Meet Patou
Award-Winning Children’s Book Series
Written by Dianna Edwards | Illustrated by Jessica Hargreaves
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From the author:
They say we each have a book in us, a book to write. I have these three, so far.
I often say they took me six years to live and 3 days to write. I was inspired to write the Meet Patou Series after volunteering at a wonderful grieving children’s center in New Mexico. I learned so much from the children that came to the center — about what they did and did not understand around grieving and what they wanted to know. At the time, the children’s books we had to read were beautiful and touching, but not always hands on.
Trained in Drama Therapy, Psychodrama and Sociodrama, I knew the power of projective techniques. I wrote this series in a way that allowed the children to relate their own story to Patou’s and talk with their caregivers about grief and loss.
The questions and art projects at the end of each book facilitate these discussions. This is a distancing technique used to create safe space for the children to talk about feelings. If they were not ready to speak about how they felt, they could talk about how they thought Patou felt in each book.
BOOK 1: IT’S NOT EASY BEING PATOU
In Book One, we meet Patou and his older brother Niki. Patou deals with issues of being small: he is the runt. With big brother Niki by his side, Patou learns valuable lessons that help him grow in confidence. At the end of this book and the other two books, there are questions and art projects to let the child either discuss and process Patou’s feelings, on the subjects contained in the book, or share his own feelings about the similar feelings and situations he may be experiencing.
BOOK 2: WHEN NIKI GOT SICK
Patou is challenged with the reality that his big brother, Niki, has an illness that is not “fixable.” As so much time and energy is focused on caring for Niki, Patou feels forgotten. Patou learns there are days when he needs to be the big brother to Niki.
BOOK 3: WHY CAN’T EVERYTHING JUST STAY THE SAME?
This book speaks to Impermanence. There are many levels of loss and grief in life.
Patou and Niki move to a new State leaving old friends behind. Later their parents get divorced, bringing up more unanswered questions. And the final loss for Patou is when Niki dies. The story may seem overwhelming at first but it is quite true to the many situations children can go through. This book gives the parent, grandparent or caregiver, a safer way to help the child process their feelings by discussing Patou’s feelings in these situations.
Because many children cannot be with a parent, loved one or pet when they die, at the end of Book Three, there is a suggestion to help Patou write a letter to Niki after his death telling him all the things Patou wished he could have said to Niki.
The child is also offered the suggestion to write that letter for Patou or write a letter to a loved one or a pet they have lost. Often a child will use these exercises to address a situation with a pet and then a year or two later, I have received feedback that the parent is now more comfortable using the same questions or art projects when a grandparent dies.
“Our Child Life staff reviewed the books and found that they were very helpful in their efforts to reduce stress and anxiety that many children experience in hospital and healthcare settings.”
“This beguiling three-part tale of a pair of schnauzers cannot fail to touch the heart of every reader. Without undue sentimentality, Patou voices his concerns over his changing circumstances in a way that becomes a reassuring comment on uncertainty, adapting to a new environment, grief, and renewed hope.
Edwards is that rare children’s writer whose gentle style reaches people of all ages. Hargreaves’ illustrations succinctly evoke the charm of the dog characters while her abstract background encourages readers to make their own connections.”
