Baby Finds Grace: Helping Children Cope with Trauma and Grief

Dr. Lyn Westman wrote Baby Finds Grace to help parents and other caregivers bring healing to children who suffer from grief and/or trauma. With the endearing tale of “Baby,” a small canary who gets separated from her family in a storm, Dr. Westman takes the reader through Baby’s trauma, grief, and ultimately healing.

“Often when people think of grief and trauma in developing nations, they think of the war-torn countries, however; situations such as poverty, disease, becoming an orphan, moving in with extended family, or moving to a different country may also produce symptoms of trauma in a child,” says Dr. Westman. Though it’s a children’s story, she hopes adults will find healing as well, “Any age could benefit. Since we’re using animals as characters in the story, anyone can take it and apply it to periods of suffering in their life.”

The story comes with a set of questions and activities for each chapter, to help children talk about what they are experiencing. A guide in the beginning gives parents and caregivers tips for helping children. The book is beautifully illustrated by Betty Nance Smith.

This story of a little lost bird has been used all over the world to help children cope with trauma and grief. As the story unfolds, Baby (the lost bird) learns to trust Grace with her story – and Grace serves as an example for all of us who listen to children’s difficult stories.

There are questions and activities for each chapter to help children express what they have experienced, and how they think and feel about it.

Written by Dr. Lyn Westman
Illustrated by Betty Nance Smith
ISBN: 978-1943157013

Available in paperback & on Kindle

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