Amanda's Books

I am the author of two books:

A children's picture book about bereavement, Isaac and the Red Jumper, recommended by The American Cancer Society.

Reviews

 “One of the big challenges for bereaved children is dealing with the difficult feelings and thoughts they experience after someone special dies. Using books such as Amanda’s can be a great help in working with such children and helping them make sense of what has happened.”

Penny Lockwood, bereavement service manager at Treetops Hospice

"Beautiful illustrations are presented on each page which children will connect to. This story would be a useful addition to the playroom when working with a child who has experienced a bereavement and may help with the healing process. An excellent therapeutic story which is highly recommended."

Debi Maskell-Graham, Editor Play for Life, The Journal of the International and UK Societies of Play and Creative Arts Therapies.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful--and Beautifully Written--Book on a Difficult Subject

A friend gave this book to my 9 year old, whose father died nearly 8 years ago.

My son and I read the book several times, and he said the book made him "feel great and helped him realize that you shouldn't just live in a world of gray and black--a "color-ending" world--forever and ever. Even when you die, you can live on in a colorful world." My son also said "Isaac is kind of like me because Isaac lost his best friend and when you lose a friend or someone in your family it's a dramatic blow."

I liked the book because it approached Isaac's loss without delving into the "why" of Freddie's death; it just dealt with how a child might feel when someone they love, with whom they share special memories, dies. It did not set a timeline at all--there is no mention of hours, months, days or years--but merely demonstrated that eventually, healing does take place.

I am so glad this book came into our lives. Thank you!
Amazon reviewer

Wonderful book for grieving children

A friend gave this book to my 5 year old daughter after her father and uncle died. She loves it and asks me to read it to her over and over again. The book has given her words to put to the feelings that she has struggled to express and this has helped her to open up and talk to me more about her feelings. I would strongly recommend this book for any child struggling with loss.

Amazon revier

A magical book which will no doubt help children explore their thoughts and emotions when someone they love has died.

I think this is a great little book, I imagine it being read in the company of a caring relative, friend or as in my case therapist. I will definately use it as an extra tool in my work as an Art Therapist. I love the the fact that it leaves space to create your own version of what happpens when someone dies and where they might go. A sensitively written story that takes the reader on a journey of colour and emotion, through a bereavement and out the other side..

Amazon reviewer

Inspiring - A great way to start an important conversation

Amanda Seyderhelm’s wonderful little tale of Isaac and his Red Jumper, with its quirky characters so engagingly illustrated by Ann Scott, will reassure children that whatever they feel, they are not alone and that grief is a process which it is possible to emerge from and not a permanent state.

The underlying spiritual message about creativity and healing may also inspire children to find their own forms of artistic expression. This can be so valuable as we try to manage the difficult feelings that threaten to overwhelm us when we have lost someone we love.

For parents and other adults who are supporting bereaved children, Amanda’s story is a gentle and intuitive way to open up a dialogue about grief. The questions at the back of the book are particularly helpful, providing openings and prompts for those conversations that are so important, but often difficult to begin.

Amazon reviewer (Cruse Child Counsellor)

Read Interview with Treetops Hospice here

Listen to the interview with Melvyn at BBC Radio Lincolnshire here

Read why I wrote the book on Belper News news site here

Listen to interview with Ian Skye at BBC Radio Derby here. Scroll to 1.46

A memoir, Coming to my Senses:  finding my voice through ovarian cancer.

Reviews

I loved the flow of the story, going right back to childhood, and how so many people influenced her life, before and during her struggle. Her struggle was not only to overcome the cancer, but also coming to grips with the changes in caused in her body and in her relationships to the people in her life. This is a book well-worth reading for anyone suffering from a life-threatening disease - including life itself.

Birte Edwards, Israel

The pictures in the book are powerfully emotive and I bet viewing the artwork for real would be a real treat. Probably the most amazing part of this book is that, despite her fighting for survival she still 'lived' and was always looking for opportunities to enrich her life as well as using her experience to coach others and even working with art as a therapeutic tool and going on to be a practitioner herself. This book was an enjoyable and easy read which was hard to put down. The prevailing message of this book is that the cruel twists and turns of life can either break you, or enable you to grow, learn and emerge, much like the butterfly breaking out of a chrysalis. If you are looking for a lifeline then this book is it!

Jackie Richardson, UK

My Author Page at Amazon.com is here.