Some of my kindergarten students have grandparents in the area, some of them have grandparents who live far away. In the course of the school year, some of their grandparents pass away. Occasionally, some of the children 
have had a parent who has passed away so Mother’s Day and Father’s Day have to be handled with special care. Talking about death and dying with young children is difficult because they do not have the same understanding and experience. Using a story is one way of addressing the issue. In his book, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, Leo Buscaglia writes about the seasonal changes of a leaf. Freddie changes with each season. In the autumn, with the help of a wise leaf, Freddie learns about the cycle of life and death and falls peacefully from the tree to be covered by winter’s blanket. This simple story can be understood by children and is one way of helping them deal with a confusing time. Nature can help us all learn some lessons about life. Have you any other books to recommend for children?
