LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
The result of an international project that invited children from around the globe to ask questions about death, Dying to Ask is an enlightening, thought-provoking work. Written by Ellen Duthie and Anna Juan Cantavella, whose honest, marvellously child-centred words take the form of wonderfully considered replies to children’s questions, Andrea Antinori’s elegantly bold illustrations add to the book’s special value.
Thirty-eight questions are addressed in all, ranging from metaphysical and philosophical matters (“What is there after death?”; “Before I was born, where was I? Was I dead?”), to the physicality of death (“How does skin go away?”), and practicalities (“Who takes care of the children when parents die?”; “How do they make tombstones?”; “If I die, who will get my games console?”). Others are moving, funny, or thought-provoking, thanks to the wondrous way many children question status quos that adults simply accept. For example, “Why do people say 'rest in peace' rather than 'rest in fun?'”
As the authors state in one of their replies, “Some questions about death are funny, others are scary, and others spark curiosity”. Overall, this book is sure to temper some of the scariness around death, and spark valuable conversations around a subject that’s terribly difficult to talk about.
Joanne Owen
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About
Dying to Ask Synopsis
For mortal beings of all ages comes Dying to Ask, the result of an international project where children were invited to ask questions about death based on a series of workshops. The result? Hundreds of questions from countries all over the world.
Herein lies thirty-eight questions that best represented the breadth and depth of children's interest in death and related matters, complete with psychological and scientific proofing. Thoughtful, tender, and surprisingly joyful, this illustrated book is an invitation to talk, think, and ask further questions about death.
Some of the questions:
Will I die?
Where do we go when we die?
Will we all become extinct one day?
If someone you love dies, how long are you sad for?
Why do people say 'rest in peace' rather than 'rest in fun?'
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781962098069 |
| Publication date: |
24th September 2024 |
| Author: |
Ellen Duthie, Anna Juan Cantavella |
| Illustrator: |
Andrea Antinori |
| Publisher: |
TRA Publishing an imprint of Simon And Schuster Group USA |
| Format: |
Hardback |
| Pagination: |
144 pages |
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Press Reviews
Ellen Duthie, Anna Juan Cantavella Press Reviews
'Full of imagination, humor, and irony…A title that can be enjoyed at any age and at many different times and not necessarily at the time of grief.' - El País
'A wonderful book for discussions, workshops, book clubs, or perhaps more importantly, conversations between parents and children.' - Canal Lector
'A splendid book that offers a fresh, natural approach to death, breaks taboos, and shares in children’s curiosity in a way that helps people of all ages to put words to death..' - Araceli Galindo, Psychologist at Vida y pérdida
'Dying to Ask invites readers of all ages to engage in an exploration of the enigma and taboo of death, in a way that manages to be humorous, straightforward, thoughtful, and deep. Starting with children’s questions and curiosity, the book is a fabulous springboard for talking about death and our shared mortality.' - Montse Colilles, Child Psychologist and Education Advisor
'A must-have in all school libraries. A book for sparking conversations about death in the classroom, at home, or wherever you happen to be. We will certainly be reading it for our book clubs with children. We know from experience how interested and curious they are about the subject!' - La Casa de Tomasa Cultural Association
'It’s fun, rigorous, tender, unprejudiced, accepting, respectful of mystery and passionate about questions.' - Adiós Cultura
Author
About Ellen Duthie, Anna Juan Cantavella
Ellen Duthie (pictured right) was born in Spain to British parents. She holds an MA in Mental Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh. A writer, teacher, blogger, and translator, her interests are focused on children’s literature and philosophy for children. Follow her on Instagram: @ellendrd
Anna Juan Cantavella, Ph.D (pictured left) holds a Ph.D. in Social and Cultural Anthropology and a Master’s in Children’s Books and Literature. Currently, she is a lecturer in the UAB’s Department of Language and Literature Didactics and collaborates with the Gretel research group and the Wonder Ponder publishing company. https://lacoleccionista-libroalbum.blogspot.com
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