Picture Books We Love: Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs

This book has been on my mind this week because of the recent death of my Aunt Mary Jo.  Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs is a true story about a four-year old boy who goes to visit his grandmother and his great grandmother on Sunday afternoons.  Because his great grandmother was always in bed upstairs, he called her Nana Upstairs and because his grandmother was always in the kitchen downstairs, he called her Nana Downstairs.  The little boy loved to spend time with Nana Upstairs until one day she died.  His family went to visit even though it was not Sunday and Nana Upstairs' bed was empty.  Then, Nana Downstairs became just Nana.

I love the simple explanation of death in this book.  "Died means that Nana Upstairs won't be here anymore."  I also love when the little boy runs up to see Nana Upstairs and finds her bed empty and sits down and cries.  That's such a clear picture of how we feel when loved ones die: sad.  I think this is a great book for introducing young children to the reality of death and all the emotions that go along with the loss of a loved one.