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The Tenth Good Thing About Barney

My cat Barney died this Friday. I was very sad. My mother said we could have a funeral for him, and I should think of ten good things about Barney so I could tell them...

But the small boy who loved Barney can only think of nine. Later, while talking with his father, he discovers the tenth -- and begins to understand.


DESCRIPTION:

Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780689712036
ISBN: 0689712030
Label: Aladdin
Manufacturer: Aladdin
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 32
Publication Date: 1987-09-30
Publisher: Aladdin
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Studio: Aladdin


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CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

Customer Rating:
Summary: A Good Book For Children Grieving the Death of a Pet
Comment: I took my dog to the veterinarian today and they had this book in the office. I found it a wonderful book for children who are dealing with the grief of losing a beloved pet.

The book is about the death of Barney, a cat. The family all partake in discussing what will happen to Barney after he dies and the little girl goes through her memories of Barney and comes up with all the wonderful things she remembers about him. She is even able to come up with the good he will do for others after his death.

This is a fine book for youngsters from about 5 through 11. It answers questions about death and dying while also bringing up questions that young people have about this topic.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great book on losing a cat
Comment: This book is excellent to help children deal with the loss of a beloved, pet cat. The young boy wanted to say ten good things about Barney at his funeral, but could only come up with nine. He had to think awhile and then he comes up with number ten. I bought copies for the animal hospitals that helped me when I lost my own beloved cat, Duka (05/02/2009). I wanted her to live on with the books so I put plates in them to honor her memory. I wanted to help others, because this is very hard to deal with.

Customer Rating:
Summary: A charming book for all ages
Comment: This is a classic! I'm 50 and my siblings and I grew up with this wonderful book about friendship, life and death...and life after a loved-one's death. My own (now adult)children grew up with it here in Italy (in English)...so it has proven itself across cultures, too! Now I have passed it on as a gift to my sensitive Italian son-in-law. He loves it even if his knowledge of English is limited! A must-have for any family's collection.

Customer Rating:
Summary: A great springboard for discussing death
Comment: I was frantic when our 2 family cats died within 3 months of each other. Our daughter was 3 years old at the time and I didn't know how to explain death to her. This book was sensitive to grief issues but also allowed for discussion about what happens after death, since no one really knows. The table scene with the kids is classic kid behavior depicting how kids deal with tough issues by being kids!

We planted a rosemary bush above our cats and it has become a prolific supplier of fresh rosemary. Four years later and my daughter loves to go to the rosemary bush and harvest rosemary for family and friends. We feel that truth and giving, to the earth, to others, is a very important family value and that if we fertilize the ground, then we continue to give life to other living things. It may be blunt and too graphic for some, but it has been wonderful for our family, even after a grandparent has died.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Book teaches children to doubt heaven
Comment: This book is about a little boy whose cat has died. They bury the cat under their tree. His friend Annie says his cat is in heaven. He insists his cat is in the ground - they just buried him there. They ask his dad. To quote from the book:

"Maybe Barney's in heaven, my father began. Aha, said Annie, and stuck her tongue out at me.

"And maybe, said my faither, Barney isn't. What did I tell you, I said, and yanked Annie's braid.

"Father made me let go. We don't know too much about heaven, he told Annie. We can't be absolutely sure that it's there."

They go out and plant seeds. The boy discovers that his cat will help leaves & flowers grow because his cat is in the ground.

That conclusion does not stand alone, it follows the discussion of whether the cat is in heaven or in the ground and whether or not heaven exists. If you don't believe in heaven, there are plenty of children's books about death that don't mention heaven. This book brings the topic up, questions heaven, and concludes the cat is in the ground.

Why would anyone who believes in God and heaven give a grieving child such a book?

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