“My Beloved Grandma” — Embracing a Child’s Grief with Love and Tenderness
-
By Admin
The picture book serves as a bridge for communication between adults and children, helping adults better understand a child’s thoughts.
Under the gentle glow of the stars and moon, Grandma boarded a hot air balloon and soared into the sky…
This is the cover image of “My Beloved Grandma”, the first picture book published by Xiao En Group. The story is a heartfelt collaboration between Palliative Care Advocate Mr. Fong Yee Leong and Illustrator Ikuwashi. The watercolor illustrations were lovingly created by Ikuwashi, with contributions from his 13-year-old daughter, 安安.
The colors of death aren’t limited to black, white, or grey—they can also be vibrant and full of life.
On the evening of June 6, the first author sharing session for the picture book “My Beloved Grandma” was held at Xiao En Centre in Cheras. The venue was filled with colors and childlike wonder: vivid hot air balloons, patchwork quilts, and paper boats adorned the walls, seats, and tables—bringing the illustrations to life.
During the two-hour session, host PM Wang led a gentle yet thoughtful conversation with the book’s co-authors, Mr. Fong Yee Leong and Ikuwashi. Together, they guided the audience in understanding a young girl’s journey through grief and loss—through the lens of a heartfelt picture book.
Ikuwashi shared that his most vivid memories of loss were tied to the passing of the elder women in his life. This inspired him to center the story around three generations of women — a grandmother, a mother, and a young girl — weaving together a life story of “a good end,” “a good life,” and “a good farewell.”
Mr. Fong Yee Leong, meanwhile, expressed that after the passing of his parents, his grandmother became his most cherished family member. Since her passing in 2019, he had often wondered how to stay connected with her. That’s why he plans to give copies of “My Beloved Grandma” to his family members — as a way for everyone to reconnect with their beloved grandma.
Picture books can be a powerful way for adults to step into a child’s inner world. Mr. Fong Yee Leong shared, “When I first started working in palliative care, I would always bring a suitcase full of picture books during my visits to terminally ill patients. One day, I met a child who was about to lose his father. Every time I visited, he would choose the same book — “《不管怎么样，你都会爱我吗？》”
The child’s repeated choice puzzled him. “He was about to lose his dad,” Fong recalled, “so why did he keep choosing a book with a mother as the main character?”
Later, he came to a realization — he himself had grown up in a single-parent family. After his father passed away, what he feared most was losing his mother. That’s when it dawned on him: the child kept choosing that book because deep down, he was afraid of losing his mom.
The picture book became a way for the child to express emotions he couldn’t put into words. This experience deeply moved Mr. Fong and sparked a desire in him to one day create a picture book that could reach into a child’s inner world. That seed, quietly planted in his heart, eventually grew into the creation of “My Beloved Grandma”.
The sharing session also featured a Q&A segment and an “Origami Boat of Remembrance” activity. During the session, a mother posed a question on behalf of her shy son: “Do you believe in heaven?” The child’s innocent words brought gentle smiles to many faces in the audience. Mr. Fong Yee Leong responded warmly, “Although I’ve never been there, just like you, I believe that heaven exists.”
He took the opportunity to remind adults to respond honestly to every question children ask — even those about death. Avoid overly beautifying it, which might make children long for it, and also avoid overly darkening the afterlife, which could cause their fear of the unknown to grow uncontrollably.
When a loved one passes away, adults are often occupied with handling death certificates, funeral arrangements, banking matters, and more — and a child’s grief is frequently placed on the back burner. That’s why he hopes the picture book “My Beloved Grandma” serves as a gentle reminder for adults to tenderly hold space for each child’s sorrow and sense of loss. “In truth, grieving and remembering together with a child is one of the most heartfelt and caring gifts an adult can offer.”
Following the completion of three author sharing sessions in June at Xiao En Centre, Eslite Bookstore Kuala Lumpur, and Cite Book Garden, the fourth session for “My Beloved Grandma” was held on July 12 at 2:30 PM, at Books Kinokuniya Malaysia, Suria KLCC.
We warmly welcome all parents and children to join us in this heartfelt conversation on life, and to embark on a gentle journey of emotional healing and remembrance.
This Original article first appeared in《 PUMEN普门 》magazine. [ Click Here ]
