When I was very young, I remember asking my dad what happens when we die. He explained the standard Christian depiction of the afterlife, how when you die you go to heaven and become an angel. This image has always stuck with me as people in my life have passed away. The truth is, no one knows what happens, but it’s comforting to have an idea and to relate that idea to a feeling of peace for the deceased and the hope of one day being reunited with them.
Author Jenny Fulton has incorporated a mixture of religious depictions of the afterlife into her picture book, Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye, to help explain death to children and make the experience a lot less sad and a little more hopeful. Below is my review of Princess Lillian along with my interview with Fulton.
Princess Lillian plot summary
Lillian is confused when her mom leads her to a hospital bed to say goodbye to her dying grandpa. Grandpa explains to Lillian that he is going to be taken by the Great King to his forever-kingdom home. He shows her a painting that looks like the place where he will go to live. He describes it as a paradise where everything is perfect. Unfortunately, Lillian can’t come with him, and he can’t come back to visit them. But she sees him off on his journey and is curious to learn more about the Great King so that she can one day join him in his forever-home.
A mixture of grief rituals
Lillian’s grandpa dies in a hospital bed surrounded by contemporary machines and the stale, intimidating atmosphere of a hospice room. Lillian is scared. She doesn’t even recognize her grandpa in the bed and is overcome with the strange sights and smells that make up this scary environment. It is scary and sad to visit someone who is dying, but this story preps young readers for this understandably intense situation.
Lillian is dressed as a Navajo princess. Fulton explains at the end of the book that her look resembles that of the Navajo Princess pageants. Her parents’ terminology of the afterlife incorporates natural elements in a more indigenous interpretation of the afterlife. However, her father also shows her a Bible and how their faith is described in its pages which offer more answers about the afterlife from a Christian perspective.
This blending of cultures, religion, and a contemporary depiction of death creates a unique yet peaceful understanding of death and dying. It mixes reality with faith and belief.
The writing
The language in this book is a little more complex than the average picture book. Fulton uses flowery language to set the scene such as “Princess rain burst from Lillian’s eyes.” It dramatically displays the intensity of the situation from Lillian’s girly perspective.
Each page ranges from two to several long sentences, mostly in the form of dialogue. It puts the reader in the room with the characters and helps them to understand how Grandpa’s death is both a happy and sad event. Even her father is crying in the scene, showing that it’s okay to be upset, even if you do believe in a utopian afterlife.
There’s a very calm tone to the dialogue. It’s as if the characters are whispering their words. It helps to paint the picture of death, at least Grandpa’s death, as a peaceful yet inevitable event. You can’t stop it or change it, but you can be happy that he’s going to be out of pain and with faith that he’s going to a better place.
It also helps to explain death as a permanent state. Lillian and Grandpa can’t see each other anymore, but there is comfort in knowing that he’s happy wherever he is. This helps to soften the blow of their loss.
The illustrations
The book is illustrated by Indra Grace Hunter. The pictures have a very busy, colorful feel to them, depicting the movement of the characters and the unseen forces around them. Their Navajo heritage is apparent in their features and clothing. And the images of Grandpa’s forever-home spill out into the hospital room in a transformative blending of worlds.
My recommendation
I recommend Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye to older picture book readers whose parents are comfortable with incorporating a religious interpretation of the afterlife into their child’s understanding of death and dying. Religious or not, I think it’s important to share many different interpretations of such a sensitive and difficult topic. Though more advanced readers can handle the simple language, it’s a good book to read together, and it’s a topic that should be discussed before a child has to experience death firsthand.
The blending of Navajo and Christian culture within its pages shows just how universal a topic it is and how much the different interpretations overlap. Most of all, it celebrates Navajo culture and helps to diversify a young reader’s book collection.
An author interview with Jenny Fulton
About the author and book
Author links
Book Title: Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Links to buy:
Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye book summary
Can two worlds exist at the same time?
Little Princess Lillian learns the spiritual world can interact with the physical. Imaginary is used to explain a reality, how heaven reaches down to earth as a young girl observes her grandpa awaiting his entrance into his eternal home.
In a deeply personal Native American Indian and Christian tradition, an intimate celebration of a loved one’s passing occurs as a family says good-bye to a man eager to meet his best friend, the King Above All Nations.
Book excerpt
Lillian placed both hands on the railing and stood on her princess toes to see.
Covered in snow-white blankets lay an old man who looked much like Grandpa.
Connected to some tubes and wires, this man looked as fragile as the pottery that mommy kept safe in a cabinet at home.
But Grandpa was strong and active. He played pretend with her and always listened to her stories.
This man breathed like his throat was being tickled by Lillian’s princess sparkles.
“Grandpa?” Lillian asked.
Grandpa’s eyes shone like blue diamonds at the sound of his granddaughters voice.
“Yes, Lillian. It’s Grandpa.” Daddy’s voice shivered like a princess shivers in winter. From his eyes flowed a river of royal water.
“Hello, little princess,” said Grandpa.
“What’s wrong, Grandpa? Why is Daddy crying?”
“ ‘Cause, I’m going home.”
“But that’s a happy thing,” said Lillian. “And Daddy doesn’t look very happy.”
“Not my people home,” Grandpa whispered. “No, I’m going to my forever-kingdom home.”
Review excerpt
“A poignant child’s perspective of the last moments of a beloved grandfather’s journey on earth. Lillian’s guardian angel accompanies her and guides her as her mother and father share with her the glorious truth that his story is not over, but only just beginning. Death itself is treated as just a stepping stone to a perfect forever home with the “Great King,” and the trappings of death, illness, and pain are mentioned but not dwelt upon. Ideal for children dealing with or learning about the death of a family member.” – Kelly Ferrini, Children’s Librarian
Talking Shop
What do you want readers to take away from your book?
I want to help people gain another perspective on death. I hope they come away from this book with the knowledge that, while it’s sad to lose people we care about, death doesn’t have to be scary – we don’t need to be afraid of it. I also want this book to serve as a doorway for more conversations about death and loss – to open up a dialogue between children and adults where it can be freely discussed.
Name a fact or detail about your story that readers will never know is there.
One of the sub-themes in this book is how differences can be beautifully united. This is seen in the ideas of life and death, the spiritual and the physical interactions, the Native and Caucasian characters, and Lillian’s idea of a princess. Though she carries many of the ideas of the Disney style princess stories, Lillian’s dress is that of a Navajo princess. In the Navajo Nation, there are Navajo Princess pageants which are said to be contests of inner and outer beauty. This display of the inner and outer beauty in one more instance of different pieces complimenting each other.
What’s the best review/compliment that you’ve received about your book?
The best compliments I receive about my book is hearing that someone who recently lost a loved one was able to read it their child to help them process the loss. I’m also really touched when people tell me they teared up when reading it or that even with adults, it gave them greater peace or understanding. I have a hard time expressing my emotions in person, but when I’m writing, I open up and all my feelings flow without hindrance, so it means a lot when the emotions of this story are felt and shared by others.
What is a fun or strange source of inspiration that ended up in your book?
The inspiration behind explaining the idea of where Heaven is came from C.S. Lewis’ book, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. There’s the picture imagery from the beginning of Lewis’ story when the children get pulled into Narnia, the concept of Aslan’s Country at the end, and my favorite quote/support for writing or pulling in elements of fantasy. “This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”
How long did it take to write your book from the day you got the idea to write it to the day you published it?
I wrote the first draft of this book at the end of December 2019 and signed a contract for it to be published at the end of November 2020. It was published in March 2021, so overall, that was about 15 months from draft to publication, which I think is pretty fast for a debut picture book.
How long have you considered yourself a writer? Did you have any formal training, or is it something you learned as you went?
I’ve considered myself someone who likes to write since I was about 8 years old, but I don’t think I had the confidence to call myself a writer until I received my first paid freelancing job about 7 years ago. Now that I have 2 books published and a few more on their way to publication, I’m still getting used to the idea of calling myself an Author.
Though it’s just a word, it seems like such a prestigious title. As far as formal training, I learned through high school and college classes and online writing lessons that I took as I was able. I also learned through reading books and online short stories written by people who have been in this trade for awhile. I tried to identify what made their work stand out and how I could incorporate bits into my writing. Critique partners have been a huge help as well in teaching me how to improve my skills.
Who is on your Mt. Rushmore of great writers?
C.S. Lewis for his fantasy and truth-filled writings
Jane Austen for her dialogue and insights into characters and society
Francine Rivers for endearing and memorable character development and crazy amount of historical research
Stan and Jan Berenstain for creating truth-filled children’s books that have stood the test of time. I loved reading The Berenstain Bears books when I was young, and they are some of my girls’ favorite books as well.
Are any of your characters inspired by real life people?
The grandpa in the story was inspired by my grandpa who passed away in January 2020. The story was inspired by the way he was eager and ready to meet his Savior.
Lillian’s character is one I’ve had in mind for a long time. She was originally inspired by a very active and so-imaginative-that-she-often-got-into-trouble student at an international school I taught at. Years later, after getting married and having kids, I see some of her characteristics in my children as well. Lillian is named after my Grandma Lillian as a way to pay honor to her and my Navajo heritage.
How well do you handle criticism, either while writing, editing, or reviews? Do you ever use that criticism to change your story?
When I first began working with editors and critique partners, I discovered I didn’t handle their critiques nearly as well as I’d like to think I would. I finally figured out the process I go through, which has enabled me to make the most of the critiques.
Step 1: Read through critique and resist every suggestion. They don’t know what they’re talking about.
Step 2: Step away and think about their suggestions.
Step 3: Read suggestions again. Wow, they’re right about everything and I need to follow absolutely every suggestion because I obviously don’t know what I’m talking about.
Step 4: Step away and think about their suggestions.
Step 5: Read suggestions again. Carefully evaluate each one and decide if it fits and/or improves the story and my vision for it. Approve or reject changes as necessary.
“What If” Scenarios
If you could have one person that you admire, living or dead, read your book, who would it be?
I would love it if J. J. Heller read my book. She’s a singer/songwriter who writes really sweet songs for mothers and their children, so I feel like her endorsement would mean a lot.
Your favorite character that you’ve written comes to life for one day. What do you do together for 24 hours?
I would love to have a playdate with Princess Lillian and her little sister Zoe, and my girls. I think it would be so much fun to see what kind of stories and adventures they came up with.
Your book becomes a best seller. What do you do next?
My husband and I would buy some land and build a house in eastern Montana, move there, and then I’d keep writing books.
If you inherited a library, what would it look like, and what kind of programs or events would you hold?
This library would many rooms with floor to ceiling bookshelves and ladders. Each genre would get its own room and would be decorated with backdrops, pictures, and knickknacks from well-known stories of that genre. To get into the fantasy room, you’d have to walk through a wardrobe door. There would be readings and reader’s theater presentations with costumes for kids to dress up as their favorite characters.
You have the means to hire a full-time assistant to help you with your writing. What tasks do you give them to do?
My full-time assistant would be in charge of finding and submitting my book to any relevant contests, evaluating which marketing opportunities would be most beneficial, and taking the necessary measures to put everything together for those opportunities.
Just for Fun
Your favorite childhood book or story.
So many to choose from, but one of my definite favorites was Little Women. My sisters and I (there were four of us) would act out scenes from the movie and perform them for my parents. I absolutely loved Jo’s character and wanted to grow up to be just like her. For a while, whenever we played Pretend, my make-believe name was always Jo.
An item from your past that you’d like to have back.
When I was in China, my family sent me this huge stuffed polar bear. They packed it in a tiny box and sent it so that whenever I was feeling lonely, I could give it a hug. I kept this bear, named Bori (for Aurora Borealis) in my classroom so my students could hug it, too. It was a huge hit with them.
For one of my writing lessons, I had my 2nd grade ESL class work together to write a story about Bori. The end result was pretty incredible. They came up with this story about how Bori had fallen into a box of fish when he was just a cub and was accidentally transported to China. It’s in the back of my mind to create an internationally themed series around this bear.
Sadly, when I left China, I decided to leave both Bori and the book there. I think that somewhere in the transitions, both were thrown out, because I’ve asked around a few times, but no one seems to know what happened to them.
Favorite place you’ve visited/place you want to visit.
There are several to choose from! I would love to go back to Tiger Leaping Gorge (in China) and stay a few days in Sean’s Guesthouse. The gorge is absolutely beautiful and feels so cut-off from the rest of the world. The land slopes up behind the hostel and down towards the river in front. There are cornfields that, with the unique downward curve of the land, hide the river from view.
Rising directly in front of the guesthouse, on the opposite side of the river, is a vertical rock formation that stands confident and unchallenged among the smaller ridges. The river curves and the walls of the mountains closed around it, forbidding any further view of what lays beyond the bend.
Food you’d like to win a lifetime supply of.
I could handle a lifetime supply of Hong Shao Qie Zi. It was my favorite dish in China – red fried eggplant. So good! I haven’t been able to find it in the U.S.
An activity you stopped doing but would like to start doing again.
I would like to pick back up with exercising and playing the guitar – not at the same time. Both are activities I enjoy but struggle to make time for with young kids. I’ll occasionally get out the guitar, but those times aren’t often.
Celebrity you’d want to be friends with.
I would love to be friends with Helen Hunt, Anne Hathaway, Amy Adams, Christian Bale, and Matthew McConaughey. From my highly limited fan-base view, they all seem to be very down-to-earth people who would just be a lot of fun to talk to and hang out with.
With Christian Bale, I grew up seeing him as Laurie in the movie Little Women, so every movie of his since then has been, “Oh look, Laurie is Batman! Now he’s a magician. Isn’t that cool – Laurie grew up to be a great race-car driver.” I’ve heard Laurie did a stint as a psycho, but I never watched that phase and am glad he moved passed it.
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I love the pretty and attractive illustrations making up this book alongside the interesting story! That it blends Christian and Navajo faiths is a first for me, but I enjoyed the excerpt and hope to read the book.
Thanks for sharing!