The Dragonfly Door - a Mom's Choice Awards Recipient [Hardcover]

John Adams (Author), Barbara Leonard Gibson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Help children identify the beauty and hope in all cycles of life as they follow two insects, Lea and Nym, and the struggles Nym endures when her friend disappears. This is a tender story about loss and change, written to help parents express their views about life and death. The Dragonfly Door may serve many purposes, such as comforting a grieving child or providing facts about dragonflies. Beautifully illustrated by Barbara L. Gibson, the book is cherished by parents, grandparents and teachers. It has been adapted into a mini-play in various communities to help children cope with the loss of their classmates. Also see The Dragonfly Secret: A Story of Boundless Love, a companion book for ages eight to adult (ISBN 9781934066133).

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Dragonfly Door is a recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. The Mom's Choice Awards honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award. --Mom's Choice Awards

The Dragonfly Door is the story of two water nymphs, Lea and Nym, who become best friends and share a nest. One day, Nym becomes upset with Lea and leaves home in a huff. Lea sets out to pick flowers for Nym to make it up to her. When Nym returns later that day to apologize to Lea, she finds that Lea isn't at home. She searches for Lea for days with no luck. Lea never returns. Frustrated and heartbroken, Nym falls asleep in the nest. While Nym sleeps, Lea visits her in her dreams. She informs Nym that she is well and is waiting for her. She is in a better place, and has transformed into a beautiful dragonfly. She explains to Lea how she, too, will become a dragonfly one day and leave the marsh to rejoin her best friend in the sky. The Dragonfly Door is both informational and spiritual. The story is followed up with information on the life cycle of a dragonfly for those craving an educational focus. The core story is a message of healing for children coping with the loss of a loved one. Reaching out to children using the science of nature to address a sensitive and difficult topic, The Dragonfly Door is an invaluable tool for communication during a sensitive period. Adams realistically portrays the process of grieving as Nym doesn't magically become better overnight when she receives Lea's visit. It takes time and new friends, but the message is that deep down, she knows she will be okay. It is also a beautiful addition to a child's bookshelf with its peaceful, yet colorful illustrations by Barbara Leonard Gibson....Armchair Interviews says: Unique look at grieving and loss. --Armchair Interviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Feather Rock Books, Inc.; Revised 1st edition (January 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934066125
• ISBN-13: 978-1934066126
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,384 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and excellent for all who grieve, February 17, 2007

By 

RM - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dragonfly Door - a Mom's Choice Awards Recipient (Hardcover)

I received this wonderfully beautiful book on the 8th anniversary of my son's graduation to Heaven ... that evening, I was able to read it with his daughter, who is now 9... I believe she gained another understanding of her Very Own Daddy in a beautiful place that we have not seen just yet ... and though she already knew he is waiting for her, this was another good reminder of that ... I was unaware of the dragonfly's life cycle and was so blessed to see how it seemingly parallels this life and the next. Thank you, John, for a wonderful way to help us all in our continuing journey with grief and the Hope we can have.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this book even if you have not lost a loved one, April 16, 2008

By 

M. Meharry (Mobile, AL) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dragonfly Door - a Mom's Choice Awards Recipient (Hardcover)

I'd like to share some thoughts that other reviewers have touched on briefly or not at all.

I almost didn't purchase The Dragonfly Door because I thought it might be too overtly religious for the people I wanted to share it with. Fortunately, I did order it. The book can be interpreted on many different levels; the reader will bring to it what he or she likes or needs. The story will appeal to members of all denominations as well as to people who belong to no organized religion. Lea's "special place" can be just that, or the reader may choose to call it "heaven." The factual section on dragonflies at the end of the book adds yet another dimension. You or your child will enjoy The Dragonfly Door even if you have not lost a friend or relative. For me, the story brought back vivid memories of my own "lost" childhood.

The art is bright, simple, and will appeal to children. It enhances the text, sets the mood, clarifies emotions, and provides clues to the meaning of words. But it's the language I love most. It is natural, alive, playful, concrete, colorful. The words speak to the imagination. The dragonfly nymphs don't just run while playing tag: they "zigzag between the rocks" as the beetles and minnows "dart through the reeds." Nym "pokes" Lea with one of her legs as she squeals "You're it!" You can see the colors on the water, hear the laughter in Lea's voice, and feel the cold of the night or the softness of a leaf. You can hear Nym's voice "crack" with anger, see her mouth "quiver" when she realizes Lea is gone, and experience the silence and sadness of the empty nest.

Sometimes the art goes where words cannot go. Every character has a personality and a voice--even the sea creatures who don't speak (what they're thinking and feeling shows clearly on their faces). The artist's use of color, light and shadow, her rendition of Nym's dream and Lea's "special place" are nothing short of brilliant.

The characters are real. Leah's love for Nym is a shining presence throughout the book. Nym's playfulness, short-lived temper tantrum, sadness, anxiety, and hope all ring true. After Lea disappears, the questions Nym asks her in a dream are the same questions children are most likely to ask.

There are big life lessons in The Dragonfly Door about "loss and change," if the reader wishes to interpret the book on this level. But there are little life lessons as well. Nym is always polite with the other sea creatures, and she doesn't hesitate to say she's sorry when she realizes she has behaved inappropriately. Lea doesn't deny Nym's rebellious feelings or respond to anger with anger. At a critical moment, she knows just what to say to her friend to comfort her and lessen her feelings of guilt.

Don't pass up reading this book! If it is not available at your public library or your child's school library, talk to the librarians. The Dragonfly Door is a valuable resource for all families and communities.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson, September 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dragonfly Door - a Mom's Choice Awards Recipient (Hardcover)

The debut children's picturebook of author John Adams, The Dragonfly Door dares to confront serious topics - of loss, death, grieving, and transition. Nym and Lea are two close insect friends, but one day after Nym yells at Lea, Lea disappears. Nym searches everywhere for her missing friend, and can't find her. At last Nym falls asleep, grief-stricken, and finally hears Lea's voice one more time. "'I died and went to this special place,' Lea said, her voice full of love. 'But I didn't want you to leave,' Nym pleaded. 'I'm sorry I yelled.' 'I know you're sorry,' Lea assured her. 'I left because my water nymph body died while I was picking flowers in the reeds, not because you yelled.'" The warm, emotional colors of award-winning artist Barbara L. Gibson illustrate this highly recommended picturebook for sharing the bittersweet realities of life with young people.