Saying Goodbye to Grandpa is an honest book about death, written especially for Jewish children. It presents through the eyes of a child, the emotional turmoil and changes in behavior that occur following the death of a loved one. Saying Goodbye to Grandpa is recommended for the young child who has experienced the lost of close relatives and friends. It is also for the child who must, unfortunately, be prepared for an anticipated death in the family. Traditional Jewish concepts such as neshamah (soul), Mashiach (Messiah), and techiat ha-maitim (the awakening from the death) are dealt with in this story. However, these concepts are dealt with at the level appropriate for a young child. Saying Goodbye to Grandpa is a book that should be read to a child, or with the child, by an understanding and sensitive adult who is prepared to deal patiently with the myriad of questions, comments, and fears children have about death. Used properly, the story will serve as a catalyst to help the child explore, together with the parent, his/her new, almost overwhelming emotions about death.
by Moshe Halevi Spero, Ph.D