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| Wishes for One More Day Written by Melanie Pastor Illustrated by Jacqui Grantford |
The smell of pancakes in the morning usually signals a special day. Well, today is special, but not at all happy,
because dear Poppy has passed away. When Anna and her little brother hear the sad news, they wonder
how Poppy could have died before they had a chance to say goodbye. If they only had one more day.
They begin to think about the joyful, exciting things they would do if they did have one more day together
with Poppy. Setting to work on a list, Anna writes and Joey draws the many ways they would spend one
more day. They smile thinking about Poppy’s crazy birthday hat, they giggle remembering the silly songs
Poppy plunked out on the piano, and they laugh out loud at the chicken soup game they played weekly at the
deli.
Anna and Joey’s list grow into a pile, and the pile becomes a book – a book of wishes for one more day
with Poppy – or, as their mother explains, a book of memories of the love and fun they shared with him.
Death is never easy for young children to understand or cope with, especially the death of a close, beloved
relative. Creating a book of wishes provides Anna and her brother, and any child who has experienced loss,
with a comforting outlet for their feelings, helping them understand that their loved one is still with them in their
memories and hearts.
because dear Poppy has passed away. When Anna and her little brother hear the sad news, they wonder
how Poppy could have died before they had a chance to say goodbye. If they only had one more day.
They begin to think about the joyful, exciting things they would do if they did have one more day together
with Poppy. Setting to work on a list, Anna writes and Joey draws the many ways they would spend one
more day. They smile thinking about Poppy’s crazy birthday hat, they giggle remembering the silly songs
Poppy plunked out on the piano, and they laugh out loud at the chicken soup game they played weekly at the
deli.
Anna and Joey’s list grow into a pile, and the pile becomes a book – a book of wishes for one more day
with Poppy – or, as their mother explains, a book of memories of the love and fun they shared with him.
Death is never easy for young children to understand or cope with, especially the death of a close, beloved
relative. Creating a book of wishes provides Anna and her brother, and any child who has experienced loss,
with a comforting outlet for their feelings, helping them understand that their loved one is still with them in their
memories and hearts.
Hardcover, 32 full color pages, ages 4-8, Fall 2006, ISBN 9780972922579
Available at your favorite
bookseller or through:
bookseller or through:
Review Highlights
"a heartfelt response to a sad but inevitable part of life but the illustrations are light and full of warmth...There will be many children
who will relate to this book and it is one that can and should be shared with all." - Reading Time, The Children's Book Council of
Australia's quarterly journal
"...[a] tribute to a dearly loved grandfather.... It is important to see how gently both parents go about discussing Poppy's death....
Parents and care givers will find this book very useful in helping children cope with the loss of a grandparent…and maybe find a bit
of solace for themselves, as well." - Sheilah Egan, Children's Literature (featured on the list of books for Grandparents' Day, Sept. 10,
2006)
"This book is highly recommended for the grief/death collection of all libraries. It deals with death in a realistic manner (a
grandparent died, not a turtle or hamster) and provides an active suggestion for coping with the loss. Wishes for One More Day is
sad, because poppy has died, yet it is consoling because of the memories of special times spent with him."- The AJL Newsletter
"...Pastor goes beyond simply modelling the process [of working through grief]; she approaches it with depth, inventiveness, and
sensitivity. She... tells the story and delivers the lesson with tenderness and attention, without lapsing into cliché or sentimentality...
This beautiful book will be useful in classrooms, daycare centers, and church groups, to help children understand each other’s grief.
It will be invaluable to any child who has lost a loved one." - Karen McCarthy, Foreword Magazine
"...this picture story book is a reassuring method of introducing the subject of death to younger children. For those already touched
by such a tragedy, it offers children with an empowering method of dealing with their loss." Anna Dogole, Large Print Reviews.com
"Share this book with your family to initiate conversations about loss and grief and to help establish the importance of the everyday
joy of life." Beverly J. Rowe, My Shelf.com
"Wishes for One More Day... is a sensitive story of the loss of a grandparent. ...there are no easy answers here, but a very lovely
marking of the endless special moments these children shared with their grandfather... Wishes for One More Day is a very strong
addition to books available on loss, tenderly articulating the "wishes" we all have." Esty Schachter, Ithaca Child, The Paper for Parents
"Readers will enjoy the cover picture of Poppy wearing his silly birthday hat with a cardboard candle sticking out of the top of it...
This would be very helpful and comforting to use with children who have lost a grandparent or other loved one. They will be
encouraged to think of their own memories of those dear to them, and will realize that they will always have those memories in their
heart." Andrea Davidson, Jewish Book World
"I found the book delightful because, for me, it really isn't about death. It is about the celebration of a human being and his
relationships, as well as about the things that are possible with such a strong connection. This is a compelling book with insight and
value for all ages." - Christine Hohlbaum, The Reading Tub
"...powerful and touching... This book serves as a great reminder of how the simple things are often the most important." - Christine
Louise Hohlbaum, author of SAHM I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe
"...an excellent book that will resonate with many children who experience the death of someone they loved... It addresses the
unpredictable and various range of emotions, the different perspectives of adult and child, and the idea of how memories can be
comforting. ...This book would be a welcome addition to the children's section of our resource library." -- Dr. Patti Homan, Program
Director, PATHways Center for Grief & Loss
"With its magnificently soothing, portrait-quality illustrations by Jacqui Grantford, this touching story normalizes a child’s reactions
to loss with the added bonus of a built-in strategy for helping children cope at this difficult time. It will undoubtedly be a wonderful
addition to your collection." - Barbara Gruener, certified trainer for Character Counts!
"This is a dear, sweet book that focuses on the issue of death without making it beyond the understanding of 5-9 year olds." - Sybil
Kaplan, The National Jewish Post & Opinion
See all reviews...
who will relate to this book and it is one that can and should be shared with all." - Reading Time, The Children's Book Council of
Australia's quarterly journal
"...[a] tribute to a dearly loved grandfather.... It is important to see how gently both parents go about discussing Poppy's death....
Parents and care givers will find this book very useful in helping children cope with the loss of a grandparent…and maybe find a bit
of solace for themselves, as well." - Sheilah Egan, Children's Literature (featured on the list of books for Grandparents' Day, Sept. 10,
2006)
"This book is highly recommended for the grief/death collection of all libraries. It deals with death in a realistic manner (a
grandparent died, not a turtle or hamster) and provides an active suggestion for coping with the loss. Wishes for One More Day is
sad, because poppy has died, yet it is consoling because of the memories of special times spent with him."- The AJL Newsletter
"...Pastor goes beyond simply modelling the process [of working through grief]; she approaches it with depth, inventiveness, and
sensitivity. She... tells the story and delivers the lesson with tenderness and attention, without lapsing into cliché or sentimentality...
This beautiful book will be useful in classrooms, daycare centers, and church groups, to help children understand each other’s grief.
It will be invaluable to any child who has lost a loved one." - Karen McCarthy, Foreword Magazine
"...this picture story book is a reassuring method of introducing the subject of death to younger children. For those already touched
by such a tragedy, it offers children with an empowering method of dealing with their loss." Anna Dogole, Large Print Reviews.com
"Share this book with your family to initiate conversations about loss and grief and to help establish the importance of the everyday
joy of life." Beverly J. Rowe, My Shelf.com
"Wishes for One More Day... is a sensitive story of the loss of a grandparent. ...there are no easy answers here, but a very lovely
marking of the endless special moments these children shared with their grandfather... Wishes for One More Day is a very strong
addition to books available on loss, tenderly articulating the "wishes" we all have." Esty Schachter, Ithaca Child, The Paper for Parents
"Readers will enjoy the cover picture of Poppy wearing his silly birthday hat with a cardboard candle sticking out of the top of it...
This would be very helpful and comforting to use with children who have lost a grandparent or other loved one. They will be
encouraged to think of their own memories of those dear to them, and will realize that they will always have those memories in their
heart." Andrea Davidson, Jewish Book World
"I found the book delightful because, for me, it really isn't about death. It is about the celebration of a human being and his
relationships, as well as about the things that are possible with such a strong connection. This is a compelling book with insight and
value for all ages." - Christine Hohlbaum, The Reading Tub
"...powerful and touching... This book serves as a great reminder of how the simple things are often the most important." - Christine
Louise Hohlbaum, author of SAHM I Am: Tales of a Stay-at-Home Mom in Europe
"...an excellent book that will resonate with many children who experience the death of someone they loved... It addresses the
unpredictable and various range of emotions, the different perspectives of adult and child, and the idea of how memories can be
comforting. ...This book would be a welcome addition to the children's section of our resource library." -- Dr. Patti Homan, Program
Director, PATHways Center for Grief & Loss
"With its magnificently soothing, portrait-quality illustrations by Jacqui Grantford, this touching story normalizes a child’s reactions
to loss with the added bonus of a built-in strategy for helping children cope at this difficult time. It will undoubtedly be a wonderful
addition to your collection." - Barbara Gruener, certified trainer for Character Counts!
"This is a dear, sweet book that focuses on the issue of death without making it beyond the understanding of 5-9 year olds." - Sybil
Kaplan, The National Jewish Post & Opinion
See all reviews...
Fiona Avent, Nicki
Lee, and Cameron
Avent, who posed for
artist Jacqui
Grantford (seated),
and served as
models for the
characters in Wishes
for One More Day.
Lee, and Cameron
Avent, who posed for
artist Jacqui
Grantford (seated),
and served as
models for the
characters in Wishes
for One More Day.