Award-Winning Bereavement Specialist Releases New Children’s Book to Help Young Hearts Navigate Grief

Introducing Mena the Glorious Butterfly

WINTER SPRINGS, FL — When a child loses someone they love, finding the right words to explain death and grief can be one of the most difficult challenges a family faces. Acclaimed bereavement specialist and author Mary M. McCambridge is helping families meet that challenge with the release of her new children’s book, Mena the Glorious Butterfly: A Very Special Book to Help Grieving Children After a Loved One’s Death.

Published by Heart of Gold LLC, Mena the Glorious Butterfly gently guides children through the grieving process using the comforting presence of Mena, a compassionate butterfly who befriends two grieving children, Victoria and Matthew, after the deaths of their loved ones.

Each year, approximately 68 million people die worldwide, leaving countless children, teens, and young adults struggling to understand and cope with the loss of parents, grandparents, siblings, relatives, friends, classmates, and others they love.

Through age-appropriate storytelling and compassionate guidance, Mena helps children explore difficult emotions, understand what happens when someone dies, answers their questions and learn healthy ways to remember and honor those they love.

“For many children, grief can feel confusing, frightening, and isolating,” says McCambridge. “My goal is to provide comfort, understanding, and reassurance that they are not alone in what they are experiencing.”

Designed for children ages 5–11, the beautifully illustrated 48-page hardcover book addresses important topics including:

• Understanding death and funerals
• Managing sadness, anger, and other emotions
• Changes in family life after a loss
• Coping with school challenges and bullying
• Maintaining connections through memories and remembrance
• Understanding that other children experience grief too

Mena The Glorious Butterfly is ideal for:

Parents • Grandparents • Teachers • School Counselors • Social Workers • Therapists • Hospices

• Funeral Homes • Bereavement Centers • Grieving Children’s Programs • Public Libraries • School Libraries • Faith Communities

Early readers have praised the book’s compassionate approach.

“Reading Mena the Glorious Butterfly made me reflect on how much I would have benefited from a tool like this when I was that young child trying to figure out how to live without the people I loved most,” writes reviewer Brent Lakin of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, who lost both parents at age eight. “This book is a beautiful, necessary resource that provides the explanations and helpful ideas I wish I’d had access to decades ago. I highly recommend this book to parents, teachers, and counselors as an essential guide to help children navigate the weight of loss while keeping the precious spirit of their loved ones alive.”

Grief Professional Review:

Rachel Gotto, Grief Educator, Resilience Coach, and Author of Galway, Ireland shared “Mena the Glorious Butterfly is a beautifully crafted children’s book on bereavement. Thoughtfully written and illustrated, Mena visits children who are hurting, offering comfort, gentle guidance and reassurance that they are not alone. It encompasses everything a child would need to know about the death of a loved one in a kind, clear, and supportive way. The illustrations are stunning, and the tone is warm and compassionate while remaining informative. I have no doubt this book will be a great comfort to many children navigating loss. A truly beautiful resource.”

“I envision Mena as a legacy keepsake book which will grace the personal bookshelf in everyone’s home long before tragedy strikes. When a death occurs, children need support immediately,” said McCambridge.

Mena the Glorious Butterfly is available in hardcover through major booksellers and is globally distributed through Ingram Spark and amazon.com. It is also available for personal orders at www.MaryMac.info/Mena-Cares/.

Book Details

Title: Mena the Glorious Butterfly: A Very Special Book to Help Grieving Children After a Loved One’s Death
Author: Mary M. McCambridge
Publisher: Heart of Gold LLC
Publication Date: June 8, 2026
Format: Hardcover
Trim Size: 8 x 10 inches
Pages: 48
Age Range: 5-12

ISBN: 979-8-9949590-0-8
Retail Price: $25.00

About Mary M. McCambridge

 

Mary M. McCambridge is a nationally recognized bereavement authority, award-winning author, speaker, advocate and host of The Mary Mac Show podcast, with over 260 episodes heard in more than 140 countries. For nearly forty years, she has devoted her life to helping grieving children and families find hope after loss and navigate through life’s most difficult tragedies. She is the author of several books including Understanding Your Grieving Heart After a Loved One’s Death and her Mary Mac Journal Collection on grief and loss. She serves as founder and president of the Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc., is induced into Marquis Who’s Who in America and honored with the Frank O’Hara award, her undergraduate alma mater’s highest award to distinguished alumni. Mary has received the Healing Hands award for her decades helping grieving children and honored by New York State Legislative Resolution for her work with survivors of homicide victims. She holds an BS from the University of Scranton and MBA from Fordham University. Through her books, speaking, advocacy, podcast, and nonprofit leadership, she has become a trusted voice in grief education and bereavement support worldwide.

For more information, visit https://MaryMac.info/Mena-Cares/

Media Contact

Mary M. McCambridge
Heart of Gold LLC
Available for radio, television, podcast and print media appearances
Email: askmarymac@marymac.info
Website: www.MaryMac.info