Fay Bloor, Bereavement Support Coordinator and trained counsellor at Wathall’s, has published Missing Someone Special — an illustrated activity book that explains, in an age-appropriate way, what it means when someone dies and the feelings that can come with grief.
Illustrated by Michael Ashley, the book covers what happens at both a burial and a cremation, while encouraging children to share their emotions rather than hold them in. There are also pages where youngsters can write down happy memories, add a photograph or drawing, and even write a letter to the person they’ve lost.
Fay says the book can be particularly valuable during Children’s Mental Health Week, which runs from Monday 9 February. The annual awareness week is led by children’s mental health charity Place2Be, and this year’s theme is “This is My Place” — focused on helping children and young people feel empowered and heard.
“Sometimes bereaved children can feel like they don’t belong, because they’re going through something none of their friends have been through,” Fay said. “I decided to write Missing Someone Special to help children who find themselves coping with grief and the difficult feelings they’re experiencing.”
As well as her children’s title, Fay has also written Missing You, a support book for adults navigating bereavement. Both books have been published as part of Wathall’s award-winning Dandelions Bereavement Support service, which includes four free meetings a month as well as one-to-one counselling sessions in Derby.
Fay began writing the first book during lockdown in 2020, and says several hundred copies have since been sold through Wathall’s.
She is now working on a third book, which will focus on people facing the end of their life, offering comfort, practical advice, and guidance on making the most of the time remaining.
Books can be purchased via Fay’s Etsy shop.