Annie F. Downs on Guiding Children through Grief with Hope and Healing

When her sister's family faced a tragic death three years ago, podcaster and author Annie F. Downs began searching for a children's book to help her young nephew cope. Unable to find one with a gospel focus, Downs did what any author would do. She wrote it herself. 

That book, Where Did TJ Go? (Revell), tells the tragic yet hope-filled story of a young boy, Sam, who rejoices upon learning his mother is pregnant but is overcome with sorrow when his newborn brother, TJ, dies shortly after birth. After Sam's parents comfort him with news that TJ is now in heaven, he begins imagining what TJ is doing: Maybe TJ is riding a bike in heaven, maybe he's riding a giraffe, or maybe he's listening as Jesus reads him a book.  

The book was released in February, nearly three years after Downs' sister, Tatum Green, lost her son, TJ. They are co-authors of the book. 

Read the full story here! 

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Originally published March 14, 2025.