JAMES REID FUNERAL HOME LENDING LIBRARY 

We have books for everyone in our lending library. We will highlight some periodically to introduce you to them and help you to find something that might be of interest to you. If you have read any of the books mentioned, please feel free to make a comment so others may benefit from your thoughts. 

CHILD LOSS: 

Where’s Our Baby?: Valerie Oldfield (Bereaved Families of Ontario) 
 

A little boy is trying to make sense of the confusion surrounding the death of his baby sister. He must ask questions to the adults around him and find a way to interpret the things they do and say in order to find his own sense of peace. AN excellent read to assist young children in understanding why the baby is not home from the hospital. 

BOOKS FOR EVERYONE 

Living with Loss, One Day at a Time: Rachel Blythe Kodanaz 

Kodanaz offers daily encouragement to individuals and families who have recently lost a loved one. The short entries are easy to read and give realistic, practical advice to guide readers through the day. By providing tools and suggestions that offer hope, optimism, introspection, and self-discovery, this book enables readers to embrace the happy days of life with their loved one and gently guide them through their grief. 

The Other Side of Sadness: George Bonanno  

We tend to understand grief as a predictable five-stage process of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. But in The Other Side of Sadness, George Bonanno shows that our conventional model discounts our capacity for resilience. In fact, he reveals that we are already hardwired to deal with our losses efficiently--not by graduating through static phases. Weaving in explorations of mourning rituals and the universal experiences of the death of a parent or child, Bonanno examines how our inborn emotions--anger and denial, but also relief and joy--help us deal effectively with loss. And grieving goes beyond mere sadness: it can deepen interpersonal connections and often involves positive experiences. In the end, mourning is not predictable, but incredibly sophisticated. Combining personal anecdotes and original research, The Other Side of Sadness is a must-read for those going through the death of a loved one.   

Welcoming Change: James E. Miller 
 

A wonderfully helpful guide for turning difficult changes into growth experiences. Pastor and counsellor James Miller explores the phases common to all major changes and offers practical, insightful suggestions for moving through each phase. Beautiful full-colour photographs and inspiring passages from the Bible, poetry, and literature enhance and enrich the author's text. 

HOW TO HELP CHILDREN: 

A Child’s View of Grief: Alan Wolfelt Ph.D 

 
Great little guide for those who want to get an introduction into childhood grief and how adults can best companion the process. Rather than prescribe one way that children should experience grief, adults need to allow children to be the teachers. 

 
How do we Tell the Children?: Dan Schaefer and Christine Lyons 

Many children's lives are touched by a serious illness within their families, and some will be faced with the loss of a parent or grandparent, or the death of a sibling or beloved pet. How can adults help young people cope with these losses? How do they explain and console in language that a child can understand? 

Dr. Daniel Schaefer, working with child psychologists and trauma experts, and drawing on more than three decades of experience with families in crisis, has written a practical guide for anyone who works or lives with children—parents, caregivers, counsellors, or teachers — to respond to their inevitable questions about loss and change, life and death. He provides strategies to assist children with grief and trauma and offers time-tested advice and language that children can understand.