What Happened to Daddy's Body?: Explaining what happens after death in words very young children can understand

My daddy died when I was (one...two...) three years old. Today we are out in the garden. It always makes me think about my daddy because he LOVED his garden. Sometimes, I wonder what happened to my daddy's body...

This picture book aims to help children aged 3+ to understand what happens to the body after someone has died. Through telling the true story of what happened to his daddy's body, we follow Alex as he learns about cremation, burial and spreading ashes. Full of questions written in Alex's own words, and with the gentle, sensitive and honest answers of his mother, this story will reassure any young child who might be confused about death and what happens afterwards. It also reiterates the message that when you have experienced the loss of a loved one, it is okay to be sad, but it is okay to be happy, too.

Elke Barber's life changed in April 2009 when her husband Martin suffered a fatal heart attack. Aged only 34, she found herself a young widow and a single mum to two kids under four. A self-employed graphic designer and long-time lover of children's books, she decided to share their story to help others in similar situations. Using the conversations she had with her then three-year old son, together they wrote Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? and What Happened to Daddy's Body? - both published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers. She is now happily remarried, a mum and step mum to seven children, soulmate to John and a public speaker who is passionate about improving the bereavement support for young children. If you want to find out more about Elke and her family, please visit www.isdaddycomingback.com.

Alex Barber is now ten years old. He was only three when his daddy died. He misses him every day, and will never stop missing him. He loves Doctor Who and his favourite hobby is football. He helped his mum Elke write Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? and What Happened to Daddy's Body? by asking the many direct and difficult questions only a young child can ask. He calls his mum's new husband 'Dad' (not 'Daddy'!), and says he is lucky because he has two dads, only one of them can't be here.