Publication Date: 19 August 2021

The Blurb

A comforting, practical and go-to expert toolkit for children dealing with loss and grief

The death of a parent, sibling or friend is one of the most traumatic experiences for a child and it can be hard to know how to talk to them about it. In this honest, comforting and strength-building guide, children will be able to look toward the future with hope.

Written by clinical psychologist, executive coach and founder of childhood bereavement charity Winston’s Wish, Julie Stokes OBE, You Will Be Okay is a toolbox for children navigating grief. Julie shares case studies of children’s stories of loss. She offers comforting and practical advice for coping, remembering and taking time for you. Strong emotions come and go. Intense sadness can flip into anger or happiness – all while trying to be ‘normal’ – so it’s no surprise that navigating these emotions can be tricky. But she shows young readers that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, you just have to find your way. You Will Be Okay teaches children that there are many things they can do to build strength and resilience in order move forward with life.

The Review

A kind and compassionate, straight talking look at the whole host of emotions we can go through when someone important in our life dies, whether it’s a family member, friend or someone else in our lives. With real-life examples, Julie takes us through different ways we might react, and what we can do to help get ourselves back on track, so that we can move on without that person, while holding them close.

Each chapter guides us through different strategies we can employ to help us be kinder to ourselves while we come to terms with the loss we feel. I particularly liked the use of “grief muscles” that can help give us the strength to carry on without storing up grief, and the use of a simple sentence that allows us to explain what has happened in a way that feels right for us.

A must for every school to support staff, parents and carers in helping children cope with bereavement and the emotions that come with it. As an adult whose Mum died just before Christmas, there was much in here to help me too.

Resources that can be used in conjunction with You Will be Okay are available at Hachette Schools

Huge thanks to Hachette Children’s for sending me a copy.