This Place I Know: Poems of Comfort

A former teacher gave this book to me recently as a gift of comfort-- my mom died a few months ago of cancer. At first I was skeptical- how could a book written for young children who witnessed 9/11 help me deal with my situation? But then I opened it and started reading. I was extremely moved. Ms. Heard has done an incredible job of putting together some very high-quality poems and finding the right people to illustrate them (the pictures are also beautiful). The best part for me is that the book includes poems which look at greif from all angles: from words about crying and despair to lines about the fact that there is hope and not everything is lost. I would recommend this book highly to ANYONE dealing with any type of major loss/trauma, or anyone who simply enjoys good poetry and illustration.

Though 9/11 events were the inspiration for this book, it can be cherished by anyone who has experienced a set-back or loss. I strongly recommend "This Place I Know" as a sympathy gift or as a resource for someone who is hurting.