Take students on a book walk and draw attention to the following parts of the book: front and back covers, title page, copyright page, dedication, and illustrations. Then ask them what they think the story is about. Ask students what they think the title means.ĭiscuss the front cover illustration with students. How do people behave when they’re not feeling well? How do you help take care of the people you live with when they’re feeling sick?ĭisplay the book and read the title aloud.In northern parts of the United States, what is the weather like in the winter? What happens to trees and plants in winter? What happens to trees and plants in the fall? In the spring? In the summer?.Do you have a grandparent or a family member you feel very close to? What is special about your relationship? Is there a special memory or object that reminds you of them?.Hyacinth is a very independent child, very loving and eager to help.”īefore introducing the book to students, you may wish to develop background information, tap prior knowledge, and promote anticipation with questions such as the following: The child in the book is based on my daughter, Hyacinth, who nine years old. The youngest one of us was just five years old. After my mother died, my grandmother came up from Georgia. She actually had the sun and moon design that I write about in the story, engraved in her teeth. She says: “The grandma in my story is loosely based on my paternal grandma, Annie Kate, who was born and reared in the South. Burrowes, the author/illustrator of Grandma’s Purple Flowers, drew inspiration from her own childhood experiences with the death of a loved one as she wrote this story. Every child dealing with death needs the support of understanding adults.Īdjoa J. Dealing with the death of a grandparent can be difficult, but at the same time a child can grow in maturity and understanding through the experience. Children may struggle with an array of emotions, questions, and confusion. Seeing the flowers helps the girl accept her grandmother's death, and purple flowers become the girl’s personal symbol for keeping her memories of Grandma with her always.įor many children, a grandparent’s death is often their first encounter with death and their first real brush with mortality. When spring finally arrives and flowers begin to shoot up from the ground, the girl discovers that purple flowers are still growing in Grandma’s backyard. Later that night, Grandma passes away, and all winter long, the young girl is sad, missing her grandmother terribly. One winter day Grandma is too tired to bake, but she rubs her grandchild’s back gently and braids her hair that has come undone. Whenever Grandma sees the purple flowers, her smile grows wide-like the Mississippi River.
On her way to visit Grandma, she plucks daisies and sunflowers, and best of all, purple flowers-Grandma's favorites. Grandma's house has always been the narrator's favorite place. TEACHER'S GUIDE FOR: Grandma's Purple Flowers
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