To Marleen-

Thank you for always understanding and loving me from the depths of your heart. 

It was so soon for death to force us apart.

The purpose of this book is to comfort and guide children in the five stages of grief during the loss of a loved one. Readers of all agers can benefit from this book however this book was written simply for preschoolers (ages three to five) to understand. Reading this book to your child will help explain death on a basic level. Gentle frequent reminders that the loved one will not return may be required due to the inability of a preschooler to fully comprehend abstract concepts of death. 

Forward

Death is always a difficult life event for any parent to explain to their children at any age. There are universal stages of grief that most people go through. The stages can go in chronological order, in reverse, without order, or a person may stay in a stage indefinitely. The first stage is called denial; it may appear as if the little person does not believe the bad news or cares much. The anger stage may display the child becoming upset with the messenger, the deceased, objects, the situation, or themselves. Bargaining occurs when the child thinks of ways that the deceased could have lived, they may blame themselves and it is important to reinforce that they did not cause the death to happen. Try to identify the stages of grief with your child in the book.

Introduction

 Depression way cause a disruption in a child's activities of daily living which may include sleeping, diet, tolieting, and behavior. When the child begins to live with the fact the loved one has died and looks toward the future, acceptance has taken place; a new reality is made and life can go on. A preschooler may not fully understand death so it is recommended to describe that the body has stopped working; they will continue to ask questions about it and it is important to answer them truthfully . 

Introduction Continued

Stella loves her best friend, Apollo the unicorn since the day they met.

Stella and Apollo love to play together. They really love to collect rainbow rocks in their giant net.

The sun is going down now, which means, that it is time for Stella and Apollo to go home.

In planet Pink, everyone lives in a dome.

After dinner, Stella and Apollo put on their pajamas, brush their teeth, and get ready to go to their beds.

After a long day of play, it is time for them to rest their tired little heads.

YUM!

MINE!!!

Stella dreams of a giant, fluffy, cotton candy tree,

where taffy, gumdrops, and sugar apples are free.

Mother checks on Apollo and Stella as they sleep.

Mother finds Apollo dead and begins to weep

Stella awakes as the sun shines a bright light. 

Stella goes to find Apollo, who she hasn't seen since last night.

Apollo, time to wake up!" Says Stella calling to her pet.

However, Apollo is not there and Stella begins to fret.

“Mommy where is Apollo? Her bed is bare.

I went to her room, and she is not there!”

Mom replies, "First, I want you to know, I will always be here for you when you are sad.

Remember how much Apollo loves you, it could help you when you feel bad.

Stella, I have bad news, Apollo is dead. It means she can no longer, hear, smell, see, touch or taste.

It means you cannot touch her or see her face.

Her body is not working and her heart no longer beats,

Her mouth cannot open and she no longer eats.

Her lungs no longer work, she cannot breathe air,

Death means life is no longer there.

Apollo can no longer play,

However, I will find rainbow rocks with you, if that's okay.