Water Bugs and Dragonflies Explaining Death to Children (Looking Up)

Product Information

Sally Whittington sewed a beautiful display (left) and made the dragonflies for people to write on.

Down below the surface of a quiet pond lived a little colony of water bugs. They were a happy colony, living far away from the sun. For many months they were wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings...The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his the dragonfly darted down. Suddenly he hit the surface of the water and bounced away. Now that he was a dragonfly, he could no longer go into the water... When he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn't believe what he saw. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silverWhen he awoke, he looked about with surprise. He couldn’t believe what he saw. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings…The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly!! as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn't return... One spring day, not long after, the very water bug who had suggested the plan found himself climbing up the lily stalk. Up, up, up, he went. Before he knew what body. I guess I'll just have to wait until they become dragonflies too. Then they'll understand what has happened to me, and where I went." Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to

rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying Such a beautiful book, the best we have come across for explaining death to young children. The main story is not exactly spiritual but is an allegory of life that is compatible with Christianity, the notes and scripture references that follow the story explain its symbolism. Friendly and Welcoming Team Ministry seeks a Mission-Minded, Community Focused Priest to join us as Team Vicar in the North CotswoldsThe book ‘Waterbugs and Dragonflies’ explains death in an accessible way. The waterbugs are happy together, living in the pond, but when they are ready, they leave the pond and transform into dragonflies. The dragonflies find a new and wonderful world outside the pond, but their transformation means they are unable to visit their underwater friends to share their joy and delight.

Swooping and dipping in great curves, he flew through the air. He felt exhilarated in the new atmosphere. By and by the new dragonfly lighted happily on a lily pad to rest. Then it was that he chanced to look below to the bottom of the pond. Why, he was right above his old friends, the water bugs! There they were scurrying around, just as he had been doing some time before. A startling change had come to his old body. His movement revealed four silver wings and a long tail. Even as he struggled, he felt an impulse to move his wings…The warmth of the sun soon dried the moisture from the new body. He moved his wings again and suddenly found himself up above the water. He had become a dragonfly!! No one had an answer. They were greatly puzzled. Finally one of the water bugs, a leader in the colony, gathered its friends together. That’s funny!” said one water bug to another. “Wasn’t she happy here?” asked a second…“Where do you suppose she went?” wondered a third.That's funny!" said one water bug to another. "Wasn't she happy here?" asked a second... "Where do you suppose she went?" wondered a third. There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror? Full of wit and twisted humor this notorious Shel Silverstein classic is a book you won't want your children to read! Look!” said one of the water bugs to another. “One of our colony is climbing up the lily stalk. Where do you think she is going?” Up, up, up it slowly went….Even as they watched, the water bug disappeared from sight. Its friends waited and waited but it didn’t return…