Nana's Magic Swing

by Janet Shindle

Overview

Nana's Magic Swing is the story of Graham, a happy little boy who lives next door to his beloved great-grandmother, Nana. Nana hugs Graham, gives him cookies and milk, and calls him funny names. Best of all, she takes him for rides on the Magic Swing. The Magic Swing can be anything and take Graham anywhere in the world he wants to go, all in Nana's comforting and loving arms.
One day, Graham's world is turned upside-down when Nana dies. The story follows Graham from the shock of the news to the funeral, burial, and the aftermath of the loss. At first, Graham struggles to understand Nana's death and cope with the changes in his life. Eventually, with the love and support of his family, he begins to realize that Nana's memory and their experiences together will always be with him, even if she is no longer there. As Graham returns to Nana's house and introduces the Magic Swing to his little brother and sister, he passes on the love and memories he has received and his smile returns.
This heartfelt story of love, loss, memory, and acceptance provides a soothing yet honest context and language for talking with children about death, offering support through the grieving process, and facilitating healing. Nana's Magic Swing concludes with a page of straightforward, sincere advice for kids coping with the death of a loved one....

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781460296226
Publisher:	FriesenPress
Publication date:	01/31/2018
Pages:	36
Sales rank:	887,017
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.10(d)

About the Author

Janet Shindle, M.S.W, is a retired social worker, mother of three, and grandmother of seven. In her years of experience in social work and public service, she has been involved with children, the elderly, and others who have struggled with loss. Janet is a strong believer in the power of stories to affirm experience, normalize feelings, provide perspective, and assist with healing. She began writing children's stories after recognizing how challenging it can be for caregivers to find the right words to anchor and comfort a child during difficult times. She would like to be part of helping children adapt and move on in healthy ways.
Janet lives with her husband in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Her family has taught her much about the unique ways adults and children cope with loss. Nana's Magic Swing was inspired by the author's grandmother (Nana) and her son (Graham), who shared adventures on a swing many years ago.....

Editorial Reviews

2018-10-24

A boy copes with the death of his great-grandmother by sharing memories with others in Shindle's debut picture book.

Graham loves going to his Nana's house. Specifically, he loves her "pillow-soft lap" and how she calls him a "honeybunch of stink weeds." Most of all, he loves her backyard's "magic swing." Each visit, they get out a map and decide where the swing will take them. Together, they imagine adventures, such as flying from Canada to Australia. But one day, Graham finds out that his Nana has died, and he's unsure how to handle it. A family gathering where they remember and talk about Nana is hard for him; the funeral, where Graham sees Nana's body, is difficult, too. He struggles with being sad, mad, and worried, but when his siblings join him on the magic swing, he finds Nana's map in the cushions and realizes he can share her magic. Overall, this is a touching and straightforward work. Helpful notes at the end will assure grieving children that whatever feelings they have about loss are OK, and they offer tips on how to cope. Shindle's prose is simple enough for independent readers to grasp, and the illustrations of Graham's Caucasian family land somewhere between cartoonish and realistic.

An approachable book about losing a loved one and honoring their memory.

Kirkus Reviews