Perched in Our Heart. This item is unavailable.Perched in Our Heart

"Perched in our Heart" is a read-aloud book designed to support those who have experienced a familial loss. In this story, Johnny and Justin notice a Mama Hummingbird building a nest in their backyard. Mom, Dad and Grandpa join in their excitement as they watch the Mama build a nest and wait for her eggs to hatch. As the story unfolds, a baby hummingbird is born, reminding the boys of their little sister, who had recently died. Since the loss of their baby sister, the boys miss her but they don't talk about it. Each family member struggles to talk about their loss. Like many families, it is hard to share their loss with each other and find common ways to mourn together.

It is hoped that this story will open conversations for moms, dads, and family members to come together and find ways to talk openly with each other. This book is intended to be read together as a family by using the story of a Mama Hummingbird to learn about loss. Parents, grief centers, hospice centers, church groups, educators, counselors, and therapists may use this book to serve as a vehicle to open up conversations for their families to talk about their unspoken grief and begin to mourn together.

Kaylene Ashbridge is a first-time author in the grief community for children and their families. She is a retired educator and has served as a teacher, counselor, and principal. She is currently working as a School Bereavement Liaison and Group Night Coordinator/Specialist at Billy's Place, a non-profit supporting grieving children, in Phoenix, Arizona. She is passionate about helping families as they navigate their profound feelings of loss and learn to communicate and mourn together. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and their Australian Labradoodle Abby. Her son Justin, lives in Mesa, Arizona. She highly values time to gather as a family. In her free-time she loves to read, travel, exercise, meet up with friends, craft and upcycle projects.She has created a Facebook group called "Families Grieving Together for Hope and Healing." Her story for "Perched in Our Heart" developed as she saw how difficult it was for families to navigate through their grief and learn to mourn and communicate with each other. This story developed through her own experiences as she has walked along side grieving families. Learn more about the author, background information, and more at familiesgrievingtogether.com.

Lynn Byrn is a Mixed Media Artist experimenting with Collage, from Glendale, Arizona. Founder of Sun Baked Studio in 2022 named after the process of drying many layers of collage in the Arizona sun. She is a first-time illustrator. Her art is inspired by real events. Touched by the theme of hope in this family's story, the illustrations reflect actual people, locations and experiences.