About Up to the Stars
Origin
The basis for this story was originally an idea for a song conceived out of a real life experience of the author. Over time, the song evolved into a poem and eventually the poem turned into a children's story. The portrait on the last page of the book is Michael DeNicola the 3rd, grandfather of the author. His impact on his family and of course, this story can be felt everywhere.
Purpose
This children's story was created with the intention of emotionally assisting children while they cope with their first experience of grief. As adults, the natural emotions we all experience during each stage of grief, are all the more complicated, frightening and unfamiliar to children navigating this same process. With the help of this story, the author looks to ease some of the many challenges associated with this process, while helping to guide these thoughts and feelings in a more positive direction. Another core goal of this story is to help guide parents and family members. Parents very often bear the responsibility of logical and emotional support to their children, while they themselves are often emotionally distressed. This book serves to support all family members of a young one who is experiencing loss, so that everyone may walk through this process with more support and stability.