Why Is Keiko Sick?: A Conversation with Your Child about Why Bad Things Happen

by Stacia McKeever, Ingrid Beyer (Illustrator)

Explaining the reality of illness and death to children is one of the most difficult tasks adults undertake. This heartwarming story explains sickness and death in a wonderfully sensitive way. Readers are introduced to Emily, whose friend, Keiko, has leukemia. Through a conversation with her parents, Emily comes to understand why the world is the way it is. From a discussion of the first two people, Adam and Eve, through explanation of death, sin, and spiritual re-birth, Emily is comforted in the knowledge that God cares very much for her friend. A final section, Things to Do and Talk about Together, gives parents an opportunity to think through their responses to children who have questions about difficult realities.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2006

Reviews

[La Haynes]

Going on my Children’s shelf.

[Cynthia]

This is an excellent discussion for kids if they or someone close to them has a serious, life-limiting illness.

[David]

The answer to the book's title requires a tour of our 6,000 year old earth, and how man lived alongside dinosaurs.