What Happened to Tigger?: A story about dying, forgiveness – and so much more…

By Rachael Hampton

"What Happened to Tigger" is a "whodunit" for children 6 to 12.

There's a poisoning.

Heavy themes of death, revenge, forgiveness and self-autonomy are stepped through lightly and with such playful deftness that adults and children alike become emotionally engaged.

Learning of a secret weapon, and the very best news of all, leaves readers happily hopeful – and hopefully, wondering…

The friendly letters that bookend the story further encourage and equip parents, carers, and teachers, to listen to children and chat easily with them about these deep matters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Mar 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781922565075

Book preview

Author

Preface

In February 2020, when I was eighty years old, I had radical surgery for tongue cancer. When our eight year old granddaughter learned that I had opted not to have more radiotherapy, she became very anxious about me dying, so I wrote an ‘Annie story’ for her, called Dying is Sad, But Not ALWAYS Bad. Her mum read it to her, and when she came to the part where Grandma talks about getting old and worn out, she said, ‘Oh, that’s the cycle of life.’ She totally got the point.

‘But,’ she said insistently, ‘What happened to Tigger?!’ Tigger the cat had been poisoned in the story, and died. ‘Who killed Tigger?’ she wanted to know. ‘Whoever did it, should pay for it!’ Very soon, I knew what had happened to Tigger, and a second story began to emerge.

There are many ways to play with these stories, listening to children and engaging them in chatting about the big issues covered. It is a book to be digested! Here are some suggestions to help get the gastric juices flowing. Pause to ask questions, such