Rating: 
Summary: Lifetimes: Not ONLY about death
Review: After losing my wife (33 years old) two years ago, this was one of the books that was recommended to me .... and I am glad I took the recommendation. This is a GREAT book for explaining the subject of lifetimes to children, especially in the 3-5 year old range. What is great about this book and something I didn't realize at the time was that lifetimes didn't have to only related to death of people. EVERYTHING has a lifetime and it has helped my daughter in many ways. A couple months ago, when my daughter's balloon popped and she was very sad, she said "Dad, I guess my balloon's lifetime is over", and then she went to throw it away. She was sad but understood the concept that all things, living and unliving, have a lifetime. We still use the concepts today on a regular basis, and she still likes to read the book as well. HIGHLY recommended, even for those children that haven't had to deal with true loss or death yet ... at least in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Lifetimes: Not ONLY about death
Review: After losing my wife (33 years old) two years ago, this was one of the books that was recommended to me .... and I am glad I took the recommendation. This is a GREAT book for explaining the subject of lifetimes to children, especially in the 3-5 year old range. What is great about this book and something I didn't realize at the time was that lifetimes didn't have to only related to death of people. EVERYTHING has a lifetime and it has helped my daughter in many ways. A couple months ago, when my daughter's balloon popped and she was very sad, she said "Dad, I guess my balloon's lifetime is over", and then she went to throw it away. She was sad but understood the concept that all things, living and unliving, have a lifetime. We still use the concepts today on a regular basis, and she still likes to read the book as well. HIGHLY recommended, even for those children that haven't had to deal with true loss or death yet ... at least in my opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: Effective book for discussing physical death with a child
Review: As a public school librarian, I would say that "Lifetimes" is an effective picture book for an adult to share with a child (or children) in dealing with the subject of death. However, as a person of faith, I would add that the scope of this book is limited to earthly life and therefore does not touch on the belief in life after death. The text states: "Nothing that is alive goes on living for ever." This statement either reflects the authors' intent on only dealing with the concept of physical death, or it could be interpreted as their belief statement. This is why I'd suggest that "Lifetimes" be read by, or shared with, a caring adult who would be able to answer a child's questions based on a family's belief system.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent for explaining death to children.
Review: Excellent picture book that explains the lifetimes of animals, plants, and people. It talks about the usual lifetime, but also explains that some lifetimes are shorter due to certain curcumstances. Esp. good resource to share in the circumstance of a younger person's death.
Rating:
Summary: An incredible way to explain death to children!!
Review: I am a social worker for a child development program. A father of two of the children was killed in an auto accident. I was recommended this book by a co-worker. After reading her copy, I bought one myself to share with the family. The six-year old really enjoys reading it with his mother. Sometimes it leads to further questions about death and sometimes he can just leave it at that. What a wonderful book to share with children.
Rating:
Summary: Lifetimes: Healing for Children and Adults
Review: I have a fairly extensive collection of books about death and grieving for "my" children, which we have used for the loss of
family, friends and pets. But this is the only book I regularly give copies of to families. The "de-personalized" way it talks about death, the universality of its text combined with soft drawings and repetition are very soothing. This is NOT a book about emotions or stages of death. (If you are looking for one of those Everett Anderson's Goodbye is a positive place to start.) This is a book about the rhythm of life and death for all creatures, for everything that is born. One of the best parts of the book is its emphasis on what a lifetime is, and how it is framed by birth and death, and that inbetween those "markers" is what is important. It explains that different creatures have different life spans, and that this aspect of nature is neither fair nor unfair. It simply is. I do not restrict this book to times when a child is grieving,
I include it in our regular reading rotation, so that the children see death as a normal part of life experiences. Death is so emotionally charged, especially for the grown ups, that having a calm book is especially worthwhile. When a child is actually grieving balancing the more "intense" books with this soothing one, does wonders.
Rating:
Summary: A book about life that helps explain death
Review: I heard about this book and decided to take a look before I needed it. I know that eventually my child will start asking questions about death, and I'd like to know what resources are available. I was particularly drawn to this title because it can be tailored to a variety of religious belief systems. I disagree with a previous poster who stated that this book teaches that there is no afterlife. The way I read it, the book doesn't take a stand either way. Being "alive" on earth is not the same thing as "eternal life" in the religions I am familiar with. No religion I know of denies that earthly bodies are alive and then they die. I like the fact that this book compares all types of organisms from plants to animals to people. The concept of a life span ties it all together. What is "in between" the beginning and ending of a life is living. I appreciate that this book emphasizes the in between, and therefore strikes a positive note. I would caution against using this book as a regular picture book for toddlers and older preschoolers because it may actually introduce the idea of death before a child is able to comprehend the explanation. However, I think it's an excellent choice for a child who is asking about death or who has recently experienced the loss of a pet, friend, or relative.
Rating:
Summary: How can you heal a grieving child's loss?
Review: Lifetimes is a gently beautiful introduction to death and grief for young children. Ingpen and Mellonie show death as a natural part of the process of living for all creatures. They also affirm the reality and importance of death's sadness, thus opening the way to healing. This book is among the most popular choices of staff and grieving families at the hospice where I work. Every child enjoys the book's soothing text and lovely pictures. Even parents whose children have not yet experienced a loss might want to go ahead and get this book to help their children begin to build an understanding of the cycle of life. If your own heart is breaking, reading Lifetimes to a child will bring a little comfort to you, too.
Rating: 
Summary: A "matter-of-fact" book about lifetimes and death.
Review: This book is beautifully illustrated, and it explains the facts of life and death in a very direct and unsentimental way: all creatures have a lifetime, then they die. The book discusses the lifetimes of different living creatures, from insects who only live a few days, to large mammals who live many years. It describes people as living for "sixty or seventy years, sometimes even more." That is a little scary for a child whose grandparents are already way past those ages and still in great health. "Lifetimes" explains the concepts of lifespan and death, but does not offer comfort for those who fear death or are grieving. I recommend the book "Gentle Willow" for those who want a gentler, more comforting story, that is no less true to fact.
Rating:
Summary: Lifetimes, The beautiful way to explain death to children
Review: This book is direct in its approach to addressing life and death. It is very matter of fact. As I read and re-read this book, I had an empty feeling. I felt that the book was simple and was a good resource for adult and children but I would need to couple it with other books that would elicit more feelings. In and of itself, I was left with an understanding of life having a beginning and an end. The life lived was different for every living thing including human beings. As I ended to story, something was missing. It felt more clinical and scientific. It did not address the emotional component or the spiritual components of life and death very well. I feel it will be a good reference and a good addition to our library, but would also offer other books to be read in addition to this one.
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