The Day that Granny Dawn became an Angel
This book, The Day that Granny Dawn became an Angel’, is the first in ‘The Day that ….’, series. I have dedicated this book to my Mother, Dawn Olivia Tozer, as besides having a phenomenally close relationship with her, I felt that she wanted me to explain her last years, and her death, to her beloved grandchildren, of whom all fifteen are represented herein. I believe that children need simple explanations to everyday life events, such as what happens when the physical body ‘dies’, and other sensitive topics which, ultimately, should not be feared. I would like to acknowledge my daughter, Kristy Nicolle Keene, for her amazing input towards this book. Without her it would never have happened.
There was something special about Granny Dawn. Everyone loved her .... and, she loved everybody.
She lived in a big farmhouse, with lots and lots of bedrooms, because Granny Dawn liked nothing more than a house full of children.
Besides being ‘Granny Dawn’ to all the children in town, she had fifteen of her very own Grandchildren, and she loved each and every one of us just the same amount .... and that was with all her heart.
She often had us to stay, and we would do really fun things like feed the hens,
go fishing in the little farm dam,
or make sticky syrup pancakes in the big farmhouse kitchen.
Once when the drought broke she had us all dancing around the garden in the pouring rain with only our knickers on!
Although she knew all our names like the back of her hand, she mainly called us ‘my darling’ or ‘my angel’. Granny Dawn loved Angels.
As time went by, and we grew up, we got to see less and less of Granny Dawn. I think that this made her so sad that she started to get sick. The big farmhouse was often empty and ever so tidy. The delicious smells in the kitchen seemed to stop.
Granny Dawn became so sad that she began forgetting things. First she forgot things like where she had put her car keys, but then she started forgetting important things like eating.
Soon Granny Dawn actually forgot how to talk. We all got such a fright and visited Granny Dawn in the hospital...
‌ but some of us were just too far away to visit often.
All the time that Granny Dawn was busy forgetting things, she never once forgot us!
Every time we visited her, she looked deeply into our eyes, and we knew she was saying, ‘I love each and every one of you with all of my heart’.
And then one day it happened. Granny Dawn became so sad that she decided the only way she could spend all her time with all of us, at the same time, was if she turned into an Angel herself. She thought this was the best idea for everyone.
So there and then, Granny Dawn let her beautiful heart fly out of her body. As an Angel, Granny Dawn didn’t need her body anymore, so she left it lying peacefully on the bed. All she needed was her beautiful heart. She flew all the way up to heaven where lots and lots of other beautiful angels were waiting for her.
Suddenly everything changed. The Angel Granny Dawn was instantly happy.... She was immediately with all her beautiful children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and all her adopted grandchildren too!
Although we can’t actually see Granny Dawn like we used to, we know that she is always with us…
we can feel her breath in the cool breeze, and smell her scent in every flower ‌
we can see her happiness in the smiling faces of children, and we know she is comforting us when we hear the gentle pitter patter of raindrops on the old farmhouse roof. WE LOVE YOU GRANNY DAWN.
‘The Day that Granny Dawn became an Angel’, is the first book in ‘The Day that ….’ series. ‘The Day that Granny Dawn became an Angel’ was inspired by the events leading up to, and finally the loss of the author’s mother. This book will comfort children, and adults alike, experiencing the grief and pain that follow after the loss of a loved one. The author tells a magical story with beautiful illustrations of how death is a new beginning.
Written and Illustrated by Tracey Tozer Rees