About Goodbye Sister
Goodbye Sister is for children ages 3-8 years old and promotes healthy grief recovery for children and families, including affirmation of negative and positive feelings, grieving as a family, recognition of the loss of hopes and expectations associated with a new baby, and a conclusion that reinforces the healing nature of love and memory. Few books for children deal with the death of a sibling, stillbirth, or miscarriage, yet this type of loss is tragically common; 5-8% of all children in the US experience the loss of a sibling.
Goodbye Sister is unique among children’s books on bereavement. Most books about grief for children focus on the loss of a pet, parent, or grandparent. Children need a story that they can relate to after losing a sibling and mourning the expectations that come with the arrival of a new baby. Lastly, children need to know that they will always be big brothers and big sisters because of they love and connection they shared with their siblings.
Our Story
Though I never met my sister, Katie’s life changed mine forever. In the summer of 1992, I was anxiously awaiting the day that my baby sister would arrive. Sadly, Katie was born still. Rather than celebrating a new addition to our family, we grieved. Each year, about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the US. Stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and infant death affect our families, our friends, and those close to us, yet we rarely know what to do or say when faced with such a tragic loss. Though their time with us may be brief, our children forge forever bonds in our hearts. They deserve to be remembered and celebrated.
I wrote Goodbye Sister in 2015 after another author encouraged me to write the story that I needed as a child. I didn’t imagine that this story might actually become a book one day. After the sudden death of my adopted brother in 2020, I decided that my book project couldn’t be just a someday dream. For his memory and Katie’s, I needed to do all I could to help other grieving siblings. I worked on my manuscript, wrote a query letter, and began submitting my book to agents.
Many publishers and agents told me variations of, This is such an important book, but it’s not quite the right fit for us. Undeterred by rejection, I started down the self-publishing path. I’m grateful that I connected with a wonderful illustrator, Ethan Roffler, and a creative team to help me share my story. Now, I hope that Journey Together Books can help other people share their stories, create meaningful legacies, and honor the memories of their loved ones.
Love,
Kim