Warren Tomlin as Sammy and Cadence McDermott as Emma.

Biddeford author Barbara Walsh never imagined her children’s book, “Sammy in the Sky,” would be performed on stage.

The book was written in 2011 for Walsh’s daughters, Emma and Nora Conrad, when they lost their childhood dog, Sammy.

“It’s a really honest look at death through the eyes of two young girls,” Walsh told the Post/Courier.

Illustrated by famed artist Jamie Wyeth, “Sammy in the Sky” is narrated by Walsh’s daughters as they process the loss of their beloved dog. Though they were devastated by the loss of Sammy, they learned to cherish and celebrate the memories they had made with him.

It may not seem like a great concept for a children’s’ book, but Walsh said that death is a difficult concept for children to understand.

As a journalist, she wanted to write the book to explore all of the children’s thoughts, grief, and questions as they learn to deal with loss.

Since its publication, it has been used to help other children understand grief and loss.

“The book has helped a lot of kids,” Walsh said. “It’s in schools in Maine and across the country.”

Author Barbara Walsh and her current dog, Paco.

Now, “Sammy in the Sky” is hitting the stage at Monmouth Academy.

“I’m thrilled, but I never expected it,” Walsh said.

Directed by Dennis Price, the play infuses a bit more humor than the original book to balance the story onstage and to keep from overwhelming the audience with grief.

“We are using the idea of clowning and clowns to tell this story,” Price said. “Clowns can deliver really sad news and important lessons under the guise of laughter. So, our clowns tell this story in order to make the drama more bearable for the audience.”

The script was developed by Price, who chose to use the story as a way to honor a former student, Sage Paquette-Cohen, who tragically took her own life last year.

The theme of the book, Price said, is honoring those who have passed and honoring them every day.

“That’s how Emma and Nora looked at Sammy, and that’s how I look at Sage,” Price said.

The play includes a cast of eight students and lasts a total of 40 minutes. In addition to being performed in Monmouth, “Sammy in the Sky” will also be performed at the One Act Drama Festival in Yarmouth on Saturday, March 8.

“When you write a book, you don’t know the ripple effect it will have,” Walsh said. “It’s really gratifying to see it performed.”