Hospice read aloud

[moonpie]

My dad is on hospice care and is nearing the end. Tomorrow I will be sitting with him and I’d like to take a book that I could read aloud. He is mostly non-responsive, so this is probably more for me to keep my mind occupied and my emotions together. Something short with a simple plot that I could read with a soothing voice. Nothing about death!

He was mostly absent from my life, so I don’t have any books that we read together when I was a child and I also don’t know what he would enjoy. He grew up on a farm, so possibly James Herriot?

I appreciate any suggestions!

[jennistarr1]

are either of you Dylan fans? or Beatles?

Both of these have children's books, that make the lyrics more poetic somehow as you read them vs sing them

www.amazon.com/Octopuss-Garden-Ringo-Starr/dp/1481403621/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12GX00CQU7N4A&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lfqpIEqKrvCoqIMDwSqJImAp-E2jT6f5aG8lhoRBZkoTiQ-NOVHwfVnxwSp1w5J9dR7iNKUH5x_bbZd18cJnEumPn7hLgq4XhXP_Ym4W-Hmb4sNaEF4mzuDmKbzZZ0j_1nZXKO7SRXC6hLlZAlWAnnpngFv18tjwRACgqj-5ur_1-hVFuI3sJjbP5BEtpedF3sy_JIERNEloCniC9zxQE3vetqkz49WZeGdTsy3WCq4.ZKAIU5R9_FJTtsEE9q7F0_5hAhRhgPIEvVIYAHYDtZs&dib_tag=se&keywords=octopus+garden+book&qid=1732108166&sprefix=octopus+gar%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-1

www.amazon.com/Forever-Young-Bob-Dylan/dp/1416958088/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31XVRZ6Z83GMO&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.eoCShEfge_HQYtE8_3rFnp7iNgkw3GtWX_ybfDQ-dc6kBKbD8lhBzCVauTXmgBOce2FgagMoNE_mJq_XegdWeCTJJC_ChYL0XHM2cNI0-JzuXB7XxF-DNKQHdDt18IF1D2P4vg0AIURu-V6sgIC0b2BSzASBP6DLUi1Muz43E47grHA4tUlH9eV3Ur7eyBjHT0F4FB8WYgJYAHJWTo2vZDNMCEhbBBfkXTOoDqJjCv4.qjg6xoUfbM1T4UNJAiQ2w46ktVs8zYzTThdQp1V3OGc&dib_tag=se&keywords=bob+dylan+kids+book&qid=1732108190&sprefix=bob+dylan+kids+%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1

[nicolewi]

I can’t think of a suggestion, but I just wanted to say I’m so sorry.

I haven’t read James Herriot since high school, but I think that could be a good choice. Although you might want to avoid any sad story lines.

[leahcar]

We read all sorts of stuff to my mom. Articles from gossip magazines about celebs. Sports stuff from the newspaper about her teams. Talked out loud to her about what we were watching on tv. She was religious so I also mixed in some Biblical stuff.

Think of it as a 1-sided conversation- hearing your voice is the important part. You can read anything that brings you joy.

I like the idea of children’s books- easy to read and short.

[janegold]

This is a really nice idea, for everyone involved. I wish I had thought of it when my FIL was on hospice.

I'd just read whatever you enjoy, honestly.

[jinkies]

I'm so sorry.

I have fond memories of James Herriot but I do think a decent number of story lines are sad.
Maybe something like Chicken soup for the Soul?

[karinothing]

Chicken soup for the soul would make me cry!

Honestly, I would probably pick up some YA books. I loved reading my kids Percy Jackson. It is funny and very easy to read aloud. I know that probably seems weird lol.

[Susie]

I agree that YA is a good direction.  The sentences tend to be more comfortable lengths for read-aloud than some more adult stuff that I read.  Feelings on JKR aside, I'm currently reading Harry Potter to my son at bedtime, and that is light and easy.

I read James Herriot decades ago, and I remember death being a natural part of it.  I can't remember it well enough to say if I'd recommend that for this situation.

[hermione]

The Year of Billy Miller is a very sweet chapter book (so kid level) that is simply about a year in a boy's life. I enjoyed it as an adult.

[minzy]

I am so sorry. I was in your shoes last week. I randomly picked out this short Dave Barry book at my dad’s nursing home library book sale. I didn’t read it out loud to my dad, but my sister, stepmother, and I all read it to ourselves while we sat around waiting for days. Quick, light, seasonally appropriate, funny-ish, about growing up in the 60s.

www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-shepherd-the-angel-and-walter-the-christmas-miracle-dog_dave-barry/314101/item/4686232/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=high_vol_midlist_standard_shopping_customer_acquisition&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=666157863328&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADwY45i9gprSm37paaw0GbIBK3bwB&gclid=CjwKCAiArva5BhBiEiwA-oTnXby00umdFyJvMngcfbBRHoTXJWhght6OTzdOWNWCf78cgCoS1E-fGRoCREsQAvD_BwE#idiq=4686232&edition=3528305

If you need to vent about things in the coming days, feel free to PM. It is all very fresh for me.

ETA - there is a dead dog in the story but it didn’t upset any of us.

[lessel]

The Wild Robot immediately comes to mind bc I really loved reading one.

When my great-grandma was in hospice I started reading her Harry Potter. No reason though, it was just what I could think to grab at the time.

[mcppalmbeach]

My first thought when I started reading your post was James Herriot so when I saw you post that, I think it’s meant to be. Sending you peace ❤️

ETA - There are some sad storylines but easy enough to skip. When I was young I used to love to read Readers Digest stories to my mom when we drove. Easy to pick and choose. Idk if it’s easy to find st the supermarket or drugstore anymore. They also have the laughter is the best medicine volumes on amazon:

[moonpie]

Thank you to everyone for the suggestions and good thoughts. He passed away in the night after I had left. Reading throughout the day brought me a lot of peace, and I hope it brought him comfort as well.

[noodleoo]

moonpie, I'm so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and your family.