In the wake of Friday's shootings, Beacon Press is offering free copies of two books about death and mourning the loss of loved ones to families, counselors, teachers and others.
The publishing company says:
Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in Newtown, CT. We share the grief that is felt throughout the country. To help families, teachers, counselors, and others who are having conversations about death and grief in the wake of this tragedy, Beacon Press is offering free copies of Talking About Death: A Dialogue between Parent and Child and Living When a Loved One Has Died both by Dr. Earl A. Grollman. We hope these resources will help everyone affected begin to heal. Simply choose one or both books and submit your shipping information by Wednesday, December 19, 2012.
For additional resources, please visit the Unitarian Universalist Association's list of trauma response resources for families and congregations.
Talking About Death: A Dialogue between Parent and Child retails at $20 and is widely praised by children's advocates like Parents Magazine and Fred Rogers of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
Beacon describes the book:
Talking about Death is a classic guide for parents helping their children through the death of a loved one. With a helpful list of dos and don'ts, an illustrated read-along dialogue, and a guide to explaining death, Grollman provides sensitive and timely advice for families coping with loss. This redesigned and updated edition explains what children at different developmental stages can and can't understand about death; reveals why it's crucial to be honest about death; helps you understand the way children express emotions like denial, grief, crying, anger, and guilt; and discusses children's reactions to different kinds of death, from the death of a parent to the death of a pet.
"Highly recommended." --Parents Magazine
"Earl Grollman makes a wonderful difference in this world."--Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
"Like having a talk with a wise, caring friend."--Dr. Bernie S. Siegel, author of Love, Medicine and Miracles
Living When a Loved One Has Died retails for $14 and is described:
When someone you love dies, Earl Grollman writes, "there is no way to predict how you will feel. The reactions of grief are not like recipes, with given ingredients, and certain results. . . . Grief is universal. At the same time it is extremely personal. Heal in your own way."
If someone you know is grieving, Living When a Loved One Has Died can help. Earl Grollman explains what emotions to expect when mourning, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to work through feelings of loss. Suitable for pocket or bedside, this gentle book guides the lonely and suffering as they move through the many facets of grief, begin to heal, and slowly build new lives.
"If you're far away when someone you care about is in mourning, send this book—it's the next best thing to being there. And if you doubt whether your being there will do any good, read this book, and you will learn how to become the wise, reassuring, and understanding person a good friend is when a loved one has died."
—Minneapolis Star
You can visit the company website to order your free copies through the mail. There is no cost, even for shipping.
The independent publishing company, which is over 150 years old, describes its mission as:
The mission of Beacon Press is to affirm and promote these principles: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another; a free and responsible search for truth and meaning; the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process in society; the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; respect for the interdependent web of all existence; and the importance of literature and the arts in democratic life.
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