Each Little Bird that Sings

Not your regular book!

The Snowbergers are a very unusual family, with a very unusual occupation. They own a funeral home. Comfort Snowberger, who tells the story, is a funeral reporter at the age of 10 and writes Life Notices to celebrate the life of dead people. Other kids at school find this weird, but it is something that Comfort likes doing and is proud of. She also collects recepies for her Funeral Food book.

Living in a funeral home made death acceptable part of life. When uncle Edisto and great-great-great aunt Florentine die just six months apart, Comfort doesn't make a big fuss. Not like her cousin Peach.

"Remember that death is a natural thing - it's all around us, as Edisto Snowberger always said. Don't try to hide death from kids. If Grandpa has died ... just say he died. We get it. Kids are better at death than grown-ups give them credit for..."

However, death becomes really hard for Comfort when she loses her best friend. A near death experience also helps Peach grow up and become braver.

"Those we love live in our hearts forever! We always have them - she touched my heart - right here. Always."

Comfort spends a lot of time thinking and writing. She also loves her big family, where there is always someone to offer a word of comfort and a hug, even her annoying cousin.

Here are two recepies for comforting funeral food (for a much nicer and more detailed explanation you'll have to read the book):

Sweet Iced Tea

Two cups of water into a steel pot. Bring to boil. Remove and add 4 tea bags. Steep for 10 min. Get a glass pitcher and fill half full with water. Add one cup of sugar and stir. Pour tea from the pot into the pitcher. Stir again. Pour over glasses that have been filled with ice. Optional: add mint leafs and lemon slices.

Chicken and Potato Chip Cassserole

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Ingredients: leftover chicken, leftover rice, one can of cream soup, spoonful of mayonnaise, chopped up onions and celery, one can of mandarin oranges, salt and paper, grated cheese, crushed potato chips. Directions: in a big bowl put all the ingrediants, except cheese and potato chips, and mix. Spread in a baking pan. On top sprinkle the cheese and potato chips. Bake for 20 min, or until potato chips are lightly browned.

"You never know, Comfort, said Peach. You just never ever know what the next good or bad thing will be. Life just keeps changing, all the time, every minute!"

I would recommend this book only to those who are not faint of heart. It is a bit sad and will leave you feeling downhearted, but also somewhat optimistic for the happy moments life brings.