The following article was written by Sharon Verbeten, the Youth Services Manager at the Manitowoc Public Library.
Death happens. And it’s almost always met with uncertainty and sadness, especially for children. Some families choose to shield children from death—which is the ultimate fact of life.
In the wake of loss—expected or sudden—some adults may be too stressed, confused or shocked to comprehend their own grief, much less that of a child. While Manitowoc Public Library has always had books available to address grief and loss, the Library now has two new kits to address loss—that of a human loved one, as well as the loss of a pet.
After a loss, kids just want to feel safe, express their emotions, and have their questions answered honestly. These new resources will make broaching a difficult topic a bit less daunting.
With the help of grant monies from The Canary Fund, I curated and created two kits. The Grief Kit contains multiple picture books that approach the topic of grief and loss in poignant, accessible terms—perfect for family read-alouds. It also includes a set of puppets that allow children to show their emotions in a safe, less intimidating way. The Loss of a Pet kit contains books specific to that very personal event.
I was able to curate these kits so effectively because of my unique backstory. In addition to being a librarian, I’ve written for the funeral industry for more than 30 years. In that time, I have seen that far too often, families want to shy away from talking about death in an open and honest way. That does children a disservice because it does not allow them to process their grief in a meaningful way, and that can have lasting negative effects.
While no family’s journey is the same, these kits will allow children and families to heal together—sharing stories and emotions in a healthy way.
The Canary Fund (www.thecanaryfund.org) recognizes the activists, visionaries, and change-makers of Northeast Wisconsin who see and work to address unmet needs in local communities. A portion of this grant also funded a grief kit for Harrigan-Parkside Funeral Home in Manitowoc.
