A Book for Helping Children Understand Death and Process Loss
A Church pastor for 16+ years, Simon Pastorello is all too familiar with the emotional and spiritual whirlwind following a loved one’s passing, and the challenge it is for concerned adults to help children navigate such waters.
When his father faced a terminal diagnosis, Simon found himself preparing for the conversation no parent wants to have – explaining death to the young children in his own family. As he prayed about it, God gave him a picture that equipped him for the conversation. Now, that picture has become People Are Like Balloons, a gentle, biblically sound story designed to help young children process loss and find hope in Christian truths, while also helping parents foster healthy, helpful conversations around grief.
Through a beautiful story, People Are Like Balloons explores how, just as balloons are made of rubber and breath, so people are made of visible and invisible parts; one that wears out, and one that remains. God created us with his own breath, and those who love Jesus return to him when they leave their body. It’s an illustration simple enough for a child to grasp, yet profound enough to carry real hope.
Why is this book important?
It gives you a gentle, truthful way to explain death to young children. When a loved one dies, parents and caregivers often struggle to find the right words. Simon’s beautiful balloon illustration — that people are made of a visible part that wears out and an invisible part that returns to God — is simple enough for a young child to grasp, yet profound enough to carry real hope. This book hands you the conversation you didn’t know how to start.
It anchors grief in biblical truth without overwhelming little hearts. People Are Like Balloons doesn’t shy away from the reality of loss, but it frames it within the hope of Christian faith — that God created us with his own breath, and those who love Jesus return to him. Children don’t just receive comfort; they receive truth they can hold onto as they grow.
It was written by someone who has lived on both sides of grief. Simon Pastorello has walked alongside bereaved families as a pastor for over 16 years, and faced his own family’s grief when his father received a terminal diagnosis. This isn’t a theoretical resource — it’s a book born from prayer, personal pain, and pastoral wisdom. Families facing loss will feel that on every page.
How can I help?
You can now pre-order this book as a precious resource for your own family and others. Pre-ordering helps us to finance the publication costs, determine the size of the initial print run, and pay for the print run. It’s a huge part of our strategy for helping first-time authors like Simon get their books into the world without a huge financial outlay.
Help Us with illustrations
Every children’s book needs two things: a story that matters and illustrations that bring it to life.
High-quality children’s book illustrations are essential but costly. They’re what transform words on a page into a gentle companion for a frightened child. They’re what helps a 5-year-old understand that people, like balloons, may leave us, but those who love Jesus can find comfort from him in their hour of need.
We’d love you to partner with us to help fund the illustrations that will make this book accessible to grieving families.
Your partnership will:
- Fund professional illustrations that speak to young hearts
- Help churches and ministries access this resource
- Ensure families facing grief have the tools they need
- Bring comfort to children when they need it most
‘This is the book nobody wants to need,’ Simon says, ‘but will feel like a Godsend to those who do.’
Partnership Options
Get your Name in the Back of the Book – only available until 15th June!
£30 Sponsorship: Help fund the illustrations + receive a Paperback copy of People are like Balloons with your name printed inside + an exclusive art print.
£50 Sponsorship: Help fund the illustrations + Receive a Hardback of People are like Balloons with your name printed inside + an exclusive art print.
£100 Sponsorship: Help fund the illustrations + Receive a hardback and 2 paperbacks of People are like Balloons with your name printed inside and an exclusive art print.
Or choose any amount you choose using the form below.
Every partnership brings this book closer to the families who desperately need it. Will you help us get there?
The small print: Books will be posted shortly before the book releases in August. If you give your consent, you will also receive regular prayer updates about the project, so you can be praying for us as we prepare, and the families who will receive the book when it comes out.
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