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Book Details:
Book Title: Dear Brave Friend by Leigh Ann Gerk
Category: Middle-Grade Non-Fiction (8 to 12) , 49 pages
Genre: Self-Help
Publisher: Golden Harvest Publishers
Release date: August 2019
Content Rating: This non-fiction, self-help book is rated G. Appropriate for all audiences.
Book Description:
This gentle and heartwarming story captures the love between a boy
and his dog, and the sadness that follows after his cherished dog
passes away. Written in the form of a letter from the dog to the boy,
the letter shares relatable, real life examples of how the boy (and
therefore anybody who has lost a dear pet) may be feeling and
suggestions on what he can do to help himself get through this most
difficult time. The letter also touches on simple acts of kindness that
can follow the reader throughout his or her lifetime. The message in
this story is applicable to young and old, girl or boy, and to any
family pet that has stolen your heart. Story starters, drawing pages,
and a place to add pictures of your own beloved pet are also included in
the back of the book.
Dear Brave Friend is a much needed book for both kids and adults to have after loosing a pet. For those of us who have always had pets in our homes, we all know how they become an important part of our families. We have lost many dog furry friends that we miss dearly. We had one little black pomeranian for about 15 years. He and my son grew up together. People always told us we raised him to be human. And that's how he acted. It broke our hearts in to when we had to put him to sleep. And now, my son and his wife have a little black chihuahua that's the same way. That dog is as close to human as any, ever. A book like this would have been helpful during those times we lost our furry friend. Of course we don't know what really happens to them, but we need to read encouraging things to help us grieve. I appreciate author Leigh Ann Gerk for writing this precious book. And the sweet illustrations by Trish Murtha are just perfect for each page of the story. I love the soft pastel colors that gives the calming feeling while you are reading this sweet book. If you, or someone you know has lost a pet recently, this is a perfect book to read. And why not keel one on hand to have for a gift when you need it?
<span;>A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Be Creative When Helping Your Child
Grieve GUEST POST FROM THE AUTHOR
Children grieve differently than adults do, but some of the same strategies can offer them relief. First of all, get your child outside. Actively participating in any fun activities will not only distract them from their grief, but will offer them an opportunity to work through it in a very healthy way. For example, if your pet passes away in the throes of winter, a child who has a wonderful day of sledding, building snowmen, and making snow angels with friends or family members will probably be better prepared to process and deal with their sadness. Research supports that being in nature is healing. Depending on the season, take your child on a hike, or fishing, or spend all day in the garden. Our job as parents includes teaching our children how to grieve, and this includes learning to get on with their life even when they must do it without their best friend. I once read our job as parents is to give our children “roots and wings.” Teaching them how to grieve now, while in your care, will help them form the strong, solid root structure they will need throughout their lifetime. You, as their role model, will feel more comfortable when they spread their wings knowing that you have taught them a valuable life skill. Remember that the pandemic is hard on children, too. Children are feeling as discombobulated as adults are, if not more so. In many cases, they are no longer going to school, but doing their classes and lessons online. They miss their friends and the routine of the school day all week followed by the weekend with family activities. Being home full-time has presented many children with the responsibility of feeding and walking their pets, and younger children often include their pets in playing school, reading stories to them and “teaching” them the lessons they’re learning. If these activities come to a sudden halt, children can feel completely lost, and possibly angry, confused, or other negative emotions. Sometimes simply having a stuffed animal to snuggle and play with can help ease their troubled heart. With older children who are able to write, many find writing a letter or a series of letters to their dearly departed pet cathartic. By writing letters, they can describe their frustrations and loneliness, or they can tell the pet about their efforts to make new friends or keep busy with a new hobby. Expressing their loneliness, sadness, confusion, or anger helps children work through these feelings. Many children enjoy writing stories about their best friend or chronicling fun times they’ve had together. Some children enjoy writing plays that have their pet play the leading role. Depending on their age and skill level, writing or drawing about their pet can be very healing for children. Also, children benefit from stable routines. If possible, try to keep the same mealtime and bedtime schedules. Especially during times of transition when your child no longer has to walk and feed their pet, it is okay to leave their beloved pet’s bowl and toys out where they’ve always been; just the presence of their things can offer a small degree of relief. Hanging pictures of their pet in their room is often comforting. Remember that your child is struggling to understand feelings that are probably unfamiliar, so little elements of familiarity can be very comforting. One thing is certain – there are no rules for grieving. Especially during these difficult times, each family must be creative to determine what efforts bring a degree of peace, comfort and familiarity to their children.
Leigh Ann Gerk MA, LPC has been in the counseling field for over
eleven years. She is certified in Pet Loss & Grief Companioning and
the founder and owner of Mourning to Light Pet Loss providing individual
and family counseling for anyone grieving the loss of a pet. She
currently offers 3 free pet loss support groups in Northern Colorado and
is excited to branch out and offer more. Having grown up on a farm,
Leigh Ann's childhood playmates included baby calves, horses, bunnies,
dogs, and 32 cats that set up house in a boxcar that also served as her
playhouse. This upbringing introduced her, at a very young age, to the
human-animal bond and instilled in her a deep understanding of, and love
for, this extraordinary relationship. Leigh Ann and her husband, Andy,
live in Loveland, Colorado, and are the proud parents of identical twin
daughters, Heather and Heidi. Their family is made complete by their
first grandchild and their cherished therapy dog, Gracie. Visit Leigh
Ann online at MourningToLightPetLoss.com.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ goodreads
Tour Schedule:
Jan 18 – Nighttime Reading Center – book review / giveaway
Jan 19 – Book World Reviews – book review / author interview
Jan 19 - Laura's Interests – book review / guest post / giveaway
Jan 20 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review / giveaway
Jan 20 - Carpinello's Writing Pages - book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Jan 21 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review / guest post/ giveaway
Jan 22 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway
Jan 25 – I'd Rather Be At The Beach – book review / giveaway
Jan 26 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Jan 26 - The Momma Spot - book review
Jan 27 – Reading is My Passion – book review
Jan 27 - Reading Authors Network - book review / giveaway
Jan 28 – Bound 4 Escape – book review / giveaway
Jan 29 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Feb 1 –Books, Tea, Healthy Me – book spotlight / author interview / giveaway
Feb 1 - Welcome To MLM Opinion’s Reviews - book review
Feb 2 – Splashes of Joy – book review / guest post / giveaway
Feb 2 - Library of Clean Reads – book review / giveaway
Feb 2 - Lisa's Reading – book review / giveaway
Feb 3 – Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife – book review / author interview / giveaway
Feb 3 - Pick a Good Book - book review / author interview / giveaway
Feb 4 – Pawesome Wisdom – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 4 - I'm Into Books – book review / giveaway
Feb 4 - Deborah-Zenha Adams - book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Feb 5 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Feb 5 - The Pen and Muse Book Reviews - book review / giveaway
Feb 5 - Because I said so and other adventures in Parenting - book review / giveaway
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