Mama's Going to Heaven Soon

Having a parent or other family member with a terminal illness can be a confusing time for a family, especially with young children. Those going through this situation get a helping hand with Mama's Going to Heaven Soon. Written by Kathe Copeland and illustrated by Elissa Hudson, this book is a great way to walk a child through the impending death of a loved one.

The situation is shown through the eyes of two children whose mother is dying of cancer. They recognize their mother is sick, and eventually their father sits them down to tell them their mom is dying and will be going to Heaven soon. Questions such as can the children go to Heaven too, and whether their mom still loves them are touched upon, and handled well in my estimation. The book also shows that it's okay to be sad when someone dies.

What I Like: I can see how this gentle book could help a child handle the loss of a loved one better. At the end of the book, there's a page of tips and recommendations for parents and caregivers to use with kids, which is adapted from Theresa M. Hunley's book Helping Children Grieve: When Someone They Love Dies.

What I Dislike: While God is mentioned, there is a lot of wiggle room for people of non-Christian faiths to use this book. I would like to see a stronger Christian message, but for its intended purpose, this is a great book.

Overall Rating: Very Good

Age Appeal: 9 - 12, but if this is a situation your family is dealing with, younger children would benefit from this book as well.

Publishing Info: Augsburg Books, 2005; ISBN: 0-8066-5122-9; Paperback $9.99

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Special Info: A portion of the purchase price of this book is donated to cancer research.