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Something Very Sad Happened

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Something Very Sad Happened: A toddler's guide to understanding death
By Bonnie Zucker
Illustrated by Kim Fleming
Magination Press, American Psychological Association, 2016.
Informational picture book

When my youngest siblings were a pair of particularly energetic 4-year-olds, a harrowing adventure resulted in the untimely death of one of the new kittens. I recall them realizing, for the first time, what dying actually meant, and it was kind of traumatic. 

It's difficult to teach young children the impact death has, but this book tries to. With some sweet simple words that can be tailored to your particular situation, Zucker walks the child through what death might mean to them and those they love. There is also some helpful guidelines for parents of young children.

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