Main description:

Lottie the Chicken deals with the loss of Aunt Mattie in this gently sad and sweetly funny picture book that explores the death of a loved one, in the tradition of Judith Viorst’s The Tenth Good Thing about Barney.

Aunt Mattie has died. But before she went, she got to say good-bye to Lottie. Then she got to follow a light to a bustling gate. (A gate that sounded a lot like a busy airport!) And there she found a crew of friends who were waiting to take off with her on a new journey.

Will Lottie and Herbie be able to overcome their sadness? They will, with time, and by taking a journey of their own—a journey filled with a little heartache, a lot of happiness, and a batch of Aunt Mattie’s favorite peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. (With bananas, of course!)

Review quote:

"For its wistful yet whimsical and deeply comforting description of grief, June's Sentence of the Month goes to Petra Mathers for this line from When Aunt Mattie got her wings: "Maybe our hearts ache because Aunt Mattie is moving in.""

Review quote:

"In her latest installment in the "Lottie" picture book series, featuring the likable chicken and her fine-feathered friends, Mathers explores death with a gentle, yet matter-of-fact, straightforwardness. . . . Mathers does not shy away from the gravity of the situation. . . . Mather's simple watercolors, constrained within boxed frames on most pages, serve to focus the emotional impact of the sad events, without overwhelming readers. . . a refreshingly factual and specific depiction of death and dying. While Lottie and Herbie experience the heartache of losing a loved one, they comfort each other and find strength in remembering Aunt Mattie and continuing her tradition of picnicking on Pudding Rock while eating Mattie's signature sandwich: peanut butter and jelly with bananas. A wonderful addition to collections on death and grief for children."

Review quote:

* "Lottie the hen must say goodbye to her beloved aunt Mattie in this gentle story about loss, grief and friendship. . . . Mathers brings meaning to the clinical and unfamiliar. Here, these moments are precious and valuable. Throughout the tale, Lottie's friend Herbie is a comforting presence. His innocent perspective allows even the very young to grasp complex concepts. . . it's clear his friendship and support make this difficult time bearable for Lottie. . . . Watercolor illustrations, painted in mostly square panels and organized like an old newspaper comic strip, are earnest and appealing. Lucid and insightful, Mathers presents death and grief as natural processes with compassion and great care."

Review quote:

There are many books about death for children, but this one, in both tone and tale, is unique. Lottie the hen

phones her friend Herbie the duck when she learns that 99-year-old Aunt Mattie is very ill. Herbie gets it.

“You mean it’s like her motor is all worn out.” On the bus ride into town, Lottie thinks about the fun the

three of them have had, especially taking the motorboat out to Pudding Rock. Once in the hospital, Lottie

must adjust to what’s going on as she watches her aunt breath heavily and realizes that they are spending

their last moments together. Then, Aunt Mattie is gone. Although Herbie fears the tunnel traffic, he has

braved it to be with Lottie, and he is at her side when she says, “I am so sad.” Herbie reminds her, “We are

together.” Later, at Auntie’s home, Lottie finds a letter from her, that helps a little, and later, Lottie and

Herbie go to Pudding Rock and scatter her ashes. Both funny and wise, this covers the many moments that

make up a death: the memories, the sadness, and the solace. Mather’s small, squared watercolor art are

simple yet touched with whimsy (in one scene, Aunt Mattie gets ready for “take-off” with friends greeting

her at a plane), while the text knowingly captures the feeling of the bereaved: “Maybe our hearts ache

because Aunt Mattie is moving in.”