Barklay and Eve: the role of activity books for bereaved children

There has been an exponential growth in literature for children over the last two decades, particularly in the areas of death, dying, and bereavement. Publicly breaking the silence on such tough issues is due, in part, to the late Fred Rogers (1928-2003) and his groundbreaking work on children's television programs. Mr. Rogers developed rapport and trust with his young audience that made it safe to address painful topics and teach children how to cope with many different types of loss and transition. When a beloved Sesame Street character, Mr. Hooper, died in the late 1970s, Mr. Rogers appeared on the program to explain death, to commemorate, and to comfort Mr. Hooper's friends on- and off-screen. At about the same time, the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the National Funeral Director's Association, Compassion Books, Centering Corporation, and other such organizations made it their mission to educate children and their adult caregivers about death-related issues. Drawing from the many wonderful children's books now available, this article will focus on the developmental rationale for, and the unique contribution of, activity books for bereaved children.