Book Alert: Why People Die

Why People Die was written Grace Russell, a grandmother who wanted to help her grandchildren cope with death. It offers grace, hope and peace for kids facing life’s toughest reality.

This book reminds us that God has a plan beyond death. Through the resurrection of Christ, life becomes for us a continued story. God is greater than death. When we believe and accept that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ, then our fear gives way to faith, our despair to hope and our sorrow to anticipated joy.

This little book is illustrated and in nursery rhyme form. It is simple enough for a three-year old to understand the human life cycle from a Christian perspective, and profound enough to comfort adults of all ages.

This story compares the birth which is necessary for life into this world with death, which is necessary for our birth into life eternal and all the joys of heaven.

The introduction gives practical advice from years of comforting those dealing with grief and sorrow, as well as Scriptures of comfort and hope.

Click here to buy this limited edition book directly from the publisher.

This book cannot be found at your local bookstore. It is one of a limited number and probably will not be reprinted again.

Sample Pages

• Sample Page
• Sample Page 2
• Sample Page 3

A Note from the Author, Grace Russell

This book was written to explain death to my three-year-old grandchild just after my mother died.

I remember well my first encounter with death. I was six. My grandfather died the night before my birthday.

At that time it was customary for the body to lie in state at home. My mother took me to my grandfather’s house, held me up to see him in the casket and through her tears explained to me that this was only his body, that his soul had gone to be with God. I knew my grandfather had loved God all his life and had done his best to live according to the teachings of the Bible.

Although I faced death myself several times during my childhood, I never was afraid of dying and am not now. I firmly believe an eternal perspective on life and the assurance that we will all one day face our Maker is the best gift a parent of Christian teacher can give to a child.

At the time I wrote this book my daughter was expecting another baby. It seemed natural at that time to give my granddaughter a sound and truthful basis for looking at life from beginning to end and into eternity.

It worked. A few weeks later when my sorrowful father indulged in tears of grief, she put her little hand on his knee and said, “Don’t worry, Nandoody, Nana is in Heaven and one day we will all get to go be with her again.”

However, as a minister’s wife, I have used this little book as a comforting tool for people of all ages who were coping with grief. I have loaned it to many minister friends who have likewise found it a tool of comfort.

The idea of sin and punishment is intentionally omitted because a child of three has not reached the age of accountability and is not old enough to understand these concepts.

My purpose was to instill in my granddaughter faith in Jesus who said, “Let the little children come unto me,” and told them plainly that, “God is love.”

It is a book meant to be read with a parent, teacher or older friend. The pictures and wording are designed to supply springboards for other aspects of the subject of life and death and citizenship in Heaven . . .

Inasmuch as Jesus Himself said, “I and the Father are one,” I portrayed God with the face of Christ. After all He was God in human form and God as Spirit is almost impossible to draw!

Testimonies About The Book

“My eighty-six year old Baptist Mama and I sat on the porch and read this book after my father died and felt such warmth and love and depth of the Spirit in the book that it comforted us.” – Mrs. Sue Ellen Johnson, Presbyterian, Paducah, KY“A warm comforting message to be presented to children of all ages by any member of the family.”– Mrs. Jeanine Corbett, Lutheran, Sidney, Ohio “This informative little book, although it was written for a child to help understand the meaning of death, I found it most comforting when my husband passed from life recently. It is surely a book for all ages.” – Hazel Albon, Tonawanda, N.Y. Gulfview Choir, Panama City Beach “I do believe your book has possibilities of reaching a vast audience that could profit by it.” – Kitty Peterson, newspaper columnist, Vidalia, Georgia “This would be a comfort to have in every child’s library.” – Mrs. Catherine Fiola, Episcopalian, Battle Creek, Michigan “Having been raised in the United Church of Canada and taught Sunday School when my children were young, I know young parents would find this book most helpful in raising their children.” – Mrs. Joanne Horne, Dunnhill, Ontario, Canada “This book does the finest job of explaining death I have ever seen. Though it is aimed at the child, it is equally helpful to adults and needs to be read by all. I want everyone in my family to have a copy.” – Mrs. Jeanette Watford, Retired English Professor, United Methodist, Panama City Beach, FL

Endorsements

“Grace Russell has done us a great favor and given us a great gift. You will want to share this with all the little ones.” – Dr. Maxie Denton Dunnam, President Asbury Theological Seminary “Grieving hearts will readily resonate to this eloquently simple and Biblically accurate portrayal of the resurrection hope.” – Chaplain (LTC) Jack Morrison, United Methodist, Former Chaplain at Arlington National Cemetery “This book not only explains death but the whole of life from conception to eternity.” – Rose Weiner, Interdenominational Minister, Author, Lecturer, Gainesville, FL “This is a very well put message for children of all denominations.” – Mrs. Margaret Kerr, Anglican, Streetsville, Ontario, Canada “As a mother of eight children and grandmother of twenty-two and also having seen many children of families who are involved in Palliative Care at Providence Centre, Scarborough Ontario, this book would seem to be most instructive and informative in a bereavement situation.” – Mrs. Cecelia Healy, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada-Catholic Laywoman. “Sincerely and heartily I appreciate and endorse this beautiful presentation which appeals to the entire family.” – Dr. Si Mathison, Methodist Minister – Panama City, FL, father of Dr. John Ed Mathison, Frayser Memorial United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Alabama, and Dr. George Mathison, First United Methodist Church, Auburn, Alabama. “A needed book that sensitively deals with a delicate subject.” – Dr. C. Wayne Fesmire Senior Minister, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the United Methodist Reporter.

Click here to buy this limited edition book directly from the publisher.

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