Walking Grandma Home

Hi, Educators! Usually on Wednesdays, I share something related to one of my books and how you can use it in your classroom or library. This week, though, I want to share about a new picture book by someone else–the lovely Nancy Bo Flood.

Nature and compassion are the two themes I think about when I think about Nancy. I’ve loved so many of her previous books, and I hope you’ll visit her site to learn about them. WALKING GRANDMA HOME: A STORY OF GRIEF, HOPE, AND HEALING, is Nancy’s newest. (It’s got lovely art by Ellen Shi, and it’s published by Zonderkidz.)  And even though books about death often aren’t shared in classrooms, I strongly think they should be. So many children experience loss, and few have a place to safely express their emotions. And to feel like that loss is a sad but natural part of life. Instead, we avoid the topic and make it taboo, which makes it even harder for children. At the age of 7, Nancy lost her own little sister very suddenly, so this book comes from a deep well of memory, acceptance, and compassion.

In this story, the main character’s Grandma is in failing health. As the family gathers to say goodbye to her, the main character asks questions and comes to understand that Grandma is dying. And Grandma does pass. But through telling stories with family, talking frankly, and bringing Grandma’s favorite shawl to her, the boy is able to both give and receive comfort. It’s a beautiful, hopeful, emotional story.

There’s also a list of suggestions and information for adults at the back of the book that can help you be more comfortable with talking with kids about death. Although I suspect this book will be used a lot in specific settings when a child has just experienced a loss, I think it would be even better if we share books like this occasionally with larger groups of kids NOT in an immediate grief situation.

Books turn us into people who can handle things. Books help us know that the real world happens to everyone. Books tell us we’re not alone. What an impact books have! Teachers, in sharing this book, you might be providing the only safe opportunity where a kid can express deep feelings around this topic. I can imagine the powerful and meaningful classroom discussions and connections that could happen around this book. Talk about building a real community and developing empathy and understanding for each other–wow.

Nancy has made a terrific 2‑minute video about this book, which you can watch on her website.

When my mom passed in 2016, I only got to say goodbye on the phone, and she was not conscious. In 2021, my husband’s family gathered in Atlanta and were able to spend a week sharing stories, saying I love you, and walking his father home. What a gift that was. Still, it’s hard even for grown-ups, and kids need extra support. This book is a fabulous way to start.

I was inspired to write a poetryaction to go with WALKING GRANDMA HOME. (Click to enlarge.) Thank you, Nancy, for your wonderful story that taps into such deep emotion!

[My Classroom Connections posts share a way to connect one of my books or poems to a classroom topic–often something timely that you might be covering in the next month or so. Please share this post if you have educator friends who might be interested–thanks!]

One Response

  1. Laura, this book appears to be a special one for all children. My friend just told me that her brother just lost his dog of 15 years and he is grieving.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,550 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnccbcCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter booksCharles Waterschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLine Leads the WayLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymagnipoemsmargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMatt Forrest EsenwineMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoneymoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)National Poetry Month 2024 (magnipoems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreview copiesreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZapZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Discover more from Laura Purdie Salas

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."