Customer Reviews

Samantha Jane's Missing Smile: A Story about Coping with the Loss of a Parent

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4 star:		(1)
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When her father died, young Samantha Jane lost her smile. She feels such sadness because she misses her father so very much. Sammy Jane is also now worried about her mother and whether or not they can ever be happy again. Is it right to feel happy when her father can't be with her to enjoy what life has to offer? Deftly co-authored by Julie Kaplow and Donna Pincus, and very nicely illustrated with the artwork of Beth Spiegel, "Samantha Jane's Missing Smile: A Story About Coping With The Loss Of A Parent" will gently guide young readers and their families through the feelings, thoughts, and wishes that young children aged 4 to 8 experience when a parent dies and provides them with helpful tools for overcoming their natural and inevitable grief associated with such great loss. Simply put, "Samantha Jane's Missing Smile" should be a part of every elementary school and community library collection because every school and every community will, from time to time, have children who have lost a parent and stand in need of what Sammy Jane has to share with them.

I gave this book to a friend who lost his wife to cancer and needed to talk to his children about ways to cope and remember her. The family read the story together many times and it helped to guide his discussion with his children. The story is great and the artwork is engaging for children. This book should be on the shelf of every physician, psychologist, or healthcare professional who deals with children who must cope with the loss of a parent. In fact, you can never tell when a client may lose someone important to them and this boook provides concrete strategies for helping children deal with loss.

Oh boy, where to begin. There are so many good nuggets in this book. First of all, tough subject to write about. Second, anyone who works with or has a grieving child needs this book on their shelf. Kids often stuff their feelings because they don't want to upset their parents. Samantha Jane tries to push away her own grief so she won't worry her mother. Man, it makes me sad to think about how much that happens in real life. She also struggles with guilt. The guilt of not wanting to experience joy, for fear that she is not honoring her father's memory. My favorite bibliotherapy stories are those incorporating REALISTIC strategies that help kids cope through those rough times. There are some good ones throughout the story. I highly recommend Samantha Jane's Missing Smile for your shelf.

I bought this book for a young girl (6) who recently lost her father to Leukemia. This book has a great message, and lets kids know it's okay to be sad sometimes, as well as move forward and be happy. It's written very well, and perfect for young children coping with the loss of a father. The book explored ways the girl can remember her Dad in the many things around her, and how those happy memories of her Dad are okay to smile about. I asked a few friends to read this book before giving it to the young girl, and they agreed it was a great story, and very nicely written. Not too negative, has a positive message, and very reassuring for a child in this situation. Highly recommended.

I really do like this book although it made me cry. I bought this book because my daughter is also named Samantha Jane and she does not have a father. The book's story is much like my own growing up and losing my father at a very young age. There weren't very many resources back then to help me through the process of grieving and accepting his death. My daughter's story is different however. I was hoping this book would help her understand about her daddy since she tells everyone he died. The book isn't really appropriate for her situation.

The book talks about how the little girl can think of the good times she had with her daddy when he was alive (my daughter doesn't even remember her father). The little girl talks to a neighbor about it and that is great but it was kinda disturbing because the little girls mother did not know where she was. She was looking for her little girl and found her in the backyard of a neighbors house talking about her dad. The mom says something about that the little girl should talk to her when she is feeling sad because "that's what moms are for". I think sometimes it is easier to talk to other people than just your mom, especially about something so upsetting to them both. When the little girl talked to the neighbor, the neighbor suggested the little girl wrote a letter to her dad. I don't think her mother would have ever thought of suggesting this.

I would have liked to have read more ways to help cope with the loss of a parent. It would have been nice to have more suggestions for different situations. The last few pages of the book does do a good job of giving suggestions and of common Psychological issues and reactions. It is helpful for the surviving parent although I would have liked to see some ways that families could get some professional help and where to look for the help.