April 27, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS – To Henry in Heaven is a collection of poems and spiritual dialogues between a grandfather (Herbert Brokering) and his stillborn grandchild, though the book's messages are meaningful to any family member experiencing the loss of an infant.

In each of the imagined conversations, a loved one expresses thoughts and emotions of fear, want, loss, hurt, separation, loneliness, regret, blame, anger, and doubt. In the italicized reply, the child describes a higher life of peace, comfort, joy, light, wonder, trust, safety, and beauty. These dialogues demonstrate how family members can continue to talk intimately with the child who has died to make peace with this new life they have together.

Herbert Brokering is seventy-eight years old. His grandson, Henry Frederick, lies under a maple.

"Through an ongoing dialogue with a child who was born still, Brokering offers a glimmer of hope for parents who have experienced a [child's] death through stillbirth or miscarriage. Although no book can provide absolute answers to a person's individual grief journey, Brokering does leave one with a sense of spiritual connection with the child who has died and also with the life beyond, which awaits us all." –Theresa Huntley, Clinical Social Worker, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospitals and Clinics, and author of When Your Child Dies, When Your Child Loses a Loved One, and Helping Children Grieve.

"Loving grandfather Herbert Brokering helps bereaved families bridge the distance between earth and heaven in these deeply felt dialogues. Rather than conceiving of Henry as without life, Grandpa Herb continues to feel Henry's spirit and learns from him. What a joyous transformation! These dialogues and poems are a gift to all who have lost a baby, giving us a way to maintain our never-ending conversation of love." –Sabrina Rood-Sinker, mother of three sons: A.J., Jonah, who was miscarried, and Ethan, born prematurely, who died at 4-1/2 months.

"[Herb Brokering] has been my beloved prophet, reaching into heaven in [his] love for Henry and bringing us all news of the reality of life beyond life: love that will never end. All of us will be reading, singing, playing, and dancing with Henry and his loving family, and we will be blessed in our deepest being." –Harley Racer, M.D., Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis.

Herbert Brokering is a pastor, writer, poet, pilgrimage guide, and popular speaker who has authored more than thirty books, including Cat Psalms; Dog Psalms; Hello Night!; I'm Thinking of You; Love, Dad; Making Room for Christmas; and Unto Us Is Born, all from Augsburg Books.

Format: Paperback 96 pages 5 x 6.5 inches; Item No: 0-8006-5170-9; Publisher: Augsburg Books; Price: $8.99.

To order To Henry in Heaven please call Augsburg Fortress at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the web site at http://www.augsburgfortress.com/.

Augsburg Fortress