Talking about death can be difficult for anyone, but this is especially true for those who need to talk to children about death. According to the note at the beginning of The Purple Balloon, when children are asked to draw how they feel once they’ve become aware that they are dying, they tend to draw a purple or blue balloon floating free. Author/illustrator Chris Raschka expands upon this notion, depicting people as translucent watercolor balloons against textured watercolor backgrounds. His words are simple and straightforward and yet poetic in their repetition. In few words, Raschka lays out the truth: “Dying is hard work.” At the same time he mentions the support system available, including family, friends, neighbors… In combination with his poetic words, Raschka’s use of soft hues evokes a calming, peaceful mood. At the end of the story, he also includes a list of what one can do to help a dying friend. A recommended choice for aiding adults in talking about this difficult subject with their children.