Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children

Simple and to the point without adding stories about heaven or "gone away" etc that can cause confusion in young children.The book simply explains that all life has a beginning and an ending, and highlights the different life spans of different creatures (and plants), with each page showing something different; an ant, a butterfly, a rabbit, flowers and shrubs, a crab, and so on, with beautiful illustrations showing a healthy/living version and a crumbling/dead version for comparison which is very helpful for a young child to make the distinction.Humans are last, with a young child and an old person for comparison.The book also includes a page or two explaining that although these are the things' lifetimes, sometimes they get hurt or ill and sometimes they don't recover from the illness/injury.It is all done in such a simple and beautiful way. I can't recommend this book enough, for any age. I bought it for my 3 year old who doesn't yet grasp the concept of death but we have seen many dead insects and a good few dead birds and mice (pet cat - need I say more!?), thereby setting the foundation for understanding the biological mechanism of life and death.

It comes a time in live when you have to explain the death of a beloved one to children. By doing this, you cope with your pain and unanswered questions: when you explain to children, you are explaining to the child who is still living in you.There are a number of books about the topic, but this quite unique. It explains death… well… exactly the way it is for every living being, treating all living beings as equal: "There is beginning and an ending for everything that is alive. In between is living."Illustrations are poetic, nearly botanical, old masters school watercolors. Sadly the print result is under their quality level, but I think it's a problem of how the originals were scanned/digitalized.This book is perfect for Montessori families, for atheists, for those who practice zen meditation and for believers whose faith is rooted in the bliss of real life truth, even when it seems harder then ever.I highly recommend the book, that makes one of the most difficult topic in life, natural, real and much more easy to explain.

A beautifully written and illustrated small book, for both young and old, placing death clearly and simply as just part of life. Although it is written with children in mind, when my husband died I found great comfort in its perspective on the continuing circle of life-beginnings and endings, with a time for us all,

Great book great service

This book is just what I was looking for to explain the concept of death to my anxious 4 year old.A lot of books on this topic are targeted for bereaved children, which doesn't apply to my son, he just has questions and worries.The pages I've photographed give an idea of the tone of the book, but it is interspersed with beautiful pictures.It is gentle and peaceful and a lovely way to explain life, death and the time in between.

Plain and simple and so delicately written that has helped bereaved children in therapy self soothe over the life cycle and endings.

I had been searching for a book to help my 4 y/o son deal with death, which he has been a bit obsessed with lately. I bought a variety but this one was recommended by a friend and it really is excellent. It focuses on lifetimes and is really straightforward and clear about what life (and death) is. I think it has really helped my son and would highly recommend it.

If this book was to be reprinted they good use a new illustrator. The images are very old fashioned and dark colours made this a very dull and lifeless, pardon the pun!There is nothing wrong with the images I was just hoping for something more inspiring...the text is good, albeit for an older child, maybe 7+ it could be more colourful.I liked that it was non religious and explained things in a matter of fact way. I would have no hesitation reading it to my child when he is older.