Highlighting: “People We Miss,” by Kimmie Warmflash. Self published. 2024. 25 pages. ISBN-13: 979-8990345904.

When Kimmie Warmflash’s father suddenly passed away a little over two years ago, she found herself searching for ways to keep his memory alive, not just for herself but also for her children who had lost a beloved grandfather. Warmflash’s father, Bennet Kfare, lived just a few blocks away from her in Stamford and had been a very familiar presence in her children’s lives.

“I found myself struggling with this immense grief while also worrying about my kids and hoping so deeply that they would be able to retain the memories they had with their grandpa,” Warmflash shared. “There was also the more difficult thought of how I would build memories of him for my kids who were too young to have formed any yet.”

Her three daughters were 6 years old, 3 years old and 2 months old at the time her father passed away, and Warmflash began writing a rhyming story about her father as a personal project. It included pictures of all of his 12 grandchildren with their grandfather, and she gave a copy to each of her three siblings. Warmflash’s youngest daughter, now 2 years old, will often choose this book off the shelf to look at what she lovingly refers to as “The Grandpa Book.”

The project then evolved from a personal one to something more significant as Warmflash realized that many other families were experiencing similar struggles with grief.

“It became clear to me that there was a need for a resource that could help parents and children talk about loss in a more approachable and comforting way,” Warmflash continued. “Just as I wanted to create this pathway to keep the conversation open with my kids about their grandfather, I wanted others to have that as well, so I started writing a children’s book geared toward a wider audience.”

The result is “People We Miss,” a vibrant, fun, rhyming book designed to help families hold on to memories of their loved ones. Unlike traditional books on grief, this one takes a lighthearted approach, using colorful illustrations and playful rhymes to create a supportive space for discussing loss. Warmflash, who designed the book herself, poured her creativity and heart into every page.

“I wanted to create something that would make talking about loss a little easier and a lot more uplifting,” the author said. “By sharing memories in a fun and engaging way, we can help children — and ourselves — feel more connected to those we’ve lost.”

The book’s central message is the importance of finding a way that works to hold the memory of a loved one, with no wrong answers.

“The ideas in the book are all-encompassing of a wide range of different types of loss,” Warmflash said. “It encourages parents to integrate memories of their loved ones into regular conversations with their children because those memories bring joy and should be comfortably shared.”

Warmflash noted that it is also extremely important to her and her husband, David, that their children know about and remember their Uncle Natan, who passed away before they were born.

She hopes that through reading this story and talking about loss in an age-appropriate way, children’s feelings are validated and a safe space is created for them to express themselves.

“Being able to share stories and memories of these people who were such a significant part of our lives makes them a part of our kids’ lives too, and brings us a lot of comfort,” she continued.

“People We Miss” marks Warmflash’s debut as an author, and while she remains open to writing more books in the future, her first book will always hold a special place in her heart.

“It’s been a creative outlet for me, and while the subject may seem rather grim, the message is an uplifting one, and it was really fun to create. I hope it will continue to have a positive impact on many families out there.”

“People We Miss” is available in paperback, ebook and hardcover, accessible through Kimmie’s Linktree, http://linktr.ee/createdbykimmie, where readers will find it available on Amazon and other online global retailers. To keep up with Warmflash and her work, follow her on Instagram @createdbykimmie.

Adam Samuel is a journalist from Teaneck. He blogs at adamssoapbox.com.