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October 2009

 

 

 

Squirrel and Oak: A Tool that Offers Inspiration and Hope Helps Children Through the Grieving Process

 

Megan Prescott spent nearly half her life working through a bereavement process after abruptly losing both her mom and brother within a month of one another when she was a teenager. At the end of her long bereavement journey emerged Squirrel and Oak: A Story of Hope. The narrative is something the first-time author hopes will be used as an inspiration and lifeline for grieving children of all ages who have had to say goodbye to someone they love. “My desire is that after reading the book, readers will breathe a sigh of relief,” says Prescott, “and be able to experience a moment of peace, comfort, and hope.” Squirrel and Oak is a story about love, loss, confusion, renewal and inspiration. It explains the death process in a heartwarming and safe way that young children as well as adults will understand and relate to.

 

As a part of Megan’s comeback after her loss, she used drawing and what she calls “healing art” to express emotions that she was having difficulty expressing in words. The author also co-illustrated her book and created incredibly vivid and colorful illustrations to complement the difficult subject. “I wanted to create a highly symbolic story and visual journey at the same time” states the writer, “I was excited to bring together both my passion for art and writing in the creation of Squirrel and Oak.”

 

These tools and general comfortableness with death helped her to solidify the story of Squirrel and Oak into a true working tool for the grief stricken. The story, which has been 10 years in the making, differs from other grief books in that it walks through the grief process from start to finish with the reader. “I wanted to remind the reader that they are not alone in their loss,” states Prescott, “certain feelings around loss are universal. My goal first and foremost was to really connect with a reader who has experienced death.” The book also incorporates some of the author’s own beliefs which she acquired by observing the cycles of nature in her native Vermont: “The snow turns into rain and seeds from a dying plant contain life,” says the author, “I just thought changing forms from life to death for us has to somehow be similar.”

 

The author’s interest in writing began early growing up with a mother who was also her High school English teacher. “My mom taught me to love writing.” says Prescott, “Paying tribute to her death by helping others through their grief with my book is a full circle moment for us both.”   Squirrel and Oak is a testament to the reality that something beautiful can, and did, come out of something tragic.

Megan Prescott resides in Austin Texas and has taught art for over 15 years. Currently she is presenting her ‘Squirrel and Oak: Life and Loss’ Program at venues in and around Austin, Texas. For more information about the book or to see Megan’s work in the Healing Arts field, please visit: www.artbymap.com