Stacy Had a Little Sister (A Concept Book) - Hardcover

Old is an Albert Whitman author.

Ages 4-7. Young Stacy has mixed emotions about the birth of her new sister, Ashley. While Stacy misses the attention her parents formerly devoted to her, she is anxious for Ashley to grow so they can play together. When the baby dies unexpectedly, a victim of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Stacy worries that somehow she may be responsible or that SIDS may be contagious. Finally, her grieving parents manage to assure her that she neither caused nor is in danger of contracting the mysterious illness. Old has done a commendable job of portraying the wide range of emotions encountered by young families experiencing both the birth and death of a child. Friedman's soft pastel illustrations mesh nicely with the text, conveying the anguish of the loss. A natural choice for the parenting shelf, this may also be useful for therapists working with children involved in similar situations. Kay Weisman