Product Description
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.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 32 reviews)

Book teaches children to doubt heaven

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?
September 24, 2008

Not for those who believe in Heaven

This book has SO much promise- it's fundamental storyline is beautiful and realistic for those who are grieving and having a funeral for a pet. However, this book takes a horrible detour when the young boy who's pet died and his friend return to the kitchen after the funeral for cookies and begin to argue if the cat is in heaven or just in the ground. The father enters in and states 'We don't know too much about heaven'... 'we can't be absolutely sure that it's there' and the frustrated little neighbor girl defends heaven one last time and goes home. As a parent dealing with the grief of losing a pet, the one firm anchor for us was that our cat's spirit has gone to Heaven and is happy and joyful alongside God and Jesus and those people and pets who have died before him. We are just putting his body into the ground- from which it will provide strength and nourishment to the living things around it. The book does cover that point nicely (I know some reviewers have found this issue unsettling- but for us this is a nice feeling to know that the 'fur and bones' of our cat that were left behind in this world will be helping the new tree we planted to grow and flourish).
September 09, 2008

For Everyone Who has lost a beloved pet

This is a book that anyone can love, whatever the age. When we lose someone we love, human or pet, we become children and find ourselves bewildered and lost. To find words that will comfort is a true gift, and Judith Viorst has provided those words in this lovely book. I will never be without a copy again.

In the past we have read this wonderful book when burying a pet that has died. Last week our dear cat died unexpectedly and we couldn't find a copy of this book. I have just ordered a replacement so we can read it over his grave.

August 04, 2008

Shocked

I cannot believe this book has gotten the great reviews it has. It started out promising and touching....then comes the part when the kids start arguing about heaven, pull hair and call names. Come on! As others have said, may be good for some beliefs.....but PLEASE don't order on line like I did, read it before you buy it. The questioning heaven, arguing kids and the image of the poor cat becoming fertilizer are the reasons I will never read this to my children.
June 03, 2008

Nice, but didn't fit our family

This is a nice story about a boy grieving the loss of his cat. I was recommended this book by my daughters' pediatrician to talk about death to my young daughters. The only thing I didn't like about this book was that the idea of Heaven was questioned. It just didn't work for our family's beliefs.
February 09, 2008

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