Books Archives - Kristina Lunde

May 22, 2025 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Book Launch: Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief

In Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief, a heron’s migration provides an engaging metaphor for grieving children. Geared to four through eight year-olds, this book centers on a biblical perspective of eternal life with Jesus (John 3:16). Lively watercolors depict sweeping landscapes and flying herons as a boy processes his grief.

Storyline

Expressed in rhyming verse, this first-person narrative follows a young boy as he befriends a heron in his new neighborhood. The boy creates an imaginary friendship with the heron and learns about migration. After the death of his grandmother, the boy experiences grief and discovers a comforting metaphor in Henry the heron’s migration.

Abigail Porter’s illustrations of a child’s grief experience echo the poignant emotions expressed in Kristina Lunde’s rhymes. Written for children, and the adults who help them process grief, this picture book presents concepts of death and heaven from a Bible-based perspective. As the boy begins to understand his grief, he compares and contrasts death with the migration of a heron.

Grief Support

The pacing of the book’s content offers discussion opportunities geared to the child’s level of understanding and interest. Beyond serious depictions of grief, whimsical illustrations and the boy’s imagination offer many ideas for lighthearted conversations. For example, a child not yet ready to discuss grief might focus on the humorous heron illustrations.

When working with grieving children, experts suggest being open to discuss grief concepts whenever children are ready. In this book, the story line and varied illustrations present many topics, ranging from silly to serious. Children may want to discuss grief or a cheerful topic like the boy’s imagination—or both. Henry the Heron Teaches Me About Grief is a picture book designed to introduce grieving children to God’s comfort.

March 30, 2025 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Writing a Children’s Book on Death and Grief

A children’s book about grief. That’s what I wanted for my six and eight year-old children when their father—my husband—died twenty years ago. How could I explain the absence of their father and the permanence of his death? Living that grievous reality, how could I emphasize the truth of Jesus Christ and our hope of heaven? I talked about these concepts with my children and we read different books, especially the Bible. But heaven seemed a long way off after our beloved Daddy suddenly disappeared from everyday life.

My soon-to-be-released book, Henry the Heron Teaches me About Grief, presents truths about death, grief, and faith in Jesus. I wrote this picture book for grieving children—and for the adults who love them. The book relays the story through Abigail Porter’s heartwarming illustrations. Whimsical visual details provide ideas for conversation starters. The illustrations offer opportunities to either lighten the topic or discuss it further, when the child is ready.

Dying is not a fun or easy topic for a children’s book. Even with playful illustrations, a book on death can be challenging to present at a child’s level. The facts about death need to be presented in straightforward language appropriate for the child’s level of development. The finality of death is difficult for children to understand. Children, and likewise adults, need time to recognize and mourn the absence of their deceased loved one.

Biblical truths can help children better understand life and death. God’s Word presents the most important truth about life: salvation is found in Jesus alone (Romans 10:9). With that foundation, children can accept God’s promise of eternal life for those who believe in Jesus (John 3:16). Eternal life is the outcome of knowing the one true God and believing in His son Jesus Christ (John 17:3). The earthly physical death we all face as humans is a tough reality check, even for adults. As believers in Christ, we hold onto the certainty of eternal life after our earthly death (1 John 5:11-12).

A children’s book that addresses death needs to address grief, the feelings that come after a loved one dies. In processing grief, both children and adults may experience a variety of emotions. Children may describe it as actual pain. Crying, feeling bad, and wondering how long grief lasts are common aspects of grief. Funerals, mourning rituals, and conversations provide opportunities to honor and remember the deceased loved one. When and if children are ready, involve them in these activities to help them process their grief. Adults can role-model how reminiscing about a loved one can be both sad and comforting.

Although I did find some good children’s grief books, I finally wrote the book that I would have wanted. My idea started when I saw a great blue heron along the upper headwaters of the Mississippi River. I enjoyed seeing him in our area all summer long. In fall, I realized that the heron had migrated.

After much thought, I wrote a story that centers on this metaphor from God’s creation. Together, the heron’s migration and his inevitable return parallel how believers in Christ will see each other in heaven. The certainty of God’s created order demonstrates this concept of reunion. My story shows a boy’s progress through grief as he recognizes truths about death in God’s creation. I pray that God uses this book to comfort grieving children—and the adults who love them.

January 7, 2025 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Sadiversary Book Launch: God’s Comfort in Grief

God’s Comfort in Grief by Kristina Lunde

Announcing my new book entitled God’s Comfort in Grief: Meditations for the Newly Widowed. I celebrate the launch of my book even as I commemorate the twenty-year sadiversary of my husband Lee’s death. My grief relief came from the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). For that, I am so thankful—and motivated to share God’s grief relief in my speaking and writing.

This is the book I needed after Lee died. Early on, I cried through my days and didn’t have the bandwidth to deal with life. The trauma of performing CPR on my husband and seeing him die before my eyes impacted everything. My basic life skills, and of course my executive functioning skills, disappeared. Simple tasks, like combing my hair and feeding my children, overwhelmed my incapacitated brain. In those first weeks and months after Lee died, my mind could not focus. I wanted a short easy-to-read book that prioritized God’s comfort while giving me grieving help and practical advice.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 NIV

So I have finally published the book that I needed back in that newly widowed phase of my life. My memoirs tell the story (My River of Sorrow: A Widow’s Journey with God and Memorial Stones: Reflections from My River of Sorrow), but this new book describes early widowed grief and focuses on God’s promises. Each short chapter includes a Bible verse for comfort, an anecdote for connection, and grief-processing ideas for consideration.

When I write sympathy cards, I include encouraging Bible verses and grief processing concepts. For widows or widowers, I include a letter from my blogpost (Note: the blogpost content is relevant for any widowed person, although I use the term widow instead of widow/widower). Now, I can communicate that content—and much more—by gifting this small book. My hope is for grieving people to draw closer to the God of all comfort as they adjust to widowhood.

My Prayer

Lord God, you know exactly how to comfort widows and widowers, just like you uniquely comforted me. Oh Jesus, speak your truth and redemption into the lives of all who seek you in their grief. Help them process their sorrow and individual challenges as they grieve. Father God, pour your compassion and comfort into grieving hearts in miraculous ways, as only you can.

Dear Lord, twenty years ago, you picked up this distraught widow from her puddle of tears. Your love and comfort changed me into a functioning single parent. Through the years, you have rebuilt my life and given me a future I never imagined. Thank you, Lord, that I feel more nostalgia about Lee and gratitude to you rather than pain at this sadiversary. Only a mighty healing God like you can accomplish that miracle, and I am grateful. Please keep working miraculous grief relief in people’s lives, just like you have done for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

July 31, 2022 by Kristina Lunde 1 Comment

Silly Lily and the Polka-Dot Lunch: An Indie Book Launch for Kids

As an indie author and self-publisher, I have launched previous books with traditional methods. These include blog posts, readings, press release, and a memoir class at my local library. I have signed books at a local bookstore and in a restaurant where a buffet table accompanied my reading. For my first children’s book, Silly Lily and the Polka-Dot Lunch, I wanted a non-traditional book launch. My children’s picture book is unique in my line-up of otherwise serious non-fiction (i.e. memoirs and Bible studies), so this time I designed a playful book launch for kids.

Lily, the star of my book as illustrated by Danika Capson, easily charmed my team of graphic designer, editors, reviewers, and early readers—all grown-ups. For the book launch, I wanted to introduce Lily to kids and then explore their reactions. I chose kids I volunteered with at church, asking their parents for permission to read my book. The parents knew that I was gifting a book copy, but the kids’ responses were spontaneous and fresh.

For the preschoolers, we started with gross motor activities to learn about circles and polka dots. Then we sat down to read the book, identifying shapes and colors on the pages. I discussed respect with school-aged kids, focusing on Lily’s body language and words in response to her mother. Another approach focused on the story progression as Lily refused and later—spoiler alert—tried new foods. With older siblings present, I had them loudly read the bold-font words, an activity that got everyone giggling.

Varying my approach based on the children’s ages, I evaluated their responses to the story’s themes. I love reading to children, whether they are non-readers, early readers, or precocious readers. Engaging young children and experiencing their perspectives resulted in a fun and unique book launch. It also helped me practice for my upcoming author visits to libraries and schools. No, this launch did not net me any sales or provide wide publicity, but those were not my goals. What a joy to read to kids and to see their responses to Lily. And what a surprise to later hear that my book became a favorite bedtime story!

Acknowledgments

Thank you to these precious families for giving me time with your children and allowing me to post your pictures.

June 30, 2022 by Kristina Lunde Leave a Comment

Silly Lily and the Polka-Dot Lunch: A Children’s Picture Book

Are you looking for a whimsical picture book, a sweet story of challenge served with a bit of silly? Do you deal with a child’s food refusal? Do you know a picky eater? Whether your child is neurotypical or on the autism spectrum, my new picture book, entitled Silly Lily and the Polka-Dot Lunch, encourages children to try eating something new.

Sometimes Lily is silly, but she always knows what she wants. Instead of eating food, Lily tries to eat the polka dots on her pants. Will strong-willed Lily try real food for lunch? Kristina Lunde’s new story uses shapes, colors, repetition, encouragement, good manners, and a bit of silliness to encourage children to try new foods.