is harsh and no mistake

What about-

to help children understand death and dying

to help children and their families talk about death and dying

I dont know if your book covers the dying part of the process? That was one thing we struggled with and I looked really hard to find a book that explained really simply why the dying person couldn't have a drink for example.

Maybe you're focusing more on afterwards, some people will die very suddenly and a chapter about dying wouldn't apply to them.

Anyway, thank you for writing it, I hope it has helped your family process what has happened to you and I will look out for your book when it comes. It is certainly needed.

I think

Upside Down - A story and workbook for children dealing with grief

Does that sound about right?

@Knitwit101 I don't talk directly about the dying process, just that the person who died can't feel any pain. I agree there's a big need for understanding the process of dying itself. Because they start the grieving process even before the death, that'll have to be a completely different project. But it is something I'll do within the next few months. Also, I have a book for teenagers in the pipeline, it is half written, but I just wanted to get this one out first.

Thank you for the encouragement and help with this, it'll be out very soon. I'll post here when it is published.

How about 'Through Death: a workbook etc"

To suggest grief as a journey, as something to work through, as something that there is hope/life linked to afterwards?

My DS faced a bereavement when he was 5 and he wanted facts so this book sounds great.
I don’t think the title needs to be exciting per say just clear what the book is about. I like the dealing with grief workbook idea. As it’s most likely an adult picking the book up and this would have appealed to me.
One book I did like although I can’t remember the proper title had something about it’s ok to be sad in the title which was good.

Thank you again, everyone! It is so good to be able to throw ideas around and get input from others. I really appreciate it.

Just in case anyone is interested - I've put a request in for my next book project, for contributors. More details here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/nonmember_requests/4384546-Bereavement-Book-Project-Your-stories

I really hope that some of our fellow mumsnetters will be a part of it!

Yep. I think the title needs to make it clear that it's this one Daddy who died. Leah's Daddy.
A title like When Daddy Died could give the impression that the reader's daddy might well die, that it's the norm, or at least likely. Does that make sense?

Forever dad