Cardinal Connection

Cardinal Connection: A Cardinal is Near is an interactive story and memory book that offers a meaningful and supportive means to explain death to children in developmentally appropriate words while also giving them a memory journal workbook all in one for them to draw, color, and use art and writing as a resource for remembering and starting the healing process.

This book helps young children cope with the emotions they face, sometimes for the first time, related to the death of a special and loved person in their lives and offers parents a supportive tool to guide discussion.

Who is Cardinal Connection for?
Cardinal Connection can serve as a read-aloud book for all children no matter their age. The vivid illustrations help to catch children’s attention while the rhyming story line connects various topics and ideas. The workbook side of the book offers a space for kids to express themselves in their own way through creative drawing and writing. This book can also be read directly by children starting around age 7 through early childhood and beyond. This book is honestly for everyone as adults alike can find comfort in this resource much as a child would.

Grief is a unique experience that all of us will go through in our own way. Cardinal Symbolism is one method that can allow children to work through their own grieving process and keep a loving connection to the person who died during these difficult times and all throughout their lifetime. Cardinal Connection is an extremely useful resource to give to children following the death of a loved one and can help accompany difficult conversations that parents and family members must face during these sad times.

Author Mike Resh grew up in Lehighton, Pennsylvania prior to moving to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, to start his career as an elementary school counselor. Throughout Mike's professional career, he became passionate about supporting students and families during some of the toughest times of their lives, following the death of a loved one. Mike has vast experience and knowledge with supporting children as they work through the grieving process that he gained serving as a member of various grief support teams. Mike lives with his wife Kayla, daughter Emerson, and Goldendoodle Elle.

Illustrator Steven Kernen has been working in different areas of the art world for over twenty-five years; illustration, caricature, design, etc. Losing loved ones early in life has given him a special connection to this book and an appreciation of cardinals who fly by.