July 27, 2005

MINNEAPOLIS – Mama's Going to Heaven Soon is a compassionate story that assists children and caregivers in talking about the anticipated death of a parent. Readers will begin to process their own feelings as they listen to the children in the story talk about the confusion they feel because their mom is sick, the sadness they feel when they learn that their mom will die, and their questions about what will happen when she dies.

The bright, childlike artwork and the simple, straightforward language combine to offer an assuring, hopeful message. For caregivers, the final pages of the book offer suggestions to further assist them in talking to children about death.

"When a parent is terminally ill, it is important to explain the situation to young children in a clear and sensitive manner. When my son Todd and daughter-in-law Tammy faced Tammy's terminal breast cancer, they had trouble finding materials to help their young sons, ages five and three, understand the changes to come. I was inspired to create this book to offer a bit of comfort and understanding to my grandsons and other young children. It is my fondest wish that this book would reach other families in their time of need. –Kathe Martin Copeland, from the Introduction.

"Mama's Going to Heaven Soon is a gift-certainly a gift to the grieving child facing or experiencing this significant loss. This beautifully illustrated book offers a way to jump-start those critically important conversations between children and adults, and perhaps between adults and adults, about dying, death and the hope of eternal life. This is a book you can confidently give to a child or family when you don't know what to say." –Harold Ivan Smith, grief educator, and author of Grievers Ask.

"This book gently provides information for children who are living with a parent's illness and anticipated death. It affirms the multiple feelings commonly experienced and offers reassurance of the parent's ongoing love for them in spite of the absence of their physical presence here on earth. This will be a wonderful resource to assist people in preparing children for the death of their loved one." –Theresa Huntley, LICS, Children's Hospitals and Clinics, Hematology/Oncology Program.

"As this book is read and re-read with small children, they will be able to find every feeling they may be having. But above all, the book expresses love in the words, and the immense brightness and joy of that love in the artwork." –Lynn Klug, compiler of Soul Weavings, All Will Be Well, and A Forgiving Heart.

Author: Kathe Martin Copeland's love of poetry and writing began at a very early age, and has continued to grow throughout her thirty-year career as a second grade teacher. She and her husband Bob share three grown sons and reside in Joplin, MO, with their two cats, Gizmo and Garth.

Illustrator: Elissa Hudson is currently completing an undergraduate degree in illustration. Creating artwork has always been something she has loved to do. She is pursuing her dream of being a children's book author and illustrator.

Mama's Going to Heaven Soon: Price: $9.99; Format: Paperback, 32 pages, 8 x 8 inches; ISBN: 0-8066-5122-9; Publisher: Augsburg Books, Minneapolis, MN. A portion of the royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to the fight against cancer.

To order Mama's Going to Heaven Soon please call Augsburg Books at 1-800-328-4648 or visit the Web site at http://www.augsburgbooks.com/.

Augsburg Books