A sweet children's chapter book dealing with grief and parental relationships. I smiled, chuckled, and teared up. ( )

There were things I liked about this book and things I did not like about this book. The thing I liked about this book is that the book is written entirely from the perspective of a little girl who has lost her mom unexpectedly, and she goes through a range of emotions during the story. For example, she is happy when she brings her dad cupcakes for his birthday. She is sad when she thinks her dad isn't paying enough attention to her or if he does not do things the way her mom would have, like at breakfast he does not make her a hot meal of talk to her.

The thing I did not like about this book is that the plot seemed to drag on and there was a lot that could have been left out and it would not have any impact on the story. For example, the climax of the story was her going alone into town, a storm hits, then her dad searches for her and finds her. Before that there is a lot in the story that could be left out, like when she goes to work with her dad. It seems unnecessary for the story.

The main idea of this story is coping with the loss of a parent and the different ways people cope. ( )

Summary : Annie's mother dies in the very first chapter. The information is imparted directly but with a gentle tone , this story is mainly about loss and healing, readers will receive messages of family solidarity, patience, empathy, gentle and steady love, and the importance of community support. Annie is honest about her feelings, even if she doesn't really understand them. Her emotions are sometimes messy -- Annie can be jealous, impetuous, and bossy -- but readers will relate to the pain she feels. Mr. Rossi is devoted to Annie and very patient with her, and the school community is supportive.This story is about how Annie and her father learn to live a new life after her mother's death. Messages of family solidarity, patience, empathy, gentle and steady love, and community support are clear. The book also illustrates how different people experience grief differently.

Personal: This is actually a very good book to me. I thought after reading the first few pages I would not like it because I do not enjoy reading about loss because it upsets me. I have lost a few friends through high school and it still hurts to bring up loss and grief. But this book reminds me that we can enjoy what they did and have brought to us in life and not always sadness but happiness as well.

Classroom extension:
1. This could be used if we knew of someone passed away in the class like a family member.
2. Military families would enjoy this so if i was on board at D.O.D.s i could use it.

It had a good story line; perfect for the child that may have just gone through losing a parent ( )

Hest, P. (2007). Remembering Mrs. Rossi. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Very early on in Remembering Mrs. Rossi, Annie’s mother, Mrs. Rossi, has an off-again and on-again fever. She is admitted to the hospital and unexpectedly dies. From that point, it is just Annie, an eight and a half-year-old girl, and her father, Professor Rossi. When Annie and her father go to the Winter Assembly, Mrs. Rossi’s former classes present to them a book called Remembering Mrs. Rossi. It is a book compiled of letters from her students. At the end of the book, there is a copy of Remembering Mrs. Rossi as presented by Room 222.

It is difficult for Annie to adjust to life without her mother. She expects her father to take care of her the way her mother took care of her. When there is a no school day, Annie is upset because her father does not know the routine. Annie and her mother would go to the park and then bake cookies. Her father is often busy as a professor at Columbia University. At times, Annie feels alone, neglected, and frustrated. She wishes her father would be more attentive.

Remembering Mrs. Rossi honestly portrays the reality of death. It reflects today’s concern that children should not be removed from death. The book discusses death in an open way. There are many moments in the book when she remembers her mother. Annie experiences guilt too, because she did not have a chance to say, “I love you.” I think many children feel this way too. For the most part, Annie’s character is convincing, because she experiences a variety of emotions. One emotion, however, that the book does not explore is anger. Sometimes, when loved ones pass away, people feel angry. At the end of the book, the pain is not gone; Annie still misses her mother.

I liked the book because it does not sugarcoat the pain associated with death. The story provides insight into how young children cope with death. I think the author developed Annie’s character well. Throughout the story, Annie must learn to release her expectations of her father, while remembering her mother. I personally connected to the story. I can identify with Annie’s emotions, because I too felt sad and alone when my father passed away.

This book is appropriate for children in second through fifth grade.