By Laurie Sharp
Maggie loves attending school, where she and her friends get to play, collect nature treasures, and ride trikes together. Best of all, Maggie looks forward to hearing the class guinea pig, Sweetie Pie’s, daily greeting of “Whee, Whee, Whee, Whee, Whee, Whee, Wheat!” But today, Ms. Lamms has sad news for the class: Sweetie Pie has died, and they won’t be able to see her anymore. Alongside their grief and worries, Maggie and her classmates devise a plan to show their love for the best guinea pig ever!
$4.99 – $26.95
Laurie Sharp has been a Pre-K teacher for more than three decades. In both her outdoor teaching and her writing, she finds inspiration in the wondrous cycles of life and nature. Laurie splits her time between her ranchette in Central Texas and her family’s lake house in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. When not writing, she can be found caring for–and being inspired by–her pets, farm animals, and wildlife. You can learn more about Laurie at her website, lmsharpbooks.com
Format: Paperback, Hardcover, E-book, Audiobook
Pages: 32
ISBN Paperback: 978-1-962416-76-4
ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-962416-75-7
ISBN E-book: 978-1-962416-77-1
ISBN Audiobook: 979-88-75188-62-6
Release date: April 29, 2025
“The Day Sweetie Pie Died is a beautifully honest book that holds the young reader’s hand as it navigates with them through the oft-under-discussed topic of death. This delicate subject matter is perfectly embodied through Sweetie Pie, a class guinea pig whose death is mourned by the students in a way that’s relatable without being too overwhelming. We’ve all had a Sweetie Pie in our life, and as Laurie Sharp lovingly reminds us, death is a part of living.”
—Michael Finn, children’s author of I’ll Be with You Wherever You Are
“Death and dying are natural occurrences that prevail around us daily. The ending of any life force can be confusing and frightening to young children. The Day Sweetie Pie Died is a valuable book that provides an age-appropriate tool to gently reduce the fear and mystique of death. This sensitive story is not only great as a stand-alone read but also as a useful discussion starter for families, teachers, counselors, and ministers. The Day Sweetie Pie Died would be an asset to every home, school, or public library.”
—Gene Horton, teacher-counselor; and Barbara Horton, teacher-librarian
“Ms. Laurie has made the uncomfortable topic of death approachable through her new book, The Day Sweetie Pie Died. It not only honors each child’s place in their developmental level but also offers examples of tools parents, teachers, and other adults can use to address this natural life cycle in a healthy way. The wisdom she offers can be utilized in many of the life situations a child might face.”
—Kitten Richter, former early childhood school director
“All too often, children are shielded away or dismissed when a death occurs. Yet they feel real emotions, too, and while those feelings are often difficult for them to grasp, they are well in tune with others and can tell that people are upset, which can be very scary. The Day Sweetie Pie Died helps address these real-time emotions, both the ups and downs. The best part is that the children participate actively in their coping with Sweetie Pie’s death, working together to honor her memory and celebrate her life! What a gift for the children and their teacher, who demonstrate to us that a life lived is a life worth celebrating, and Sweetie Pie was a gift to all the children who knew her.”
—Laurens Fish III, fourth-generation funeral director
Emily Hurst Pritchett grew up in western New York and has loved to draw and paint all her life. She studied illustration at Brigham Young University. She loves to read books for kids and grown-ups, sing, dance, and play video games. She currently lives abroad in Colombia with her husband and two children. You can find more about Emily at her website, emilypritchettart.com
