This is a gentle guide to assist parents, teachers and care takers help children who are close to the victim or have witnessed a traumatic death.

Starting with a personal note to the child, the author directly heads into a few words for the parent or adult using this book. This section is probably the most important and should be read through with care, since it isn't a book or its pictures which help children, but the personal interaction and ability to deal with the issue on an individual level. The author simply entitles these two pages 'Note To Adults' but I think it would have be beneficial to add a little more urgency to make sure these leading two pages aren't ignored or shoved aside because this is what determines how well the rest of the text and photos come across.

This isn't a book full of text, but rather harbors a lovely presentation of what a child might be thinking, questions it might have, and/or fears it might be hiding. Each two-page spread contains a big photograph of everyday children doing everyday things but slightly blurred with a dreamy effect. A few short, easy and direct phrases accompany each photo, which bring up simple starting points in thoughts and questions from which kids can open up or consider how they might respond. It's simple enough for even younger children to understand.

The wording and pictures are well done, and the book offers a wonderful basis for opening up to otherwise difficult but necessary discussion. But while the formatting is smooth, the set-up doesn't really invite to pause and discussions. Instead, the book lures to be read through like a normal picture book. But if done in this manner, it looses its value and doesn't offer much help or comfort. When my kids picked this up on their own, they were quite upset, which surprised me but also emphasized how important the notes to the adults are in the beginning.

As with all self-help and assistance books, this isn't one to be used without careful consideration of the child and the circumstances first. It is very focused on a certain target audience: young children who have witnessed a traumatic death of one of their friends or stand extremely close to such an experience. And even then, not all children have the same needs. Still, in the right circumstances and with proper use, this can be a helpful book.

I received a complimentary copy and found this useful enough to want to leave my honest thoughts. ( )

Simple, rhythmic, well-illustrated with evocative pictures, and emotionally powerful, Azmaira Maker’s Where Did My Friend Go is an inspiring picture book and a wise gift for adults and children. Advice to adults and sample questions and answers make it an eminently useful book to share with a child who has seen a traumatic death. But the book itself is a pleasing read for any child—for children who become afraid after seeing the news on TV, or for children who are just naturally fearful. There’s no faith element—the dead simply watch from the stars—so the book is appropriate to families of any faith background or none. The questions inspire adults to listen. The illustrations invite children to share. And the text is easy to read, easy to comprehend, and inviting for all.

Disclosure: I was given a copy and I offer my honest review. ( )