Students create children’s book on grief

According to an article on the ABC Channel 27 news website, a group of Northern Bedford County High School students created a children’s book to help young kids understand and cope with grief. The project grew out of their earlier community service effort through the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) program, in which they delivered small stuffed “Brucie” bears to children dealing with loss. FBLA advisor Garry Black explained, “The books were centered around grief and to help people who were dealing with grief in some way, shape or form…. And then the bears were intended to be for children going through…some sort of grief and would allow them to process grief better.”

Wanting to expand the impact of Brucie Bear, the next group of students asked, “How can we make the bear come to life?” and began developing a full children’s picture book. Using Canva and collaborating with school counselors on wording and imagery, they created A Bad Day in Brucie’s Burrow, a story about Brucie and his woodland friends working through grief by supporting one another. Co‑author and club co-president Shelby Dively noted, “We found that one of the most effective ways to educate a child was through a story like that, a book that they can connect to.”

After publication by Cove Printing and Design, the students visited schools and libraries across Bedford County to share the book and continue supporting children coping with difficult emotions.