Customer Reviews:
 A Gift! October 25, 2005
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
An honest and beautiful book in helping to explore the challenging issues surrounding death, loss and change in life.
The illustrations are clear and diverse. This book can be of great help in talking about difficult issues with children and its honesty yet sensitivity makes it a delight to read and use.
Best book for explaining death to pre-school children May 26, 2001
56 out of 56 found this review helpful
I work for Social services with Children & Families. I have worked with children in both schools and families for many years. When our second daughter was stillborn I wanted a book to read to our 3 year old that helped her understand death. The cast majority of books I found were either too wordy or more suited to older children who could read. When I discovered Lifetimes and saw how well it was presented for younger children I was thrilled. The illustrations are excellent and the use of repetition of concepts like "beginnings and endings with lifetimes inbetween" was just what I had been looking for. I read this to my daughter frequently and we were able to talk about death in a way she could understand and I'm sure these conversations have helped both her and me to come to terms with the death of our second little girl. I have also taken this book into a reception class of a school where a boy in the class tragically suddenly died. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book and do so when ever spoken to about handling death with children. If I could I would like to thank Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen for such a valuable book.
This book is written for the very young child and parent. October 13, 1999
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
This book addresses a difficult subject in a very lovely, matter-of-fact way. It helps children (and adults) create a schema for "lifetime", the beautiful part between the beginning, birth, and the end, death. It feels almost scientific but is very poignant, progressing from the smallest living thing up to human beings. It stands out from other books on this subject by being neither cartoon-y nor documentary-style. It's also printed in lovely full-color. As a preschool teacher, I'm often asked how to handle the subject of death and dying with very young children. This is my first choice as a starter book on the subject.
How can you heal a grieving child's loss? October 17, 1997
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Lifetimes is a gently beautiful introduction to death and grief for young children. Ingpen and Mellonie show death as a natural part of the process of living for all creatures. They also affirm the reality and importance of death's sadness, thus opening the way to healing. This book is among the most popular choices of staff and grieving families at the hospice where I work. Every child enjoys the book's soothing text and lovely pictures. Even parents whose children have not yet experienced a loss might want to go ahead and get this book to help their children begin to build an understanding of the cycle of life. If your own heart is breaking, reading Lifetimes to a child will bring a little comfort to you, too.
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