"I don't know" is an honest admission. But "I believe" gives our children confidence in a future that can be anticipated.

Over fifty years ago, Doris Stickney published these words in a magazine article, after watching adults struggle to talk with children about death, following the tragic death of a neighborhood child.

Celebrating the wisdom of Stickney's perspective and the story's ongoing impact, the 50th anniversary edition of Water Bugs and Dragonflies includes the original magazine article from 1970 as well as a second article she wrote about her own cancer diagnosis, which concluded:

It's as simple as this: I can withdraw inside myself, pull down the shades and wait. Or I can open the curtains and see what the day promises.

"Water Bugs and Dragonflies is a lovely narrative. Beautiful illustrations support the wonder and beauty of transformations found in both nature and human experience."

--Catherine Maresca, Center for Children and Theology

Talking to children about death can be hard. Water Bugs and Dragonflies, a perennial bestseller, can help you to answer their questions.

Doris Stickney tells the story of a small colony of water bugs living below the surface of a pond. Whenever a bug leaves the pond, those left behind are faced with the mystery of their absence. Stickney invites children into the question of their absence and offers hope for the future.

Formato	Tapa dura
Número de Páginas	1
Lenguaje	Inglés
Editorial	United Church Press
Fecha de Publicación	2022-08-01
Dimensiones	8.1" x 8.1" x 0.4" pulgadas
Número de Edición	50
Descripción de Edición	Ann
Letra Grande	No
Con Ilustraciones	Si
Edad	8-12
Temas	Cristiano, Cristiano, Muerte/Morir, Muerte/Morir

Gould, Meredith

Meredith Gould is an artist and author who has illustrated multiple children's books, including Slug and Snail Search for Home and Slug and Snail Search for Love. Follow Meredith's work on Instagram @themeredithgould.arts and at meredithgouldarts.com.

Stickney, Doris

Doris Stickney, an author of children's books, first published this story as "Death" in the UCC magazine, Colloquy (December 1970). It was revised and expanded in 1982 to become Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children.