“Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs,” by Tomie DePaola
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1973, 30 pages, Grades K-3.
The terrible evil of euthanasia is spreading across Canada and the United States. Already a scourge in the Netherlands and other European countries, euthanasia is the deliberate killing of the old, infirm and others viewed as useless. It is incorrectly named “mercy killing” by some people. But how can killing ever be merciful? Quite simply, it is brutal and sinful.
Given this, why is euthanasia spreading? The basic reason is that we do not see the sick and infirm as children of God. They teach us through their illnesses and weakness how to be kind and giving. They teach us the value of human life. A marvelous example of this was Pope John Paul II. In his final years, the pope could barely stand up. Though he had instructed us through his marvelous encyclicals, he poignantly taught us of our need for God’s love and strength as he leaned on his crozier to keep from falling over. Only Christ can keep us standing up.
The famed author/illustrator Tomie DePaola has written a beautiful story of how an infirm great-grandmother and grandmother taught him what was really useful and meaningful in life. In their weakness, they taught him strength. The name of this beautiful story is “Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs.”
As a little boy, Tomie would visit his grandmother and great-grandmother each Sunday. There the family would gather to visit and share a Sunday dinner. His 94-year-old great-grandmother was bedridden upstairs. He would eagerly run up the steps to see his great-grandmother. Since she lived on the second floor of the house, he called her Nana Upstairs. He would eat candies with Nana Upstairs and listen to her stories. She brought joy and happiness to him, and his visit with her became one of the highlights of his life.
In the meantime, Tomie’s grandmother, Nana Downstairs ,would bake cakes for the family. The little boy especially liked watching Nana Downstairs brush the long silvery, white hair of Nana Upstairs. Then Nana Downstairs would make a game with the boy of combing out her long silky, white hair. She would make her hair into the braids and buns that he so enjoyed watching her create. The day would end with him being surrounded by their love.
One day, his mother told Tomie that Nana Upstairs had died. Crushed, the little boy began to weep. But several nights later, he saw a shooting star and ran into his parents’ bedroom. As his mother held him, she gave him a wonderful memory of Nana Upstairs.
What was that memory? Why was it so important? How had these two older ladies given so much to this young boy? How could a bedridden great-grandmother be so valuable in learning about life? To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library and check out this touching story of Tomie DePaola’s childhood.
Governments encouraging euthanasia confuse the evil by clouding it with compassion. The supposed reason is to relieve suffering. But whose suffering is relieved; the dying person or those still living? These governments really use utility and usefulness as the criteria for being allowed to live. But Tomie DePaola shows us the immense usefulness and dignity of the old and infirm. They helped form him in charity and kindness. They taught him about dignity and worth. These are the virtues that our contemporary society so desperately needs to learn. Young Tomie was taught these important values by his infirm Nana Upstairs and his loving Nana Downstairs. I hope you get a chance to share this wonderful book with your family. Enjoy!
