Lifetimes [Paperback]

Bryan Mellonie (Author), Robert Ingpen (Author)

Book Description

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

A pet . . . a friend . . . or a relative dies, and it must be explained to a child. This sensitive book is a useful tool in explaining to children that death is a part of life and that, eventually, all living things reach the end of their own special lifetimes.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; 1 edition (October 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553344021
• ISBN-13: 978-0553344028
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.1 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Death & Dying
  • #30 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Death & Grief > Grief & Bereavement

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

152 of 153 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lifetimes: Healing for Children and Adults, January 1, 2003

By 

M. Rosenthal "MM Rosenthal, HBE" (Jamaica Plain, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lifetimes (Paperback)

I have a fairly extensive collection of books about death and grieving for "my" children, which we have used for the loss of
family, friends and pets. But this is the only book I regularly give copies of to families. The "de-personalized" way it talks about death, the universality of its text combined with soft drawings and repetition are very soothing. This is NOT a book about emotions or stages of death. (If you are looking for one of those Everett Anderson's Goodbye is a positive place to start.)

This is a book about the rhythm of life and death for all creatures, for everything that is born. One of the best parts of the book is its emphasis on what a lifetime is, and how it is framed by birth and death, and that inbetween those "markers" is what is important. It explains that different creatures have different life spans, and that this aspect of nature is neither fair nor unfair. It simply is.

I do not restrict this book to times when a child is grieving,
I include it in our regular reading rotation, so that the children see death as a normal part of life experiences. Death is so emotionally charged, especially for the grown ups, that having a calm book is especially worthwhile. When a child is actually grieving balancing the more "intense" books with this soothing one, does wonders.

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lifetimes: Not ONLY about death, November 21, 2003

By 

Jeff Haverlack (La Center, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lifetimes (Paperback)

After losing my wife (33 years old) two years ago, this was one of the books that was recommended to me .... and I am glad I took the recommendation. This is a GREAT book for explaining the subject of lifetimes to children, especially in the 3-5 year old range.

What is great about this book and something I didn't realize at the time was that lifetimes didn't have to only related to death of people. EVERYTHING has a lifetime and it has helped my daughter in many ways. A couple months ago, when my daughter's balloon popped and she was very sad, she said "Dad, I guess my balloon's lifetime is over", and then she went to throw it away. She was sad but understood the concept that all things, living and unliving, have a lifetime. We still use the concepts today on a regular basis, and she still likes to read the book as well.

HIGHLY recommended, even for those children that haven't had to deal with true loss or death yet ... at least in my opinion.

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book about life that helps explain death, July 19, 2004

By 

Allison (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lifetimes (Paperback)

I heard about this book and decided to take a look before I needed it. I know that eventually my child will start asking questions about death, and I'd like to know what resources are available. I was particularly drawn to this title because it can be tailored to a variety of religious belief systems. I disagree with a previous poster who stated that this book teaches that there is no afterlife. The way I read it, the book doesn't take a stand either way. Being "alive" on earth is not the same thing as "eternal life" in the religions I am familiar with. No religion I know of denies that earthly bodies are alive and then they die.

I like the fact that this book compares all types of organisms from plants to animals to people. The concept of a life span ties it all together. What is "in between" the beginning and ending of a life is living. I appreciate that this book emphasizes the in between, and therefore strikes a positive note.

I would caution against using this book as a regular picture book for toddlers and older preschoolers because it may actually introduce the idea of death before a child is able to comprehend the explanation. However, I think it's an excellent choice for a child who is asking about death or who has recently experienced the loss of a pet, friend, or relative.