A Tiny Step Forward

Book excerpt: A Tiny Step Forward is a charming, seemingly simple group of lessons about remembering lost loved ones. Yet its message is remarkably sophisticated. Many children who suffer a loss, either through death or divorce, feel compelled to hide their feelings for fear of upsetting others or opening painful wounds. Charlene Khaghan and Jill Starishevsky allow children to think lovingly about shared past times and to fantasize about the absent friend or family member who they know would take great pride in their accomplishments. This book will be a comfort to children everywhere. –Clarice Kestenbaum, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons While there are many books on the market for adults on the subject of how to help grieving children, there are few books written specifically for children. Charlene Khaghan and Jill Starishevsky write purely and authentically from the point of view of a child who is moving through the pain of loss and subsequent grief. As fierce advocates for children, the authors have an innate understanding of the “roller-coaster” of emotions that a child suffering through loss experiences and express those emotions beautifully and with a positive eye to the future. This book is a must-have for any child suffering from the loss of a loved one. -Carole Brody Fleet, award-winning and bestselling author, “Widows Wear Stilettos...” and “Happily EVEN After...”