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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Bloom Again by Chrystal Jill Cooper is a gentle, heartfelt picture book about a young girl named Ava as she grieves for the loss of her grandmother. The story begins as a seemingly normal, yet joyful spring day, but that joy quickly changes when she hears her mother praying. It’s not just any prayer; it’s for her grandmother’s health. She begins to worry, and that night, she prays with her own childlike innocence and hope. But then she learns of her grandmother’s passing and begins to question God’s love. Through tender moments of sadness and grief (with a bit of anger mixed in), she slowly learns that even during these times, hope still lives. By the end, Ava returns to the family’s garden and to the tree she planted with her grandmother. It’s now in full bloom, and speaks volumes when she carves a simple message into it: “God’s love never fails.”
As an educator, I found Bloom Again by Chrystal Jill Cooper to be a beautiful and comforting tool to use for helping children process grief in a developmentally appropriate way. Ava’s feelings of sadness, anger, and confusion feel real and relatable, especially for a child facing a loss. The story gently talks about some big ideas like faith, feeling confused when prayers aren’t answered, and how life changes with time, but it’s written in a way that makes sense to kids. The illustrations by Leandro Francisca are colorful and engaging, bringing warmth to each page. This book would be an excellent addition and tool for parochial school classrooms and libraries, church libraries, or homes where families are experiencing loss. This book reminded me of a quote I once read from Mr. Rogers: 'Sad things happen. But we can talk about them together.' And that idea, combined with the book's message, 'After the rain, the flowers grow,' will feel like a big hug and is sure to comfort any child grieving for someone.
