29 June 2007
New Zealand children’s picture book helps to cope with the death of a baby
A New Zealand picture book aimed at helping children to understand the death of a baby in their family/whanau will be
launched in Wellington by Mayor Kerry Prendergast on Monday
(2 July).
What’s Happened to Baby? features illustrations by renowned Wellington illustrator Ali Teo, and helps parents and
caregivers to guide young children through the experience of this difficult loss.
The book has been produced by skylight – the national support organisation aimed at building resilient young New
Zealanders – in association with SIDS Wellington (Sudden Infant Death Support) and SANDS Wellington (Stillbirth and
Newborn Death Support).
skylight’s resource manager, Tricia Irving, said What’s Happened to Baby? had been carefully designed to match a wide
range of bereavement situations including miscarriage, stillbirth, cot death, and accidental or natural deaths of an
infant or toddler.
“In this way it has been developed as a book that can serve and support a large number of bereaved New Zealand
families/whanau,” she said.
“The death of an unborn or newborn child is extremely difficult for parents themselves to comprehend, let alone for
their other children to understand. This book helps families/whanau to cope and deal with the grieving process
together,” she said.
The book also features information to assist adults in supporting their bereaved children.
skylight provides resources, support and training nationwide to help young New Zealanders and their families/whanau deal
with change, loss and grief.
skylight’s Chief Executive, Bice Awan, said revenue from the book’s sale would assist the organisation to continue
providing young people and their carers with tools and support to deal with life issues and build their resilience so
they could move forward.
She said skylight supported more than 5,000 individuals every year through its counselling services in Wellington, and
many more through resources and education services nationwide.
Mayor Prendergast - a patron of skylight, trained midwife and author of a book on baby death – will launch What’s
Happened to Baby? at a function in her Mayoral Chambers at 2pm on Monday.
What’s Happened to Baby? is available from skylight’s website www.skylight.org.nz or by contacting skylight on ph 0800
299 100 or rs@skylight-trust.org.nz. It will also be available through a number of bookstores and libraries nationwide.
ENDS