Product Description

Because her mom's death causes six-year-old Charlotte to feel sad, mad, and scared, she and her dad visit a therapist who helps them acknowledge and express their feelings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #911301 in Books
• Published on: 1996-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 24 pages

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2?Though Spelman's book is not unique, it deals with the subject of grief in a compassionate, understanding way. While the focus is on the individual hardships of losing a loved one, the story also highlights the importance of seeking help from a therapist. This, ultimately, is the only way Charlotte and her father can come to grips with their grief. The soft watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations work well with the text and sensitively convey the characters' emotions. Similar to E. Sandy Powell's Geranium Morning (Carolrhoda, 1990), Spelman's title goes a step further by discussing the importance of seeking professional help. A solid choice.?Denise Furgione, Atlantic County Library, Mays Landing, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 5^-7. This concept book features a six-year-old dealing with the recent death of her mother. Charlotte feels angry with Mom, estranged from her grieving and preoccupied Dad, and afraid that she, or her father, may also die. Because the confusion of these emotions sometimes causes her to lash out at others, Dad arranges for her to talk with a therapist, who helps her to acknowledge these feelings and develop a more positive outlook toward the future. Friedman's soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations add a soothing touch, helping to mute the raw emotions expressed in the text. The characters' reactions ring true, and the description of play therapy techniques will reassure parents and children dealing with a similar situation. Kay Weisman

About the Author
Cornelia Maude Spelman is an Albert Whitman and Company author.

Judith Friedman is an Albert Whitman and Company illustrator.

Customer Reviews

After Charlotte's Mom Died
After Charlotte's Mom Died is an excellent resource for a child that has lost a parent. The authors note at the start of the book is a short, concise note to adults that are supporting a child who has suffered the loss of a parent. The child in this story lost her mom in an auto accident. The story deals with many of the common feelings that a child will experience after such a loss... saddness, anger, fear. It also addresses the lonliness that a child will experience because other adults in their lives experiencing the same loss are preoccupied with their own grief. Many times are unable to see or deal with the feelings of the child. This book also addresses how a simple statement can be misconstrued by a child. In this instance an aunt tells the child that death is something like sleeping. The child is then afraid to go to sleep. The father seeks counselling for himself and the child to help them deal with their grief. In our society many times there is a fear of counselling. This book protrays counselling in a positive way, a way to work through the feelings. This book is an excellent resource for families, schools etc. We are adding this to our Hospice library as a resource for our community.