And Still They Bloom: A Family's Journey of Loss and Healing

by Amy Rovere, Joel Spector (Illustrations)

Responding to the fact that coping with a parent’s death can be especially hard on young children, this beautifully written and illustrated book is a valuable resource for parents and counselors. Ten-year-old Emily and seven-year-old Ben must deal with the loss of their mother to cancer. Guided by conversations with their father, they embark on a journey of grief and healing, each searching for a path to acceptance. Along the way, both children realize that their mother will always be with them in their hearts. And just as their mother’s flowers had bloomed in the garden, Emily and Ben emerge from the darkness of grief to bloom once more. Using nature as a backdrop for the cycles of life, this moving story emphasizes hope and healing and will connect with all readers who have lost a loved one.

Genres: Picture Books, Death

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author really understands how grief works. When Amy and her brother lose their mother to cancer they are caught up in an overwhelming emotional roller coaster. Their father tries to help them navigate their grief, but it is obvious that he too is grieving. There is no pat ending. Grief is a journey and as the months pass Amy and her family feel and act more normal, but still grieve. A wonderful book to share with children experiencing grief, or whose lives have been touched by grief on the fringes. Thank you Amy for writing this book!

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ages 8-13 Amy Rovere writes from her own experiences of loosing a mother to cancer. It answers a lot of questions many children will think about, but may not be able to verbalize. A lot of emotion in one book!