Buddy's Candle

For anyone who has ever lost a loved one

Buddy's Candle is a storybook for children that deals with the sensitive issue of death in general and the loss of a pet. It touches on the subjects of dying, the rainbow bridge, unconditional love, life lessons, reincarnation, and the healing powers of pets.

A father is the storyteller in the story of Buddy's Candle. The reader listens in on a conversation between the father and his nine year old son, Simon. The father's story begins with him introducing the subject of death with Simon. He talks about how he had leukemia when he was a boy. He tells Simon how he was able to cope with his cancer treatments with the help of an animal companion, a dog named Buddy. He received a bone marrow transplant and survived cancer. But he had to deal with the sadness of losing Buddy, who died of lymphoma.

Simon's father tells him about how an angel appeared as a messenger in his dreams when he was a boy shortly after Buddy died. This angel led him across the rainbow bridge into animal heaven. There he was able to see Buddy as an angel carrying a candle. In the dream Simon's father is allowed to light Buddy's candle. Then the angel tells him that someday his soul dog, Buddy, would return and they would be reunited.

The story ends happily when Buddy's soul finds its way back in the form of a new puppy named Furphy.

The book, Buddy's Candle, covers a very difficult subject matter, the death of a pet and the grief that follows. It also covers the subject of the important roles that animals play in our lives and how animals show up in our lives to teach us lessons. The companionship of a rescue dog helps a young boy survive leukemia. Yet the beloved dog, who also has cancer, does not survive his chemotherapy treatments and dies. The concept of the dog's soul reincarnating is added in the mix.

I like the ideas of death and rebirth being introduced to a nine year old child in the story. Age 9-10 or older depending on the maturity of the child is probably the right target age for this book. Buddy's Candle helps children understand that nothing really ever dies and that life is meant to be lived to the fullest.

Dr. Bernie S. Siegel, a retired pediatric surgeon, travels the world speaking to patients and caregivers about patient empowerment. Other books he has written include Love Medicine and Miracles, Peace Love and Healing, and How to Live Between Office Visits.

Buddy's Candle is filled with whimsical illustrations by author and artist Mari Gayatri Stein. Her fun sketches of animals and nature in soft watercolors decorate the pages. The animal angels holding candles are especially adorable.