Angel Birthdays

19 Comments

1. 

   Erin Isola

   Angel Birthdays, by Erin Garay, is a children’s book focusing on a positive way to grieve the loss of a loved one. In the book, the two children, Gracie and Jake, learn from their mother that their grandmother passed away that day. They throw a birthday party to celebrate their grandmother’s “angel birthday”, by baking a cake, decorating balloons, and gathering presents. The mother teaches the children that everyone will grow older and eventually become angels too.
   In this book review, I will highlight the strengths and weaknesses of Angel Birthdays as evidenced by scientific research surrounding death and grieving. These topics will include positivity and religiosity in coping with grief, continuing a relationship with the deceased, and how children understand the concept of death.

   Positivity in Coping:
   Angel Birthdays incorporates a positive expression of the emotion felt during grieving. The mom tells the upset children, “Let’s not be sad. She [Grandma] wouldn’t want us to cry.” The mom and children briefly hug in the hopes of spreading the same love that Grandma used to show to each other. Soon afterwards, they begin to excitedly plan a party and celebrate her angel birthday.
   Many studies have shown that expressing positive emotions, like genuine smiles and laughter, after the death of a loved one can be adaptive in coping with bereavement (Bonanno & Kaltman, 1999). Displaying positive emotions can relieve stress and increase social interaction for the bereaved person. Increasing social interaction will not only allow the person to feel more support from those around them, but also will give the bereaved person more opportunity to talk about their loss. This will then help them deal with the more difficult aspects of their grief, such as their distressing emotions (Bonanno & Kaltman, 1999). Angel Birthdays does a good job of encouraging children to be positive about the death of a loved one, even though it is a sad event.
   However, it is not uncommon for children to display depressive symptoms, angry outbursts, developmental setbacks, and emotional and behavioral problems up to 1 year after the death of a loved one (Dowdney, 2000). Most children and adults experience a period of painful grief after the death of someone they love, but eventually, most people are also able to adjust on their own and experience happiness normally again (Shear, 2009). It is important to define these grief reactions as normal, not something to be avoided. While avoiding overwhelming feelings of distress in order to break these feelings up into manageable chunks can be helpful, extreme denial of these feelings would be abnormal and could lead to never dealing with these stressors at all (Horowitz, 1993). Successful emotional processing of grief is necessary to fully adjust and eventually eliminate grief symptoms (Rachman, 1980). However, this emotional processing can be impeded by avoidance behaviors (Rachman, 1980).
   One study showed that perceiving grief symptoms as bad leads to an avoidance of expressing these emotions (Boelen, van den Bout & van den Hout, 2003). Some participants thought reactions like crying, being angry, and constant thoughts of the deceased were negative- that they were going crazy, that something was wrong with them, or that they were incapable of coping with the loss. The people who had this view of grief reactions were more likely to experience them as distressing, as they reported feeling panicked or tense while experiencing grief symptoms. Furthermore, having negative interpretations of grief symptoms was correlated with traumatic grief and depression after the loss of a loved one (Boelen, van den Bout & van den Hout, 2003).
   Angel Birthdays should incorporate the commonness of grief symptoms such as crying, being angry, feeling guilty, and thinking about the deceased person often. It should explain to children that these reactions are a good thing, and that it is helpful and normal to express emotion in this way when they are feeling sad. This would encourage children to work through their grief in a healthy way, instead of avoiding reactions such as these.

   Religiosity in Coping
   This book includes beliefs in God and a spiritual afterlife as a main theme. The mom tells Gracie that her Grandma, who is now an angel, is watching over her and “will help protect” her. Research has shown the psychological benefits of being able to make sense of a loss and experiencing positive growth from the loss of a loved one. A 1998 study showed that people with religious and spiritual beliefs were more likely to be able to accept their loved one’s death as inevitable or part of God’s plan (Davis, Nolen-Hoeksema & Larson). These beliefs helped people make sense of their loss, which predicted less psychological distress 6 months post-loss. Another factor this study explored was people’s ability to find personal benefit from the loss of their loved one. After their family member’s death, some people experienced a greater appreciation for life, a growth in character, or a felt that the loss brought their surviving family members together. People who experienced a benefit from the loss also had less distressing psychological symptoms 6 months after the death (Davis, Nolen-Hoeksema & Larson, 1998).
   Angel Birthdays does a good job of helping children make sense of the loss of a loved one through religious and spiritual beliefs, as the mom explains to Gracie and Jake that “God made your Grandma an angel today.” The concept of an angel birthday shows children how the loss of a loved one can be understood as a part of God’s plan. It also provides a good suggestion for a way to benefit from the loss of a loved one. The birthday party that the family celebrates every year brings the family together and encourages positive support and love among the family members. One other way this book could improve on this idea would be to highlight how children could experience personal benefit from their loss, such as promoting a growth in their character by telling them that they are strong for being able to cope with their grief.

   Continuing a Relationship
   The children in this book think of their relationship with their Grandma as continuing after her death. Although she is an angel now, she still loves them, hears them, watches them, and blows them kisses from heaven (shown by a big “X” in the sky), and is proud of them.
   Enduring positive bonds with the deceased are a widespread cultural phenomenon. According to some theorists, redefining a relationship with a deceased loved one is a crucial part of the grieving process (Bonanno & Kaltman, 1999). Creating a new, positive interpretation of this relationship can help a person feel like they still have the same identity that they had before the death, which can minimize the stress they feel from grief. Continuing a relationship with the deceased can also provide comfort and support while a person transitions into their new life without the deceased (Bonanno & Kaltman, 1999).
   However, if there is an intense level of grief in the bereaved, this bond may become ambivalent rather than positive. That is to say, the bereaved may feel a longing to be with the deceased person while also being angry at them for dying. With complicated feelings like these, it may be necessary to minimize the importance of the bond in order to protect the bereaved person from continuing a harmful relationship that is too painful for them to deal with (Bonanno & Kaltman, 1999). Parents reading Angel Birthdays to their children should be conscious of the level of grief their child is experiencing, and be aware of how their child is handling their emotions when trying to continue their relationship with the deceased.

   Understanding the Concept of Death
   Angel Birthdays presents death as a change of states, rather than a termination of existence. Once again, although the Grandma is not physically present, she still has thoughts and feelings, can still see and hear the children, and is still able to communicate with them via signals.
   Between ages 5 and 7, most children develop the capacity to understand that death is an irreversible and inevitable concept (Lazar & Torney-Purta, 1991). Before understanding that death is irreversible, many children think it is a state or a place that people can return from at some point. Before understanding the inevitability of death, many children think that special people do not die, or that one can do certain things in order to avoid death (Speece & Brent, 1984). This book does a good job of explaining to children that death is irreversible– that their Grandma will not come back– and it is inevitable– that it will happen to everyone.
   Children in early to middle elementary school are in a very critical period of development with regards to the understanding of the concept of death (Bering & Bjorklund, 2004; Lazar & Torney-Purta, 1991; Speece & Brent, 1984). Children are able to understand that death is permanent and inevitable before they are able to understand how and why death happens, and what that means for a dead person’s abilities (Lazar & Torney-Purta, 1991). This book is meant to be read to children ages 5-6, or read by children ages 7-10, which is during this critical period of development. Thus, there are some elements of this book that may confuse children about the true meaning of death. For example, the fact that the Grandma is still able to see, hear, think, and feel as an angel does not accurately represent how death changes a human being. However, a study by Bering and Bjorklund (2004) showed that children in late elementary school, at an age capable of understanding death, tended to attribute psychological states (having knowledge, thinking, and being able to see) to a dead organism, even though they understood that biological processes (feeling hungry, thirsty, and sleepy) cease. The same study also showed that even adults had a resistance to saying that dead agents no longer are able to have knowledge, emotions, and desires, even though they were willing to admit that all perceptual and biological abilities cease at death. This study suggests that the development of a belief in a spiritual afterlife is normal, prevalent, and extends into adulthood (Bering & Bjorklund, 2004). Thus, the representation of the Grandma in Angel Birthdays is not out of the ordinary and is commonly used even among adults.

   Growing Up Chart
   Near the end of Angel Birthdays the mom talks about a “Growing Up Chart”. There is a picture included with 10 rows of 10 numbers, counting up to 100. This is what the mom uses to explain to the kids that everyone will die eventually. She explains that most people “become angels at the top of this chart,” and the kids can see that their age is down at the bottom, so they have many years left for adventures. There is no current research to support the use of charts like these. In fact, many theorists suggest that reminders of death can cause anxiety (Greenberg, Pyszczynski & Solomon, 1991). Parents reading Angel Birthdays should be wary that it might not be good to have this chart lying around for their children to see as a constant reminder of their mortality.

   Conclusion
   Overall, Angel Birthdays does a good job of providing a way for children to cope with the loss of a loved one. It offers a positive, family-oriented method for celebrating the life of the deceased. Although it does promote love and positive support among family members, it is still important for parents to explain to their children that sad and angry feelings during grieving are normal and okay. It is also important for parents to help their children understand that their loved one will not be coming back and can never have a conversation with them again, especially for children in kindergarten and early elementary school who may have trouble fully understanding the concept of death.

   References
   Bering, J. M. & Bjorklund, D. F. (2004). The Natural Emergence of Reasoning About the Afterlife as a Developmental Regularity. Developmental Psychology, 40, 217-233. doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.40.2.217.
   Boelen, P.A., van den Bout, J., & van den Hout, M.A. (2003). The role of negative interpretations of grief reactions in emotional problems after bereavement. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 34, 225–238. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2003.08.001
   Bonanno, G. A. & Kaltman, S. (1999). Toward an Integrative Perspective on Bereavement. Psychological Bulletin, 125, 760-776. doi: 10.1037//0033-2909.125.6.760
   Davis, C.G., Nolen-Hoeksema, S., & Larson, J. (1998). Making Sense of Loss and Benefiting from the Experience: Two Construals of Meaning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 561-574. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.75.2.561.
   Dowdney, L. (2000). Annotation: Childhood Bereavement Following Parental Death. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 41, 819-830. doi: 10.1111/1469-7610.00670.
   Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T. & Solomon, S. (1991). The Causes and Consequences of a Need for Self-Esteem: A Terror Management Theory. Advances in Experimental and Social Psychology, 24, 93-159. Doi: 10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60328-7
   Horowitz, M. J. (1993). Stress-Response Syndromes: A Review of Post-Traumatic Stress and Adjustment Disorders in J.P. Wilson & B. Raphael (Eds.), International Handbook of Traumatic Stress Syndromes (pp 49-60). New York, NY: Springer.
   Lazar, A. & Torney-Purta, J. (1991). The Development of the Subconcepts of Death in Young Children: A Short-Term Longitudinal Study. Child Development, 62, 1321-1333. doi: 10.2307/1130809.
   Rachman, S. (1980). Emotional Processing. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 18, 51-60. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(80)90069-8.
   Shear, M. K. (2009). Grief and Depression: Treatment Decisions for Bereaved Children and Adults. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 746-748. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09050698
   Speece, M.W. & Brent, S.B. (1984). Children’s Understanding of Death: A Review of Three Components of a Death Concept. Child Development, 55, 1671-1686. doi: 10.2307/1129915.
2. 

   PhD Candidate in Developmental Psychology at Yale University

   This book proposes a way to talk to children about death. It invents a family celebration and observation, “Angel Birthday” that marks the death of a loved one and the anniversary of that death. The book has a clear point of view and effectively communicates it. The book vividly and sensitively showcases the “Angel Birthday” and gives concrete steps at the end of how to bring this tradition to one’s own household.

   One of the major concerns I have is that because the book has such a specific perspective on death, it may be narrow in who it is suitable for. I think it is narrow in two primary ways:
   First, it assumes the family believes in the afterlife, and that the parents want to teach their children that people’s souls survive death. Second, it labels that survival of the soul with “angel,” that assumes a Christian religious perspective. Third, even for people who believe in a Christian afterlife, the book espouses a particular perspective on it that might not be suitable for all Christian denominations. I think the book will be of limited accessibility due to these assumptions.

   That being said, the book is beautifully illustrated, provides a sensitive and loving perspective on death and grief, and guides constructive dialogue around the passing of a loved one. If a family wants to teach their children about death based on the assumption the person’s soul or consciousness survives, then I think this book would be a wonderful tool for having that conversation.

   The focus on family, on doing activities rather than ruminating, and on remembering the loved one, are all constructive and productive ways of grieving and would promote a healthy way of supporting children’s grief. The way the book structures talking about death and turning a hard moment into concrete activities that support healing and social bonding is smart.
3. 

   PhD Candidate in Developmental Psychology at Yale University

   It is common for a child to experience the death of a grandparent, and this book provides a way for families to celebrate the life of a recently deceased grandparent or other loved one. Gracie and Jake learn from their mother that their grandmother has passed away that day (“become an angel”), and as a family they celebrate their grandmother and come up with ways to better remember her. In addition, the children grapple with the possibility that others could die, too, and their mom provides them with a “growing up chart” to explain that most people do not die until later on in life and that they themselves are still very young.

   This book is a lovely example of one way to discuss death—an extremely difficult topic to ponder at any age—with a child. However, it would have been nice for the book to also discuss that it is alright to be sad when someone dies. When Gracie and Jake’s mother first tells them about their grandmother’s death, she says, “Let’s not be sad. She wouldn’t want us to cry.” While a loved one may not want you to feel sad when they pass, you might feel sad all the same. Having an activity to do to celebrate a loved one is great, but it is also important to hear that it’s okay to feel sad, and that you can talk to your parents and other close loved ones about it if you do feel sad.
4. 

   ASU-R18

   The book Angel’s Birthdays was a lovely read. I have never heard of this concept before and think the idea is wonderful for young children and is a great way to honor their loved ones in a time of sadness. I think the pictures are very well thought out and the colors are very soft which I feel is very appropriate. The writing is very well thought out and portrayed in an easily understandable way. Although, this book does not capture the true sadness that could be felt by some of the children, they do a good job at making the situation lighter and more children friendly. I also enjoy the fact that there are instructions on how to create your own angel birthday in order to apply this book to the children’s lives and help give them ideas on how to cope during this stressful time. I had difficulties finding any critiques on this book and could see it becoming very popular. Due to the colors of the pictures in the book and the format of the book, I was transported to my favorite children’s book, “I’ll love you forever”. Since I was able to make this emotional tie to this book for this reason, many others might be able to as well. This will help the book be successful.
5. 

   ASU-R17

   I like that the book attempted to turn such a heavy tragedy, a family death, into a celebration of life rather than mourning the loss of the loved one. I also liked that the book rhymed at parts which made it a bit easier to read and made the content a little bit lighter even though it was heavy material. I also liked that the book made the memory of their grandma a rich one and painted such a lovely relationship which is good for kids to read about, strong family bonds.
   Another thing this book did was illustrate the concept and questions that follow along with the context of death and left one with a positive outlook on that subject by illustrating the many years that they all had left to live and that the memories that one creates over a lifetime continue impacting future generations to come through the importance of remembering the lives of your loved ones. Even though I’m personally agnostic, and as such I question the existence of a god and all of the material that comes with those beliefs, but I thought it was good that they showed life after death as just another place we pass on to and that those “angels” look down and watch over us in our lives.
6. 

   ASU-R16

   This book is talking about a serious topic: Death. In the book, kids’ grandma was dead, and their mom told them the events in the way of “grandma become an angel”. Then kids were celebrated for the angel’s birthday. However, due to the research, most kids could define death’s irreversible after five and could define the dead body could not do anything during 5-7. It means, kids know what had happened. Definitely, it’s a warm story, but I don’t think it would help kids build their thought about “death” correctly. Another thing about this book that I was considered was that the behavior of “celebrate for a death” may not accept by social. Kids may have learned to celebrate, but when they showed their celebration to other people, may cause some bad influence such as unjust judgement about their family in this area.
   There did have some good things about the book: it helped kids to fix their emotion. As the little men or women have known the dead person could not play or talk with them anymore, this book would help them build a good hope and be not afraid of death. It also have some creative part such as draw on a balloon or make memory box.
7. 

   ASU-R15

   Overall, Angel Birthday is inventive and does a great job turning a tragedy into a celebrated occasion. The dialogue is age appropriate, the drawings and overall storyline is captivating for young children. Unfortunately, this book has one major downfall; when the mom initially tells the children that their grandmother has passed, she tells them not to cry and that they would disappoint their grandmother if they did. This poses a big problem because this book implies that children should suppress their emotions when they are upset, even when something as traumatic as a death in the family happens. In order to develop appropriate emotional regulation, children need to be taught that it is ok to express their feelings – whether it is sadness, happiness, or anger. A more appropriate storyline would have been the children celebrating their grandmother’s second angel birthday because the initial shock of her passing would not have been present, and the children would have likely healed emotionally from their sudden loss. If this scenario was used instead, then the readers would see that despite their current sadness, emotional healing will happen in the future. While I do praise the author on the inventive twist of an angel birthday celebration and the presentation of a difficult topic in a more easygoing way, certain aspects of the content are developmentally inappropriate.
8. 

   ASU-R14

   I absolutely love this book. I believe the entire idea is inspirational and creative! It makes something solemn (ie death) into a positive experience that brings people together. I also feel the illustrations were appropriate and I liked that the language made it accessible to children and not just an idea for adults. So many books are written for adults about dealing with a departed loved one but they never provide an outlet for explaining it so that children will understand. The idea of having “gifts” was especially inventive as it makes finding sentimental objects fun for the kids instead of making them sad. Last but not least, I enjoyed that the book had real life images of angel birthdays as examples of what their story told. I would absolutely recommend this book to peers and the general public.
9. 

   ASU-R13

   This book touches on the important topic of death and losing a loved one, which I think is essential for the development of any child. I do not think that this book allows for children to thoroughly understand the meaning of these concepts, which I think is just as important for development. The connectedness between family members here is key to forming strong, healthy relationships, which should be exhibited in families. I did find the storyline somewhat stereotypical, but I think that is good for explaining to children at a young age. I did not like that the explanations given to the children directed to angels and “above,” because it is possible that some families do not promote these teachings. I think the way the family chose to celebrate the life of their grandmother was great and healthy, but there was no explanation as to why they were acknowledging her death in this way. Contrary to the references of angels and above, this book did promote diversity in the sense that it was not a usual, American tradition of actions after the death of a loved one (a quiet funeral). This still would have been better supported with an explanation for the decisions of the parents.
10. 

    ASU-R12

    This book does a great job at keeping the mode positive. Most often, when the time comes around which a loved one has passed, that time frame is taken extremely emotional and it affects the children as well, which we may not realize. This book allows children to be engaged in ways that will normally not be observed or will be pushed to the side and ignored, which we all know ignoring things is never a good solution. The book kept a gender-neutral vibe and used proper age-appropriate explanations. The topic of death is never an easy subject to talk about, especially with younger children but this book makes it easier and less emotional. Additionally, if children are having a tough time getting over the loss of a loved one, this book could serve as a guidance for them as well in helping their emotional development return to the right path. The grammar may be slightly advanced for a young child, although with parent involvement in reading, it makes a great time for connection and bonding, which should be ideal for a time like this.
    This book approaches children of all ages in a proper matter and I do not see any necessary changes that are needed.
11. 

    ASU-R10

    Angel Birthday is a book dealing with the hard life lesson every child must learn with the loss of a loved one. This book has a rhyming rhythm which helps keep them engaged, coupled with bright, authentic illustrations. The book teaches the lesson of how an angels birthday, though sad, can also bring so much joy. The intended audience, children who have experienced loss, will read this book and see death in an inevitably sad, but optimistic light. The mother in the story also introduces a growing up chart, explaining many adventures occur between age 1-100 and the author includes growing up charts in the back of the book along with ideas for angel birthdays. This incorporation and participation that the author encourages engages the reader and helps a complex topic become simple for children. This book also promotes social bonding in the way that the mother is in tune with her children and uses metaphors such as the releasing of the balloons in order to show them they can still contact their grandma when they miss her and keep her close in their hearts. The mother in the story also has her children create a box of keepsakes that remind them of their grandma that she encourages them to look at when they are feeling blue. These creative ideas to make death of a loved one something a child can understand, is why this book can be applicable to all ages and has a lasting message of acceptance.
12. 

    ASU-R9

    I found the book very sweet and I like the overall idea of an “Angel Birthday”. I think it is important for both adults and children to try to celebrate the life of a loved one once they have passed instead of dwelling on their absence/death. This story promotes family and love which is important in times of grief. I enjoyed the fact that this book demonstrated several ways to remember and honor a loved one that has passed such as cooking their recipes, looking at their old heirlooms, and telling stories about them. One thing that I noticed when reading is that this book is definitely targeted toward a Christian audience and is therefore limited to who it may appeal to.
    Although I enjoy the positive frame that the book takes on loss, I think that the “Angel Birthdays” concept is a distraction from grief. The book does not acknowledge the feelings associated with grief and loss that a child will eventually experience after the “Angel Birthday”. By choosing to ignore these feelings, the book does not provide a very healthy way to cope. I think that if there was a section that mentioned that it is normal and important to feel the feelings associated in addition to the “Angel Birthday,” then this book would be great at helping children deal with loss.
13. 

    ASU-R7

    This book truly gives new meaning to the phrase “a celebration of life”. Death can affect people in a variety of ways, and can be a very difficult mental and emotional experience. As death in families is extremely common, this book is one that readers of all ages can relate to. The ideas and concepts within this book create feelings of warmth and happiness; and reinvent the traditional moods that result after the death of a loved one. It is a very heartwarming book to read; written as a poem, the message is clear, concise, and easy to understand. The idea of “Angel Birthdays” is very unique and I appreciate the author sharing their experience with others. The illustrations are bright, warm, and appropriate. The author also shares several tips and idea starters to help the reader plan and execute their own “Angel Birthday”. I believe this would be an excellent book to read to children who have experienced a death in the family and might be having a challenging time coping. This book could also be useful to parents; to aid in offering emotional support and comfort to their families. I would purchase this book for friends, family, and others; as I feel it would make a thoughtful, and sincere gift.
14. 

    ASU-R3

    This book received lower scores on the creativity and imaginative sections of this review, but NA is acceptable as well. This book serves a specific and useful purpose, to bring up the idea of death and help cope children understand the passing of a loved one. While this book isn’t all rainbows and ponies, it does have beautiful visual artwork and I like the incorporation of color. The image that stood out to me was the illustration of the little boy and little girl letting go of their balloons in a green field. Their balloons had special notes to their loved one written on them. As parents, this book might be a great introductory tool to giving their little ones “the talk”, not about sex but about death. This could be a sensitive and awkward topic to bring up for the first time, and the simple poetic verses in this book would be a great icebreaker.
15. 

    ASU-R2

    This is honestly my favorite of the books that we have read. It starts out with two kids playing when their mom comes in to tell them that their grandma has died. They decide to throw her an angel birthday since this is their grandmother’s angel birthday. When they get nervous that they might die soon, their mother creates a time chart of their lives to show they have a long way to go. At the end of the story, they plan to celebrate the grandmother’s angel birthday each year. This book is so good and so important but there are some critiques I have for it.
    To begin, I truly enjoyed this inventive, unique way to celebrate somebody’s life without mourning their death. I think it is really creative and through the family’s celebration, shows true compassion and love shared in a family. Through this unique celebration, children are learning how to emotionally process death in a healthy way and fosters this development. The only things I would change about this book is perhaps come out with other versions where each family is diverse and therefore celebrates the angel birthday in a different way. I say this because the family is white and very westernized.
    There is so much I love about this story and really not much I would change. I absolutely loved this so much and the only thing I would change is the diversity of the book. This is so inventive and unique and a great way to process emotions while also celebrating the life of a loved one. This is so important for children to understand how to grieve in the wake of death.
16. 

    ASU-CG

    Drops of Awesome is a guide on how to rid yourself of your inner critic and overcome self-doubt. The personal stories the author included throughout this novel created common ground for me, and I assume other readers as well. Self-deprecation is not an easy topic to discuss with anyone, much less children, but this book gave helpful insights on how to deal with situations when one feels worthless and provided an outlet for readers to write down their emotions over various topics. One piece of advice that stood out from this book was that you do not have to be your own worst enemy. Changing perceptive and mindset is all it takes to relinquish oneself of stressors. Celebrating the small victories and allowing yourself to be proud of the job you have done builds positive character. Prioritizing the good and letting go of the bad was another powerful message I took away from “Drops of Awesome”. Self-love and respect lays solely with oneself, and if others around you do no treat you with the same reverence then they do not deserve to have you at all. I found this book to be extremely beneficial and uplifting. Being and feeling your best self is not easy, but sometimes all it takes is a little drop of awesome, embrace it.
17. 

    ASU-CG

    “Angel Birthday”, is a nice way to help children cope with the lost of a love one. The concept of an angel birthday is a sweet way to ease the pain for children, as well as teaching them that death does not always have to be viewed in a sad way. It is important to let children know that it is okay to be emotional during this time, and celebrating the life of the person that passed is a great way to bring everyone together to show them that they have a support system around them.
18. 

    ASU-CM

    I really like the book has the kids throwing the birthday party and then at the end it shows how to throw your own angel birthday party. Death is a hard concept, especially for kids, and I think that this illustrates a wonderful way to help them cope with what happened. Also by turning it into an angel birthday I think this will have a less negative side effect because it takes something bad and tries to turn it positive and into a day that that person can be remembered and celebrated.
19. 

    ASU-GZ

    I like how it shows examples of children having the birthday party and how they throw the angel birthday party. Children having to deal with death is a very hard concept for them to understand and ways of explaining it can be very difficult. Learning these positive ways on how to cope with these situations is a good tool for kids to have. Overall, I like how the book addresses that even though it is a sad situation that there is a way to make it a bit positive in many ways.