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A review by annabannana
Goodbye Mousie by Robie H. Harris
4.0
This is a book that does not address what happens to the soul after we die. It doesn't discuss things like heaven, and whether mice go there. I prefer books that don't talk about heaven, so that was a plus. I think that's better left up the the individual family to discuss. The book addresses what those of us who are left behind deal with.
There are some helpful parts to the book. Losing someone you love can lead to denial, anger, sadness, and a need to do something to honor the one who was lost and deal with your grief. This is shown in a way that can help young children process this. However, I have mixed feelings about a lot of what the book does. I don't believe someone who has died will be experiencing things like hunger or boredom anymore. I see nothing wrong with burying a mouse with food and toys, but I do see something wrong in suggesting that otherwise the poor dead creature would have been suffering without these things. I discussed with C that when someone dies, they will NOT be feeling things like hunger or boredom anymore.
I thought the ending was very appropriate - it honors the feelings we have when we lose someone. You can never replace someone, and we shouldn't try, though you can find new mice/pets/people to love, when you are ready.
In our family's recent losses, C has not been able to hold or bury anyone after they died, so the process of an actual burial in the book was not itself helpful to understanding our experiences, though the process of having some kind of memorial is still relevant for us.
There are some helpful parts to the book. Losing someone you love can lead to denial, anger, sadness, and a need to do something to honor the one who was lost and deal with your grief. This is shown in a way that can help young children process this. However, I have mixed feelings about a lot of what the book does. I don't believe someone who has died will be experiencing things like hunger or boredom anymore. I see nothing wrong with burying a mouse with food and toys, but I do see something wrong in suggesting that otherwise the poor dead creature would have been suffering without these things. I discussed with C that when someone dies, they will NOT be feeling things like hunger or boredom anymore.
I thought the ending was very appropriate - it honors the feelings we have when we lose someone. You can never replace someone, and we shouldn't try, though you can find new mice/pets/people to love, when you are ready.
In our family's recent losses, C has not been able to hold or bury anyone after they died, so the process of an actual burial in the book was not itself helpful to understanding our experiences, though the process of having some kind of memorial is still relevant for us.