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beyondevak's review
1.0
While I appreciated what this book attempted to do, in terms of teaching kids about death, grief and loss, it came across rather flat to me. It started and ended in such an unusual way. It was very abrupt. The end.
heisereads's review
4.0
Although I have not read any of the other Lottie books, I was drawn into this story immediately. It is slightly didactic/obvious in the message it sends about death/dying, but it caringly addresses the notion of the people left behind and how they cope with the loss. Could be a good way to introduce the concept of loss, grief, what to do after a loss, and scattering ashes to kids in an approachable way.
jessalynn_librarian's review
4.0
June 2017 - the saddest book about a chicken you will ever read. I've loved this one ever since it first came through the library, and read it to Ben after his grandmother's death. Aunt Mattie is old and her "motor wears down." She has a peaceful death, her friends and family mourn, and Lottie scatters her ashes and celebrates her life with a picnic. Very gentle and contemplative, and I liked the straightforward depiction of scattering ashes, especially since that related to Ben's experience (if not the old age/hospital bits). Aunt Mattie's death is compared to departing on a flight at a busy airport and getting her wings, which could be confusing but is also nice and concrete in a way that kids might get. Ben chose it again after I read it to him.
thrifty_librarian's review
3.0
A nice book that deals with the nicest type of death. Aunt Mattie had a long life, was mentally sound, and pretty much just fell asleep and died. Then she went to Heaven. Probably good for explaining death to very small but curious children, but maybe not so helpful for other children who have experience more traumatic or confusing deaths.
I found the panel format and the pictures in general a bit odd. This isn't one of those books that you pick up just to gaze at the pictures.
I found the panel format and the pictures in general a bit odd. This isn't one of those books that you pick up just to gaze at the pictures.
corncobwebs's review
Popularity/appeal rating: 2.5
May be good for caregivers looking for books about death
Quality rating: 3
The writing has that peculiar quality that often accompanies books that have been translated.
In a one-sentence nutshell:
Sugarcoats what happens to our spirits when we die (Aunt Mattie flies away on an airplane), but is upfront about what happens to our physical bodies (Aunt Mattie's cremains are sprinkled in the river). Emphasizes enjoying other people and relationships in the wake of death.
May be good for caregivers looking for books about death
Quality rating: 3
The writing has that peculiar quality that often accompanies books that have been translated.
In a one-sentence nutshell:
Sugarcoats what happens to our spirits when we die (Aunt Mattie flies away on an airplane), but is upfront about what happens to our physical bodies (Aunt Mattie's cremains are sprinkled in the river). Emphasizes enjoying other people and relationships in the wake of death.
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