Interview with the Author of “Daddy’s Chair”

With the terrible and horrifying events that have occured in Newtown, Ct., I know alot of parents are struggling with how to approach the subject of death and dying with their children. “Daddy’s Chair” is a book that deals with those subjects head on, and in a Jewish context.

Here is the description from School Library Journal:

Daddy’s Chair (General Jewish Interest)

Sandy Lanton, the author of Daddy’s Chair graciously agreed to answer a couple of my questions:

1-I KNOW YOU WROTE THIS A WHILE BACK.  AT THE TIME, WHAT LED YOU THEN TO WANT TO BROACH SUCH A SENSITIVE  TOPIC IN A CHILDREN’S BOOK?

My cousin died of cancer in 1989.  He left behind a wife and three children–ages 15, 12 and 6.  I was asked to find books for the kids.  I found plenty for the older two, but only The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
The Dead Bird and (about a cat) for the 6 year old. I felt there was a definite need for a book on the subject. I was taking a writing class with author Pam Conrad and worked on the story in the class.  I used the universal symbol of the empty chair as my starting point.

                       

2-WHAT WERE THE CORE LESSONS THAT YOU WANTED CHILDREN TO GAIN FROM YOUR STORY?

I wanted to get across 2 main points.  First, I wanted to get across the idea that Daddy wasn’t coming back.  He wasn’t asleep, he didn’t go on a trip, he was gone forever. Michael didn’t let anyone sit in his daddy’s chair because he thought he was coming back.  At the end, he sits in the chair when he wants to think about his daddy.    Secondly, I wanted to express the feeling the “you are not alone”.  Children are afraid of abandonment.  In the story, various members of the family take on the activities that Michael had done with his dad.

3- WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE A STORY ABOUT DEATH AND DYING FOR CHILDREN?

As much as we’d like to shield children from the harsher realities of life, it’s not really possible.  Death is a part of the life cycle. It is better to discuss it with them than to have them to suffer alone.  I do a workshop on Bibliotherapy for parents and teachers. (biblio means book) where I review various  picture books on difficult subjects.  Today, there are a lot more stories about death for young children than there were years ago.  Children can relate to the feelings of a character in a story and open up about their own feelings.

4-WHAT KIND OF RESEARCH DID YOU DO IN WRITING THE BOOK?  

I have a BA in Psychology, and MS in Early Childhood Education and 5 years teaching experience. I also spoke with some psychologists, teachers, and parents.

5- DO YOU THINK ITS MESSAGE CARRIES OVER INTO THE CONVERSATIONS  PARENTS MIGHT BE HAVING THIS WEEK ABOUT THE TERRIBLE EVENTS IN CT?

Yes, I hope they would find it helpful in starting a conversation with children.  Children might be unable to express their feelings until they see those same feelings  expressed by a character in a story.  I hope they can reassure the children that they are not alone and help them through the grief  process.

6-HAVE YOU HAD ANY PROFOUND REACTIONS FROM YOUR READERS?

Yes, a particular incident comes to mind.  I was coming off a plane from LA after attending a Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Conference.  I was wearing my SCBWI tee shirt and  woman came up to me.  She asked if I was a writer

of children’s books and asked me my name.  When I told her, she said DADDY’S CHAIR!  Her husband had died a few years before and she had used the book with her daughters. She said she found it very helpful.  I felt that I had fulfilled my destiny!

7- IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT DADDY’S CHAIR?

I hope that people will find comfort and understanding in its pages.

Read more about Sand Lanton’s books at  www.sandylanton.com.