Why?

This groundbreaking picture book provides some possible answers to the question of why someone, especially a parent, might choose death over life.

Losing a loved one is never easy, but when that loved one dies by suicide, most youngsters will have many questions but be provided with few answers. Often, so much stigma and secrecy surround this type of loss that children are further traumatized when adults fail to discuss what happened. Oliver is confused about why his father is no longer living. His mother tries to comfort him, reassuring Oliver that his father loved him and that neither of them are to blame for his death. Oliver’s mother explains that his father was “overwhelmed by a deep dark sadness” and chose to end his life “to get away from the sad, scary, and dark feelings,” language that effectively depicts depression and demystifies the mental health challenges that led to his death. The illustrations contain several luminous double-page spreads that convey the deep sense of loss experienced by those left behind as well as what it might feel like to be “stuck in deep dark sadness.” The contrast between those dark pages and the growing lightness surrounding Oliver and his mother as they process their loss is striking. Oliver is biracial; his father is pictured with light skin and curly brown hair and his mother with darker skin and hair.

A helpful how-to guide for difficult but necessary conversations. (reader’s note, for more information, reference) (Picture book. 6-9)

Melissa Heath, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and a certified school psychologist. She recently retired and now has time to turn from academic research, focusing on applying the research she has conducted over the past 22 years to improve practice. Her areas of expertise include bibliotherapy, social-emotional learning, suicide, anxiety, and bullying.

Frances Ives is an illustrator and artist. She earned her master’s in children’s book illustration from Cambridge School of Art. She lives in Cambridge, UK. She is the illustrator of Someday, The World is a Family, and I’ll Say Goodbye.