This book is written simply and tenderly, and the illustrations are exquisite. Through the use of repetition, children are easily engaged in the descriptions of the lifetimes of various insects and animals and hear the same message - death is a natural part of life. When they are then introduced at the end to the fact that people die too, the concept of death is presented as natural and inevitable. The story reassures children that their feelings of sadness or anger are normal and acceptable while also conveying the notion that these feelings will not last forever. I read this to my daughter at the time my mother passed away and found it very helpful in answering her questions about why she had to die and why she had hurt so much .