Zach visits his grandparents every summer. Before he goes home, he and his grandparents ride amazement park rides, except the roller coaster called the Whipper. Zach is afraid of the roller coaster. Each summer he tries to muster up the courage to ride the Whipper and fails. Then one summer visit just isn’t the same because his grandmother has died and his grandfather misses her very much. Zach misses her too, yet he wants his grandfather to be happy. Maybe taking his grandfather on a roller coaster ride will make him happy. Will Zach be able to find the courage to ride the Whipper?
Traditional family celebrations and learning about family legacy are fun and memorable. Equally memorable are the unique ways adults’ model grief and loss. Mary Ann Rodman beautifully portrays what it is like for a child to experience the anxieties of trying new things, the bereavement of a grandparent and how family members work through their losses and personal fears in unique ways.
I found this book helpful in explaining timing and various emotions when a person faces their fears about trying new things and family change. The story and Roger Roth’s beautiful illustrations opened up questions about what other families do in happy, adventurous ways, as well as, the sad, awful, fearful times, and that grief and loss are a normal part of life. Ascending comparisons of family members like who are we most like and what do we have that isn’t like anyone else were prompted throughout the pages. Lastly, the illustrations rekindled past memories of fun filled family visits to different amazement parks.
THE ROLLER COASTER KID is an excellent resource for the home and school library. It is an easy book for parents and teachers to extend an elementary age child’s learning in discussing different ways to celebrate and honor family traditions, face personal fears, work through the loss of a grandparent, and adjust to family constellation change.
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Top reviews from other countries
Jewel Sample, award-winning author of Flying Hugs and Kisses
Memorable Way to Help Kids with Fears and Bereavement
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2013Verified Purchase
SouthernGal
Great Text and Awesome Illustrations!
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2012Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Other than that the book has excellent illustrations and he seemed to enjoy the book despite ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2015Verified Purchase
