Product reviews for The Little Book of Bereavement for Schools

This book is exactly what it says on its tasteful cream cover - little, about bereavement and for school staff (and other professionals). It has been expanded from an original 15-point A4 sheet compiled by Ian and his three children following the death of his wife and their mother. The children are aged nine, 13 and 18, and each writes with authority based on personal experience about what worked for them and what didn't in the days and months after the bereavement.
The no-nonsense approach speaks directly to schools: ban gossip about the deaths say something - so much better than saying nothing; provide the child with a safe space at school; acknowledge how exhausting grief can be; talk to the surviving parent; be mindful of anniversaries, and keep open the channels of communication. It tells schools to give their full attention to bereaved children, provide a room near reception for breaking bad news, be vigilant on Mother's Day, train at least one staff member in grief work and teach other children how to cope with grief (their own and that of others).
The book does not break new ground; there are other publications saying much the same things in slightly different ways. It is not an activity book or manual - for those, try Goldman's (2006) Children Also Grieve and Wells' (1988) Helping Children Cope with Grief.Its appeal lies in its commonsense approach built on personal experience, making it no less invaluable for any school.