Remembering Ethan - by Lesléa Newman (Hardcover)

About the Book

One of Bank Street's 2021 Best Children's Books of the Year

Ethan is gone, but he won't be forgotten as his sister rallies her family to never forget. Includes a note with recommendations of what to say and how to help children after the death of a loved one.

Book Synopsis

One of Bank Street's 2021 Best Children's Books of the Year

Ethan. Ethan. Ethan. Sarah misses her adored big brother with all her heart. She wants to celebrate all the fun times she and her parents spent with him. But ever since Ethan died, Mommy and Daddy won't mention him. Sarah can't even say his name without upsetting them. Why don't they want to remember Ethan?

Ethan is gone, but he won't be forgotten as his sister rallies her family to never forget. Includes a note with recommendations of what to say and how to help children after the death of a loved one.

Lesléa Newman offers a tender tribute to a lost family member in this touching story that can help families start to heal.

Review Quotes

"Remembering Ethan is a timely story concerning the loss of a loved one and the grief a young child and her parents inevitably experience. It is a valuable contribution to the seemingly limited body of children's literature on the topic.... The warm illustrations throughout this poignant text bring it to life, adding emotion and realism to the contents."-- "Seattle Book Review"

"A heart-breaking and heart-wrenching, a fact of life of resource for children that have lost a sibling."-- "Sunday Gatherings"

"A heartfelt and tender book about a family dealing with the loss of a child.... This book is a great resource for families to help their child deal with grief." -- "Talking About Books for Kids"

"Broaching a difficult but important topic, this heartbreaking story takes on a family's loss in a delicate and relatable way... the work encourages communication and connection in desperate times.... This is an important work on mental health, for any collection aimed at early childhood audiences."-- "School Library Journal"

"A family begins healing following a devastating loss... the child has real agency; Sarah effects change in the family dynamic that leads to cathartic healing. The delicate illustrations are expressive and effective. Useful psychologist's tips in the backmatter guide adults in helping children discuss the death of a family member. Gentle, comforting bibliotherapy." -- "Kirkus Reviews" (1/7/2020 12:00:00 AM)

"This touching picture book is heartbreakingly beautiful. The feelings that Sarah has as well as her parents are gently there for the reader to think about, especially if they have lost a loved one. Telling the story from Sarah's point of view gives a voice to the feelings children may have after losing a sibling or other special person." -- "WriteKnit" (1/21/2020 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Lesléa Newman is the author of 70 books for readers of all ages, including A Letter to Harvey Milk; October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard; I Carry My Mother; The Boy Who Cried Fabulous; Ketzel, the Cat Who Composed;Heather Has Two Mommies; Sparkle Boy; and Gittel's Journey: An Ellis Island Story. She has received many literary awards, including creative writing fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Artists Foundation, two American Library Association Stonewall Honors, the Massachusetts Book Award, the Association of Jewish Libraries Sydney Taylor Award, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, a Money for Women/Barbara Deming Memorial Fiction Writing grant, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, the Cat Writer's Association Muse Medallion, and the Dog Writers Association of America's Maxwell Medallion. Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award Finalists. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was on the faculty of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. From 2008-2010, she served as the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA. She has taught fiction writing at Clark University and currently she is a faculty mentor at Spalding University's brief residency MFA in Writing program. You can find Lesléa at lesleanewman.com or on Twitter @lesleanewman.

Tracy Bishop has a degree from San Jose University in graphic design, with a focus on illustration and animation, and is the illustrator of more than 20 children's books. She lives in San Jose, California. Visit tracybishop.com and @tracybishopart on Instagram and Twitter.