There has been an explosion of new books about death and dying, including those written specifically for a younger audience. The latest and greatest book written for the younger audience is “We Need To Talk About Death: An Important Book About Grief, Celebrations, And Love” by Sara Chavez and illustrated by Annika Le Large. The author and illustrator do a fantastic job of presenting the numerous ways death intersects with history, science, technology, burial choices, cultural traditions and so much more. In truth, most adults should find this book quite engaging, too! It’s a quick read and the illustrations make it feel like you’re walking through a wonderful art gallery on the theme of death. I guarantee you’ll learn something new about death and dying! For example, do you know what a coral reef burial is? Check out the chapter Land, Sea, Sky to find out! Are you familiar with Necrotech? You will be by the book’s end!
Author Sara Chavez, is a well known historian, curator, podcaster for Death in the Afternoon, writer for Ask a Mortician YouTube channel, co-founder of the Collective of Radical Death Studies, and one of the founders of the Death Positive Movement.
This book can be found in the Lake County Library system. I hope to see this book in school libraries too! Also, check out the author’s work in the links below.
https://www.radicaldeathstudies.com/sarah-chavez
Until the book ends,
Esther Suarez
Hospice of Lake County Volunteer