Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye
I am happy to interview author Jenny Fulton so she can share about her new picture book, Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye.
Please tell us about your book, Jenny.
Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye is an intimate celebration of a loved one’s passing as a family says good-bye to a man eager to meet his best friend, the King Above All Nations.
When little Princess Lillian is taken to visit her grandpa in the hospital, she learns the spiritual can interact with the physical. Throughout this book, Navajo heritage mingles with Caucasian, imaginary is used to explain a reality, and heaven reaches down to earth as a young girl observes her grandpa awaiting his entrance into his eternal home.
What inspired you to write the book?
In December of 2019, my grandpa had a stroke and was taken to the hospital. My mom kept us updated. “He’s ready to go home,” she told us. One day, he requested a last rites visit from his family and church elders. They came, read scripture, sang some of his favorite hymns, and told him that it was okay for him to go. My parents recorded snippets of that time and sent it to us. I’ve never seen someone so patiently and eagerly awaiting his call into heaven. There was a peace and longing in him that was both beautiful and heartbreaking. I wrote this story shortly after watching the video several times. My grandpa lived another month and then went Home in January, 2021.
Death is a difficult topic for children, but one that needs to be addressed. In what ways is this book a helpful resource?
Death doesn’t always have to be scary. While it’s sad to say goodbye, for a Christian, death isn’t the end. In the midst of the sorrow, there can also be beauty, peace, and joy. While God doesn’t always heal our loved ones, He is with us, and them, when that transition to an eternal home occurs. I’ve used the concepts in this book with my young daughters and it has been a huge help in discussion about death, Heaven, and saying goodbye.
Thank you for telling us about your new picture book and this important topic that children need to understand. I am sure this book will be a blessing for many families.
Crystal
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