WHAT HAPPENS AFTER?

A kid-centered consideration of what happens to those left behind after a loved one dies.

In this picture book, Namm tackles the difficult subject of death by addressing the question: “What happens after someone you love dies?” With sights firmly set on the living, the author methodically moves through all of the ways in which those left behind move through grief. From feeling mixed emotions and questioning why the loved one died to finding signs out in the world (butterflies, rainbows) that a loved one is still somehow present and telling stories to remember them by, grief is portrayed as a process that involves time and acceptance. Jäger’s illustrations are colorful without being loud and portray characters with a variety of skin colors. The flat, two-dimensional drawings add context to the story’s message by depicting a wide variety of lost loved ones: children, parents, grandparents, even pets. While there are no easy answers when it comes to death, Namm gives readers permission to process their feelings about it on their own timetable: “It’s really hard for those who remain behind. And it can be hard for a long, long time. That’s all right. It takes as long as it takes.” The book’s simplicity and emotional honesty will appeal to kids and adults alike as Namm strips the end of life down to its basics…and reassures readers that it will all be OK.

A simple, emotionally effective exploration of loss.