Review of Missing my Pet by Alex Lambert aged 6 years
This children's book approaches the
death or a pet with gentleness and
sensitivity. The book is wntten by a
six-year-old boy called Alex and is
based on fact about his doq, Star.
This gives the story an air of realism
and authority. It starts with sharinq
happy times with Star through to
visiting the vet, coping with the
news of Star's death, the ensuing
feelings, how to remember Star and
getting a new family pet.
The story is clearly laid out with the
text on one side and a correspond-
ing relevant picture opposite.This
forces the parent or reader to relate
the story slowly and considerately.
The typeface and illustrations are
clear and boldly coloured. The
notable aspect of this story is that
there is no religious viewpoint and
deals with the transition of life
and death through Alex's eyes. It
tells of Star being tired when he
died and that his body is left at
the vets wl'iile he is in the sky with
the stars with all the other animals.
It also notes that parents do not
have all the answers or can make
everything better. This refreshing
aspect is indicated by one of the
book's pictures showing a vicar in
the vets with his pet. Nct even he
can help his pet. The tale is upbeat
and balances the emotions that
occur with the death of a pet with
the emotion of accepting a new pet
into the household.
There are practical sections
throughout the book where
children can say in pictures what
they cannot say in words. They can
stick in photographs of their pet
and the book will be a treasured
keepsake in memory of an impor-
tant event in a child's life. It can
then be retferred to repeatedly.
There is an accompanying booklet
for parents giving tips on how to
be guided by your child's feelings. It
can be a heartbreaking moment for
a parent to watch their child experience the feeling of loss and the
death of a pet is usually their first
loss.This adult guide gives parents
the insight to show their childteri
that not all loss needs to be seen
negatively.
A positive outlook helps
a c h i I d w hen d e a ling with the
loss of a family pet. It encourages
patents to show their emotions
and that emotions can be shown
without judgement. The guide
discusses the practicalities of the
pet's death such as whether to dig
a grave and the ensuing problems
should you move house. The guide
stresses that although loss and grief
are a normal course of life's events
and life in tl'ie household should
go on, the grieving process should
not be rushed with pets bedding
binned and a new pet replacing the
old. Consideration and time are of
the essence.
This is an excellent book for the
veterinary waiting room. I read this
book and the accompanying guide
not long after my cat of 1 5 years
died and although my children
were far too young to understand
what was happening. I found that
the guide helped me approach this
unsettling event with honesty and
sensitivity. I was also comforted
by the fact that I could refer to the
story and parental guide in the
future theteby not fotgetting what
is like for a a child to experience the
death of a family pet.Every parent
who has a house full of children
and pets should keep this book and
guide alongside their pet memory
book
Contact:
Alison Lambert
Address: BGTF Limited
The Old Vicarage
3 Church Lane, Lincolnshire
