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LET’S DISCUSS THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Dying and Loss

1. When someone we love passes away, everyone manages their feelings differently. In this story, the children make a Memory Tree. Why do you think the Memory Tree might have helped the children when they missed their Grandpa?

Bedtime Story written by Savnola Goldridge

Illustrated by Agrippa Hlophe

Designed by Jason Gien

Edited by Mariam Mahomed

Music video by “Angel Share” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Leaving Home” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Floating Cities” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Bittersweet” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Almost New” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

* THE STORY ‘THE MEMORY TREE’ WAS CREATED BY BOOK DASH AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION 4.0 LICENSE. MINOR FORMATTING CHANGES MAY HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

The post The Memory Tree first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

To understand how a child views death, one must consider his age. Children’s understanding of death varies greatly from one year to the next during childhood:

• Children under three do not understand the limitations of space and time, and do not perceive death as irreversible.
• After three to six years old, they consider it to be a long dream and understand it without assuming that they will no longer be able to see, hear, or feel us.
• Then between six and eight, they understand the meaning well, but they often see it as something external that happens, and they find it difficult to understand that it can happen to someone close to them.
• It is from the age of approximately nine that they see it as an irreversible and universal fact.

Children sometimes show behaviors that are not related to the usual expression of sadness after a loss, such as aggression, hyperactivity, phobias, or attention deficit.

These are some aspects to consider when facing this difficult moment:

• The person who is going to be responsible for giving the news and explaining the event should be someone close to the child. It should be one of the parents or some relative, someone emotionally close to the child.
• Do not use euphemisms such as “gone far” or “is sleeping” or “lost”, as they can create confusion and even awaken unusual fears in children. Honest, simple, clear, and precise language is essential to help the child face the death of a loved one.
• It is good to openly share sadness and memories with the child, encouraging him to talk about the deceased person. Rather than avoiding sadness in the child, support should be provided in this situation.
• Allow the child to discuss the deceased person as much as they wish, without pressure. Your empathetic communication can help them understand and cope with their loss, aiding in their grief recovery.
• Stay physically (with love, kisses, hugs …) and emotionally close to your children. In this way, you give them affection, share the pain, and offer them a role model to express related emotions.
• It’s beneficial to gradually return to daily routines and norms, without ignoring the reality of the loss. Avoid making significant changes in the child’s environment, relationships, and daily activities, and keep demands to a minimum.
• Many resources can aid in understanding and accepting death. Games, for instance, can be incredibly helpful. They allow for the recreation of related situations and the creation of alternative endings. Tools like dolls, letters, and drawings can be used in these games.
• Stories are another valuable resource. They provide comfort and insight during challenging times. There are numerous stories specifically designed to aid in dealing with grief and loss. For instance, Storyberries offers a collection of free stories centered around these themes. These stories also include discussion points at the end, facilitating thoughtful conversations on the subject.
• The process of grief requires careful observation, particularly during the first year. This includes conducting interviews with caregivers or teachers, monitoring behavior and development, and observing play activities. Additionally, it’s crucial to prepare for potential reactions on significant dates, such as anniversaries.

Should the child go to the funeral?

The child should not be forced to go to the funeral of a loved one. But it is good to ensure that the child can honor or remember the person in some way and according to family and social customs (light a candle, say a prayer, prepare a scrapbook, review the photos, or tell a story). Children need to express their loss and grief.

It is important to respect the child’s feelings and wishes, but also to reassure them that they are not alone and that they can always talk to someone they trust.

The funeral can be an opportunity for children to say goodbye to their loved one in a meaningful way, but it can also be overwhelming and stressful for them. Therefore, it is advisable to plan and prepare them for what to expect.

From the age of 6–7 years, the child’s opinion can be taken into account when attending the funeral. However, if they do attend, it’s crucial to ensure that they have a supportive individual by their side who can provide comfort and can leave the venue if the experience becomes too overwhelming for the child.

The funeral can also be a chance for children to meet other relatives or friends who share their grief and support them. This can help them feel less isolated and more connected.

In conclusion, supporting a child who is grieving the loss of a loved one involves understanding their perspective of death, which varies with age, and recognizing their unique expressions of grief. It’s crucial to communicate the news of the loss honestly, encourage open discussions about the deceased, and maintain physical and emotional closeness. Resuming daily routines gradually, utilizing resources like games and stories, and observing the child’s behavior during the first year of grief are also key strategies. Decisions about attending funerals should be made with the child’s comfort in mind. With these approaches, we can help children navigate their grief healthily and respectfully.

Stories About Dying and Loss

The Very Tired Lioness

A lioness feels so tired that she is invited to follow the sun into the clouds.

Read Now

Chuchu Manchu’s Jar of Toffees

Preet loves Chuchu Manthu… but one day he is gone. How can she remember him with love?

Read Now

Circles

A mother vulture teaches a baby vulture about the cycles of life and death.

Read Now

This article was written by Luzmery M. Romero Gamboa

Luzmery works in the area of clinical psychology as a psychotherapist for children, adolescents, and families. Since 2016, she has run a Psychological Center in Venezuela called Psicoluz. She offers workshop facilitations to parents, is involved in recreational activities for children, and has been working as a freelancer since 2017 performing online psychotherapy. 

The post How to Support Children Who Are Grieving the Loss of a Loved One first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Books are a rich and effective way for children and caregivers to find different ways to understand the very human feelings of sadness, confusion and loss that can confront us at these times . Whether it’s the loss of a beloved dog, a school friend or a grandparent, these following books are beautiful ways in which to communicate, grieve and understand the cycle of life, and loss of loved ones. Best Books About Death and Dying for Young Children

1. Something Very Sad Happened by Bonnie Zucker, illustrated by Kim Fleming

Something Very Sad Happened was written by the author when she realized that there were very few books written that helped parents to explain death and dying to very young children. The story is written with many little features that allow the book to be useful to parents and caregivers. For example, there are further guides to discussing death and dying with the child at the end of the story, and within the text of the story itself, the name of the loved one is presented in a different colour, allowing the adult reader to substitute the name that appears for the personal name that the child will understand. The story is non-religious and does not discuss an afterlife, allowing it to be used in a versatile fashion for people of all faiths, who may wish to supplement the story with additional books or tailored discussions based on their own beliefs.

2. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

A sweet book for pre-school aged children, The Rabbit Listened addresses a child Taylor who, upon being faced with loss, does not quite know how to respond. All the animals suggest different ways for him to react, but the best response is the rabbit, who is happy just to listen to Taylor. Beautifully illustrated with simple, sweet illustrations, The Rabbit Listened is a beautiful way for children to know they are not alone, as well as an affecting reminder to adults of the value sometimes of just listening to the little ones in their life.

3. The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr

Simply and boldly illustrated, The Goodbye Book is perfect for helping very small children to understand loss. Narrated by a goldfish who has lost his friend, it discusses some of the feelings that young children can experience in suffering the loss of a loved one, whether through death or even moving away. The tone and illustrations of the book are pitched beautifully for a younger reader, and while the tone never becomes excessively heavy or dark, there is enough detail to bring emotion to the staunchest of adult readers.

Best Books About Death and Dying for Older Children

4. A Sky of Diamonds: A Story for Children About Loss, Grief and Hope – by Camille Gibbs

Dealing sensitively with the loss of a mother, A Sky of Diamonds addresses the range of emotions that a child can feel on the loss of someone special – anger, guilt, fear – as well as the way people can have good and bad days on their journey through grief. Most importantly, it touches upon the idea that its okay to have happy moments again as time passes. In the story Mia and her father explore the many different ways in which to express their feelings, including punching and throwing things (safely), writing questions on stones and sending them into the sea, and sharing happy memories of Mia’s mother. It offers not only a way to access a child’s grief, but also gives some strategies for parents and children seeking to understand the death of a dearly loved one.

5. Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant

Dog Heaven is not written to be an accurate religious book on where your child’s beloved pet might go when he dies, but is rather a comforting vision for children on all the things their special friend might enjoy and love in their own idea of ‘heaven’. In the author’s Dog Heaven, biscuits are shaped like cats and postmen, and they come regularly to check on their humans. They turn about several times before getting settled to sleep on a comfortable cloud. Everything about Dog Heaven is designed to be a heart-warming reflection on what the child’s special friend might think was a perfect afterlife for dogs, as well as reassuring your child about the dog’s continuing love for them, and their love for him or her. Illustrated in a bright, simple, naïve style, this book has remained popular with dog lovers for decades for its comforting take on the loss of a much-loved family pet.

Note for families with cats, Cynthia has also published a beautiful feline-equivalent, Cat Heaven, and you can read more about it by clicking on the picture:

6. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Geoff Stevenson

The Invisible String is a book that was written for children to help understand separation from loved ones, particularly separation anxiety in young children, whether caused by daily life, distance or anger. It explains how everyone is connected to the people they love by invisible strings, and it is this connected love which allows children to know that they are supported and cared for, even when feeling alone. This message of separation also comes in valuable when discussing death, dying and loss with children, who may feel comfort in the idea of invisible strings, and the knowledge that they can continue to feel love from their departed loved ones by means of this very special visualization.

7. The Memory Tree by Britta Teckentrup

Fox feels sleepy in the forest one day, lays down and falls asleep, forever. When his friends come together to remember his long and happy life, a tiny shoot emerges from the snow that becomes an enormous memory tree. The Memory Tree is a sweetly illustrated book that is charming for its simplicity and would appeal to younger readers. It discusses the death of a beloved friend in a way that is natural, and emphasizes the sharing of memories in creating an enduring presence for the child’s loss.

8. Stay: A Girl, A Dog, A Bucket List

Eli and Astrid are friends. They’ve been friends ever since Astrid was brought home from hospital. But as Astrid grows, she notices her best friend growing old faster than she is. She commences a bucket list to ensure that they make wonderful memories together before Eli gets too old. Stay: A Girl, A Dog, A Bucket List, is a beautiful way of introducing children to aging and impending death without touching too strongly upon the fact of death itself (Eli himself does not die in the book, though the eventuality is pre-empted). As a preparation for the loss of much-loved pets or aging family members and friends, the story strikes the sweet spot between simplicity, emotionality and love – as well as making the most of the precious moments in our lives.

9. Cry, Heart, But Never Break

Cry, Heart, But Never Break is a translated story by well-loved Danish writer Glenn Ringtved that has found itself a place world over for explaining death to children in a way that is direct and yet poised with acceptance and generosity. When Death comes to the door to visit four children’s grandmother, they try to distract him with cups of coffee at the kitchen table. A sympathetic and gentle Death explains to the children why death must come, pairing sorrow with joy, grief with delight, and eventually, after a respectful discussion, the children grow to accept his visit and the passing of their grandmother. Although the illustrations can be confronting to some readers, Death is portrayed as a highly sympathetic figure who does his work not through malice, but through respect and understanding of life. Many readers around the world have found comfort in the direct way that death is introduced to children, and the intelligence and maturity with which they themselves are portrayed as characters within this story.

10. Michael Rosen’s Sad Book

Michael Rosen’s Sad Book was written by a father on the loss of his older son, and so the story must come with the proviso that it may be a little advanced for early readers who are not ready for discussions about the death of a child. What the book does do beautifully is discuss feelings of sadness, in all its forms, in a way that is original, touching and above all, honest. The narrator smiles sometimes even though he feels sad, because he thinks people won’t like him if he doesn’t. Sometimes he feels angry at his son who has died. Sometimes he doesn’t want to talk about it. Sometimes he does things just because, and he can’t explain why. Illustrated by the classic children’s illustrator Quentin Blake, Micheal Rosen’s Sad Book is exquisitely accurate at capturing the fluctuating and inexplicable emotions of grief, giving comfort that humans grieve in very different ways, and demonstrating the beauty and humanity of our responses to loss.

1. Chuchu Manchu’s Jar of Toffees

Chuchu Manchu’s Jar of Toffees is a tender story about a little girl Preet, who loves her Uncle Chuchu Manchu. But one day, he dies. As Preet spends time in his home, remembering precious moments together, she has an idea for a very special way to honour his memory with love.

2. Circles

  Circles is a beautiful story that addresses the cycles of life from the point of view of a mother and baby vulture, who watch a gemsbock die; an event that the mother vulture describes as ‘something beautiful’. Together they watch as the body breaks down, and animals and plants turn a negative space into a positive one.

3. The Anxious Leaf

  The Anxious Leaf is a highly symbolic story about a little autumn leaf who dreads falling to the ground, until he learns to accept the cycles of life. It is a very positive and gentle story that only lightly touches on themes of dying which can otherwise be hard to address with young children. The power in this story lies in the subconscious safety and assurance that is found between the lines of a simple fairy tale story, and parents and children can choose whether they wish to discuss the themes more deeply, if at all.

4. Grandmother

  Grandmother is a very short piece by Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish fairy tale author of The Ugly Duckling, The Little Matchgirl and other beloved classics. In his much lesser known piece ‘Grandmother’, he writes about a Grandmother who is much loved, and honours her peaceful passage into death. The story is a short piece which would be better appreciated by older children who are able to grapple with both traditional symbols of passing, as well as concepts of lasting love within families.

The post Top 10 Children’s Books About Death and Dying first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Once upon a time a little leaf was heard to sigh and cry, as leaves often do when a gentle wind is about.

And the twig said, “What is the matter, little leaf?”

And the leaf said, “The wind just told me that one day it would pull me off and throw me down to lie on the ground!”

The twig told it to the branch on which it grew, and the branch told it to the tree. And when the tree heard it, it rustled all over, and sent back word to the leaf, “Do not be afraid; hold on tightly, and you shall not go till you want to.”

And so the leaf stopped sighing, but went on nestling and singing. Every time the tree shook itself and stirred up all its leaves, the branches shook themselves, and the little twig shook itself, and the little leaf danced up and down merrily, as if nothing could ever pull it off.

And so it grew all summer long until October.

And when the bright days of autumn came, the little leaf saw all the leaves around becoming very beautiful. Some were yellow, and some scarlet, and some striped with both colours.

Then it asked the tree what it meant. And the tree said,

“All these leaves are getting ready to fly away, and they have put on these beautiful colours because of joy.”

Then the little leaf began to want to go, and grew very beautiful in thinking of it, and when it was very gay in colour, it saw that the branches of the tree had no colour in them, and so the leaf said,

“O branches, why are you lead colour and we golden?”

“We must keep on our workclothes, for our life is not done; but your clothes are for holiday, because your tasks are over.”

Just then a little puff of wind came, and the leaf let go without thinking of it, and the wind took it up, and turned it over and over, and whirled it like a spark of fire in the air, and then it fell gently down under the fence among hundreds of other leaves, and began to dream—a dream so beautiful that perhaps it will last forever.  

Fairy tale written by Henry Ward Beecher

Edited by Ada M. Skinner and Eleanor L. Skinner

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE POEM ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Dying and Loss

1. Why do you think the little leaf is afraid of being pulled from the tree and lying on the ground?

2. Does this story make you feel that the little leaf ought to have been afraid? Why or why not?

Creativity

1. What beautiful dream do you think the leaf was having as it whirled through the air?

The post The Anxious Leaf first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

This story addresses the loss of a loved one.

Please read ahead if you are concerned your little one may be saddened by the theme.

Let’s Chat About The Stories ~ Ideas for Talking With Kids

Dying and Loss

1. Why do you think Preet feels happy when she throws the toffees out of the window like Chuchu Manthu used to do?

2. Can you think of other ways that people might remember the people they love who have died?

Love

1. Why does Preet love about Chuchu Manchu?

2. How does Chuchu Manthu show his love for others?

3. Do you think it is good to be remembered in a loving way when someone is not here any more? Why or why not?

Find more books about love for children!

Or read the complete Storyberries collection of books about love here:

Bedtime story written by Adithi Rao

Illustrated by Krishna Bala Shenoi

OTHER CREDITS:

Chuchu Manthu’s Jar of Toffees is written by Adithi Rao . © Pratham Books , 2019. Some rights reserved. Released under CC BY 4.0 license. ‘Chuchu Manthu’s Jar of Toffees’ is published on StoryWeaver by Pratham Books. www.prathambooks.org Guest Art Director: Somesh Kumar; Dedication: “For Mr. U. Suresh Rao, my Chuchu Manthu, the kindest person in my world.”

Music Video: “Sheep May Safely Graze – BWV 208” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

* THE STORY ‘CHUCHU MANTHU’S JAR OF TOFFEES’ WAS CREATED BY PRATHAM BOOKS AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS -BY-4.0 LICENSE. MINOR FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

The post Chuchu Manchu’s Jar of Toffees first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

(This is a very old story: the Danes who used to fight with the English in King Alfred’s time knew this story. They have carved on the rocks pictures of some of the things that happen in the tale, and those carvings may still be seen. Because it is so old and so beautiful the story is told here again, but it has a sad ending—indeed it is all sad, and all about fighting and killing, as might be expected from the ancient Danes.)

ONCE upon a time there was a King in the North who had won many wars, but now he was old. Yet he took a new wife, and then another Prince, who wanted to have married her, came up against him with a great army. The old King went out and fought bravely, but at last his sword broke, and he was wounded and his men fled. But in the night, when the battle was over, his young wife came out and searched for him among the slain, and at last she found him, and asked whether he might be healed. But he said ‘No,’ his luck was gone, his sword was broken, and he must die. And he told her that she would have a son, and that son would be a great warrior, and would avenge him on the other King, his enemy. And he bade her keep the broken pieces of the sword, to make a new sword for his son, and that blade should be called Gram.

Then he died. And his wife called her maid to her and said, ‘Let us change clothes, and you shall be called by my name, and I by yours, lest the enemy finds us.’

So this was done, and they hid in a wood, but there some strangers met them and carried them off in a ship to Denmark.

And when they were brought before the King, he thought the maid looked like a Queen, and the Queen like a maid. So he asked the Queen, ‘How do you know in the dark of night whether the hours are wearing to the morning?’

And she said:

‘I know because, when I was younger, I used to have to rise and light the fires, and still I waken at the same time.’

‘A strange Queen to light the fires,’ thought the King.

Then he asked the Queen, who was dressed like a maid, ‘How do you know in the dark of night whether the hours are wearing near the dawn?’

‘My father gave me a gold ring,’ said she, ‘and always, ere the dawning, it grows cold on my finger.’

‘A rich house where the maids wore gold,’ said the King. ‘Truly you are no maid, but a King’s daughter.’

So he treated her royally, and as time went on she had a son called Sigurd, a beautiful boy and very strong. He had a tutor to be with him, and once the tutor bade him go to the King and ask for a horse.

‘Choose a horse for yourself,’ said the King; and Sigurd went to the wood, and there he met an old man with a white beard, and said, ‘Come! help me in horse-choosing.’

Then the old man said, ‘Drive all the horses into the river, and choose the one that swims across.’

So Sigurd drove them, and only one swam across. Sigurd chose him: his name was Grani, and he came of Sleipnir’s breed, and was the best horse in the world. For Sleipnir was the horse of Odin, the God of the North, and was as swift as the wind.

But a day or two later his tutor said to Sigurd, ‘There is a great treasure of gold hidden not far from here, and it would become you to win it.’

But Sigurd answered, ‘I have heard stories of that treasure, and I know that the dragon Fafnir guards it, and he is so huge and wicked that no man dares to go near him.’

‘He is no bigger than other dragons,’ said the tutor, ‘and if you were as brave as your father you would not fear him.’
‘I am no coward,’ says Sigurd; ‘why do you want me to fight with this dragon?’

Then his tutor, whose name was Regin, told him that all this great hoard of red gold had once belonged to his own father. And his father had three sons—the first was Fafnir, the Dragon; the next was Otter, who could put on the shape of an otter when he liked; and the next was himself, Regin, and he was a great smith and maker of swords.

Now there was at that time a dwarf called Andvari, who lived in a pool beneath a waterfall, and there he had hidden a great hoard of gold. And one day Otter had been fishing there, and had killed a salmon and eaten it, and was sleeping, like an otter, on a stone. Then someone came by, and threw a stone at the otter and killed it, and flayed off the skin, and took it to the house of Otter’s father. Then he knew his son was dead, and to punish the person who had killed him he said he must have the Otter’s skin filled with gold, and covered all over with red gold, or it should go worse with him. Then the person who had killed Otter went down and caught the Dwarf who owned all the treasure and took it from him.

Only one ring was left, which the Dwarf wore, and even that was taken from him.

Then the poor Dwarf was very angry, and he prayed that the gold might never bring any but bad luck to all the men who might own it, for ever.

Then the otter skin was filled with gold and covered with gold, all but one hair, and that was covered with the poor Dwarf’s last ring.

But it brought good luck to nobody. First Fafnir, the Dragon, killed his own father, and then he went and wallowed on the gold, and would let his brother have none, and no man dared go near it.

When Sigurd heard the story he said to Regin:

‘Make me a good sword that I may kill this Dragon.’

So Regin made a sword, and Sigurd tried it with a blow on a lump of iron, and the sword broke.

Another sword he made, and Sigurd broke that too.

Then Sigurd went to his mother, and asked for the broken pieces of his father’s blade, and gave them to Regin. And he hammered and wrought them into a new sword, so sharp that fire seemed to burn along its edges.

Sigurd tried this blade on the lump of iron, and it did not break, but split the iron in two. Then he threw a lock of wool into the river, and when it floated down against the sword it was cut into two pieces. So Sigurd said that sword would do. But before he went against the Dragon he led an army to fight the men who had killed his father, and he slew their King, and took all his wealth, and went home.

When he had been at home a few days, he rode out with Regin one morning to the heath where the Dragon used to lie. Then he saw the track which the Dragon made when he went to a cliff to drink, and the track was as if a great river had rolled along and left a deep valley.

Then Sigurd went down into that deep place, and dug many pits in it, and in one of the pits he lay hidden with his sword drawn. There he waited, and presently the earth began to shake with the weight of the Dragon as he crawled to the water. And a cloud of venom flew before him as he snorted and roared, so that it would have been death to stand before him.
But Sigurd waited till half of him had crawled over the pit, and then he thrust the sword Gram right into his very heart.
Then the Dragon lashed with his tail till stones broke and trees crashed about him.

Then he spoke, as he died, and said:

‘Whoever thou art that hast slain me this gold shall be thy ruin, and the ruin of all who own it.’

Sigurd said:

‘I would touch none of it if by losing it I should never die. But all men die, and no brave man lets death frighten him from his desire. Die thou, Fafnir,’ and then Fafnir died.

And after that Sigurd was called Fafnir’s Bane, and Dragonslayer.

Then Sigurd rode back, and met Regin, and Regin asked him to roast Fafnir’s heart and let him taste of it.

So Sigurd put the heart of Fafnir on a stake, and roasted it. But it chanced that he touched it with his finger, and it burned him. Then he put his finger in his mouth, and so tasted the heart of Fafnir.

Then immediately he understood the language of birds, and he heard the Woodpeckers say:

‘There is Sigurd roasting Fafnir’s heart for another, when he should taste of it himself and learn all wisdom.’

The next bird said:

‘There lies Regin, ready to betray Sigurd, who trusts him.’

The third bird said:

‘Let him cut off Regin’s head, and keep all the gold to himself.’

The fourth bird said:

‘That let him do, and then ride over Hindfell, to the place where Brynhild sleeps.’

When Sigurd heard all this, and how Regin was plotting to betray him, he cut off Regin’s head with one blow of the sword Gram.

Then all ‘he birds broke out singing:

‘We know a fair maid,
A fair maiden sleeping;
Sigurd, be not afraid,
Sigurd, win thou the maid
Fortune is keeping.

‘High over Hindfell
Red fire is flaming,
There doth the maiden dwell
She that should love thee well,
Meet for thy taming.

‘There must she sleep till thou
Comest for her waking
Rise up and ride, for now
Sure she will swear the vow
Fearless of breaking.’

Then Sigurd remembered how the story went that somewhere, far away, there was a beautiful lady enchanted. She was under a spell, so that she must always sleep in a castle surrounded by flaming fire; there she must sleep for ever till there came a knight who would ride through the fire and waken her. There he determined to go, but first he rode right down the horrible trail of Fafnir. And Fafnir had lived in a cave with iron doors, a cave dug deep down in the earth, and full of gold bracelets, and crowns, and rings; and there, too, Sigurd found the Helm of Dread, a golden helmet, and whoever wears it is invisible. All these he piled on the back of the good horse Grani, and then he rode south to Hindfell.

Now it was night, and on the crest of the hill Sigurd saw a red fire blazing up into the sky, and within the flame a castle, and a banner on the topmost tower. Then he set the horse Grani at the fire, and he leaped through it lightly, as if it had been through the heather. So Sigurd went within the castle door, and there he saw someone sleeping, clad all in armour. Then he took the helmet off the head of the sleeper, and behold, she was a most beautiful lady. And she wakened and said, ‘Ah! is it Sigurd, Sigmund’s son, who has broken the curse, and comes here to waken me at last?’

This curse came upon her when the thorn of the tree of sleep ran into her hand long ago as a punishment because she had displeased Odin the God. Long ago, too, she had vowed never to marry a man who knew fear, and dared not ride through the fence of flaming fire. For she was a warrior maid herself, and went armed into the battle like a man. But now she and Sigurd loved each other, and promised to be true to each other, and he gave her a ring, and it was the last ring taken from the dwarf Andvari. Then Sigurd rode away, and he came to the house of a King who had a fair daughter. Her name was Gudrun, and her mother was a witch. Now Gudrun fell in love with Sigurd, but he was always talking of Brynhild, how beautiful she was and how dear. So one day Gudrun’s witch mother put poppy and forgetful drugs in a magical cup, and bade Sigurd drink to her health, and he drank, and instantly he forgot poor Brynhild and he loved Gudrun, and they were married with great rejoicings.

Now the witch, the mother of Gudrun, wanted her son Gunnar to marry Brynhild, and she bade him ride out with Sigurd and go and woo her. So forth they rode to her father’s house, for Brynhild had quite gone out of Sigurd’s mind by reason of the witch’s wine, but she remembered him and loved him still. Then Brynhild’s father told Gunnar that she would marry none but him who could ride the flame in front of her enchanted tower, and thither they rode, and Gunnar set his horse at the flame, but he would not face it. Then Gunnar tried Sigurd’s horse Grani, but he would not move with Gunnar on his back. Then Gunnar remembered witchcraft that his mother had taught him, and by his magic he made Sigurd look exactly like himself, and he looked exactly like Gunnar. Then Sigurd, in the shape of Gunnar and in his mail, mounted on Grani, and Grani leaped the fence of fire, and Sigurd went in and found Brynhild, but he did not remember her yet, because of the forgetful medicine in the cup of the witch’s wine.

Now Brynhild had no help but to promise she would be his wife, the wife of Gunnar as she supposed, for Sigurd wore Gunnar’s shape, and she had sworn to wed whoever should ride the flames. And he gave her a ring, and she gave him back the ring he had given her before in his own shape as Sigurd, and it was the last ring of that poor dwarf Andvari. Then he rode out again, and he and Gunnar changed shapes, and each was himself again, and they went home to the witch Queen’s, and Sigurd gave the dwarf’s ring to his wife, Gudrun. And Brynhild went to her father, and said that a King had come called Gunnar, and had ridden the fire, and she must marry him. ‘Yet I thought,’ she said, ‘that no man could have done this deed but Sigurd, Fafnir’s bane, who was my true love. But he has forgotten me, and my promise I must keep.’

So Gunnar and Brynhild were married, though it was not Gunnar but Sigurd in Gunnar’s shape, that had ridden the fire.

And when the wedding was over and all the feast, then the magic of the witch’s wine went out of Sigurd’s brain, and he remembered all. He remembered how he had freed Brynhild from the spell, and how she was his own true love, and how he had forgotten and had married another woman, and won Brynhild to be the wife of another man.

But he was brave, and he spoke not a word of it to the others to make them unhappy. Still he could not keep away the curse which was to come on every one who owned the treasure of the dwarf Andvari, and his fatal golden ring.

And the curse soon came upon all of them. For one day, when Brynhild and Gudrun were bathing, Brynhild waded farthest out into the river, and said she did that to show she was Gudrun’s superior. For her husband, she said, had ridden through the flame when no other man dared face it.

Then Gudrun was very angry, and said that it was Sigurd, not Gunnar, who had ridden the flame, and had received from Brynhild that fatal ring, the ring of the dwarf Andvari.

Then Brynhild saw the ring which Sigard had given to Gudrun, and she knew it and knew all, and she turned as pale as a dead woman, and went home. All that evening she never spoke. Next day she told Gunnar, her husband, that he was a coward and a liar, for he had never ridden the flame, but had sent Sigurd to do it for him, and pretended that he had done it himself. And she said he would never see her glad in his hall, never drinking wine, never playing chess, never embroidering with the golden thread, never speaking words of kindness. Then she rent all her needlework asunder and wept aloud, so that everyone in the house heard her. For her heart was broken, and her pride was broken in the same hour. She had lost her true love, Sigurd, the slayer of Fafnir, and she was married to a man who was a liar.

Then Sigurd came and tried to comfort her, but she would not listen, and said she wished the sword stood fast in his heart.

‘Not long to wait,’ he said, ‘till the bitter sword stands fast in my heart, and thou will not live long when I am dead. But, dear Brynhild, live and be comforted, and love Gunnar thy husband, and I will give thee all the gold, the treasure of the dragon Fafnir.’

Brynhild said:

‘It is too late.’

Then Sigurd was so grieved and his heart so swelled in his breast that it burst the steel rings of his shirt of mail.

Sigurd went out and Brynhild determined to slay him. She mixed serpent’s venom and wolf’s flesh, and gave them in one dish to her husband’s younger brother, and when he had tasted them he was mad, and he went into Sigurd’s chamber while he slept and pinned him to the bed with a sword. But Sigurd woke, and caught the sword Gram into his hand, and threw it at the man as he fled, and the sword cut him in twain. Thus died Sigurd, Fafnir’s bane, whom no ten men could have slain in fair fight. Then Gudrun wakened and saw him dead, and she moaned aloud, and Brynhild heard her and laughed; but the kind horse Grani lay down and died of very grief. And then Brynhild fell a-weeping till her heart broke.

So they attired Sigurd in all his golden armour, and built a great pile of wood on board his ship, and at night laid on it the dead Sigurd and the dead Brynhild, and the good horse, Grani, and set fire to it, and launched the ship. And the wind bore it blazing out to sea, flaming into the dark. So then the curse of the dwarf Andvari was fulfilled.

FRENCH FAIRY TALES EDITED BY ANDREW LANG

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Dying and Loss

1. In the story, we see many beings die, including Sigurd and his horse Grani. It can be very hard when we lose someone who is dear to us. What kind of things do you think might help someone to feel less sadness when they think about the people they have loved and lost?

Courage

1. Sigurd showed a lot of courage in his life and made promises to protect others. What are some ways that you could be courageous in your life?

The post The Story of Sigurd first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

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LET’S DISCUSS THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Independent Thinking, Dying and Loss

1. Why do you think the Lioness in this story feels very tired?

2. Why do you think the Lioness follows the sun in this story? Where is she now?

BEDTIME STORY WRITTEN BY MAREN BODENSTEIN

ILLUSTRATED BY IMILE WEPENER

DESIGNED BY NATHAN MCKAY

EDITED BY MARGOT BERTELSMANN

Music: “At Rest” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Private Reflection” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Kalimba Relaxation Music” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), “Mana Two – Part 1” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) – Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

* THE STORY ‘THE VERY TIRED LIONESS’ WAS CREATED BY BOOK DASH AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION 4.0 LICENSE. MINOR FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

The post The Very Tired Lioness first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Grandmother is very old, her face is wrinkled, and her hair is quite white; but her eyes are like two stars, and they have a mild, gentle expression in them when they look at you, which does you good. She wears a dress of heavy, rich silk, with large flowers worked on it; and it rustles when she moves.

And then she can tell the most wonderful stories. Grandmother knows a great deal, for she was alive before father and mother—that’s quite certain. She has a hymn-book with large silver clasps, in which she often reads; and in the book, between the leaves, lies a rose, quite flat and dry; it is not so pretty as the roses which are standing in the glass, and yet she smiles at it most pleasantly, and tears even come into her eyes.

“I wonder why grandmother looks at the withered flower in the old book that way? Do you know?” Why, when grandmother’s tears fall upon the rose, and she is looking at it, the rose revives, and fills the room with its fragrance; the walls vanish as in a mist, and all around her is the glorious green wood, where in summer the sunlight streams through thick foliage; and grandmother, why she is young again, a charming maiden, fresh as a rose, with round, rosy cheeks, fair, bright ringlets, and a figure pretty and graceful; but the eyes, those mild, saintly eyes, are the same,—they have been left to grandmother. At her side sits a young man, tall and strong; he gives her a rose and she smiles. Grandmother cannot smile like that now. Yes, she is smiling at the memory of that day, and many thoughts and recollections of the past; but the handsome young man is gone, and the rose has withered in the old book, and grandmother is sitting there, again an old woman, looking down upon the withered rose in the book.

Grandmother is dead now. She had been sitting in her arm-chair, telling us a long, beautiful tale; and when it was finished, she said she was tired, and leaned her head back to sleep awhile. We could hear her gentle breathing as she slept; gradually it became quieter and calmer, and on her countenance beamed happiness and peace. It was as if lighted up with a ray of sunshine. She smiled once more, and then people said she was dead. She was laid in a black coffin, looking mild and beautiful in the white folds of the shrouded linen, though her eyes were closed; but every wrinkle had vanished, her hair looked white and silvery, and around her mouth lingered a sweet smile. We did not feel at all afraid to look at her, who had been such a dear, good grandmother. The hymn-book, in which the rose still lay, was placed under her head, for so she had wished it; and then they buried grandmother.

On the grave, close by the churchyard wall, they planted a rose-tree; it was soon full of roses, and the nightingale sat among the flowers, and sang over the grave. From the organ in the church sounded the music and the words of the beautiful psalms, which were written in the old book under the head of the one who had died.

The moon shone down upon the grave, but the dead were not there; every child could go safely, even at night, and pluck a rose from the tree by the churchyard wall. The dead know more than we do who are living. They know what a terror would come upon us if such a strange thing were to happen, as the appearance of a dead person among us. They are better off than we are; the dead return no more. The earth has been heaped on the coffin, and it is earth only that lies within it. The leaves of the hymn-book are dust; and the rose, with all its recollections, has crumbled to dust also. But over the grave fresh roses bloom, the nightingale sings, and the organ sounds and there still lives a remembrance of old grandmother, with the loving, gentle eyes that always looked young. Eyes can never die. Ours will once again behold dear grandmother, young and beautiful as when, for the first time, she kissed the fresh, red rose, that is now dust in the grave.

FAIRY TALES WRITTEN BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

LET’S CHAT ABOUT THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Dying and Loss

1. The grandmother is described as telling wonderful stories and as a dear and good grandmother before she died. What do you think the story helps us understand about dying and loss?

2. The story mentions how the grandmother was buried and what happened to her after her death, such as that every child could go and visit her grave safely and place a rose on the wall for her. What other things can we do to keep celebrating those we love who have died?

The post Grandmother first appeared on Bedtime Stories.

Are you seeking more books like this? Read our review of the Ten Best Children’s Books About Dying, Loss and Grief.

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SHORT STORY FOR KIDS WRITTEN BY ALEX LATIMER

ILLUSTRATED BY PATRICK LATIMER

DESIGNED BY GORDON LATIMER

EDITED BY DIANE AWERBUCK

* THE STORY ‘CIRCLES’ WAS CREATED BY BOOK DASH AND IS LICENSED UNDER A CREATIVE COMMONS ATTRIBUTION 4.0 LICENSE. MINOR FORMATTING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE ORIGINAL WORK FOR EASE OF READING ON OUR WEBSITE.

LET’S DISCUSS THE STORIES ~ IDEAS FOR TALKING WITH KIDS

Dying and Loss

1. Why do you think this story is called ‘Circles’?

2. Can you think of any other examples of circles in the living earth?

The post Circles first appeared on Bedtime Stories.