SYNOPSIS

A group of young children finds a dead bird in the park. They observe the bird – no heartbeat, closed eyes, body quickly getting cold and stiff. They organize a funeral for it, in the way ground-ups do for people. They compose a sad song for the bird, arrange a grave in the woods to bury the body, and lay flowers around the gravestone. The children cry for the bird, and visit the grave over the next few days (until they forget about it).

PERFECT AGE 4 – 8

THEMES

• How a body feels and looks when it is no longer living
• Traditions and rituals for saying a final goodbye
• Emotions in death, coping with sadness, loss, grieving

We love

• Drama-free, non-grossout overview of the physical aspects of a dead body
• By being together, the children experience the bird’s funeral as a communal bonding and healing exercise
• Acknowledging that feelings around death are complex and even conflicting – the children are of course sad; but they’re also happy because they found the bird and could nicely lay it to rest…

WATCH OUT FOR (Language, Big / Sensitive Topics, Outdated Concepts):

• (language, big / sensitive topics, outdated concepts):        
• This book may not be helpful to families with a different tradition in final goodbyes -> could offer an opportunity to mention that other traditions exist
• An ever so slightly callous ending to the “story arc” – the children visit the bird’s grave until they forget about it…! -> May be used to mention that grief takes different forms and lengths of time…

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• Do you think the bird feels anything after it died? Why?
• Tell me what you felt while reading the story – can you describe 2-3 feelings or thoughts you had?
• The children found a place in the woods to make a grave – any idea why they went away from the playground / why cemeteries are in quieter, closed-off areas?
• Do you have any questions for me?