What Cloud Is My Brother In?: A Children's Book About Love, Memories, and Grief

By Kim Vesey and Amy Gantt

Death is often perceived as an end point. Yet any family who has lost a child, either at birth or at some point in the child’s journey towards adulthood, will acknowledge it is a beginning. The beginning of a life-long grief journey, not just for the parents, but for other family members as well. While tears often come easily, words and actions, many times do not. How does one explain the death of a newborn, or the death of a child in elementary school or even high school, to their brothers and/or sisters? This story invites the grieving child/children, and the adults who love them, through a two-day grief camp experience for children. Three turtles meet at camp. They have each lost a brother. Snappy’s teenage brother Scooter died. Speedy’s newborn brother Bowser died. And Shelly’s young brother Scotty died too. Through the experience of numerous shared camp activities and discussions, the turtles become friends. They learn in the process, that while remembering may make them sad, it can help them to laugh and be happy, too. Speedy learned that even though there wasn’t time to create memories with his newborn brother, he can use his heart and his mind to imagine what life might be like, if his brother had lived. As camp comes to an end, the three friends realize they will always carry their brothers with them, in their heart and in their mind. This book includes many recommendations for techniques to honor and remember their brother. These activities allow the adult(s) and child/children to feel their grief through sharing openly about various grief topics, looking back at memories, and creating tangible remembrances. In time, through the sacred sharing of grief, they will begin to heal together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 9, 2023
• ISBN: 9781664273108

Kim Vesey

Kim Vesey has been a nurse in the field of hospice care for over 35 years. In addition to her professional experiences of caring for the dying, she has also encountered several significant personal losses. She was widowed at the age of 45, when her husband Les died of colon cancer. Her dad died unexpectedly from a cardiac event, in 2015. In 2017, Kim’s 29-year-old daughter, Sarah, died from complications of an asthma attack, leaving behind her 3-year-old son, Warren. Most recently, Kim’s mom died in 2022. Kim’s professional and personal experiences with death, grief, and healing, in addition to her strong faith, uniquely qualify her to write the What Cloud series of books for grieving children. Kim is blessed to have her big hearted, adult son, Patrick, her resilient grandson, Warren, her beloved fur-baby, Sally, as well as many friends and family, who bring joy and peace to her life.

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