Paula knows what to do
by Sanne Dufft

When the loss of her mom makes her dad so sad that one day he is unable to get up out of bed, little Paula takes out her paper and paints to create a world of rolling seas, blue skies and a boat strong enough to weather any storm.

Maybe tomorrow?
by Charlotte Agell

A tender exploration of loss and the power of supportive kindness, empathy and friendship depicts a kindhearted, butterfly-covered gator who helps a mourning purple hippo carry around a shrinking metaphorical block of sadness in the aftermath of a painful loss.

My big, dumb, invisible dragon
by Angie Lucas

The day a young boy loses his mother, an invisible dragon swoops in and stays with him, weighing him down day and night until, at last, their relationship changes

One wave at a time : a story about grief and healing
by Holly Thompson

"A boy dealing with the loss of his father describes the many waves of emotion that come with the grieving process: sad waves, mad waves, fear waves, even happy waves. As the boy and his family learn to adjust to life without Dad, the waves still come, but with help from friends, they learn to cope and heal"

Something very sad happened : a toddler's guide to understanding death
by Bonnie Zucker

A story to help two- and three-year-olds understand death and the feelings associated with the loss of a loved one includes information for parents and caregivers on answering questions and helping a child cope with grief

Where do they go?
by Julia Alvarez

Children wonder what happens to their loved ones after death

What happens when a loved one dies? : our first talk about death
by Jillian Roberts

Whether children are experiencing grief and loss for the first time or simply curious, it can be difficult to know how to talk to them about death. Using questions posed in a child's voice and answers that start simply and become more in-depth, this book allows adults to guide the conversation to a natural and reassuring conclusion. Additional questions at the back of the book allow for further discussion. Child psychologist Dr. Jillian Roberts designed the Just Enough series to empower parents/caregivers to start conversations with young ones about difficult or challenging subject matter

Ida, always
by Caron Levis

When his best friend and fellow polar bear, Ida, becomes terminally ill, a sad Gus spends their final days together whispering, sniffling, cuddling and laughing with Ida in their home at the Central Park Zoo.

My yellow balloon
by Tiffany Papageorge

Joey and his bright yellow balloon, which he got at the carnival, do everything together until the balloon slips off his wrist, leaving Joey grief-stricken and without his friend

The heart and the bottle
by Oliver Jeffers

The creator of The Incredible Book Eating Boy presents an uplifting tale that considers how a lonely young heart can decide to hide from or reach out to others who share the gifts of laughter, imagination and magic.

Chester Raccoon and the acorn full of memories
by Audrey Penn

After his mother explains why his classmate is not returning to school, she teaches Chester Raccoon how to make a memory

The invisible leash : A Story Celebrating Love After the Loss of a Pet
by Patrice Karst

Unable to believe his friend’s comforting reassurance that he will always be connected to his beloved late dog, a grief-stricken young Zack accompanies his friend on an enlightening journey through their neighborhood before rediscovering the comforting tug of his pet’s love. 50,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations.

The end of something wonderful : a practical guide to a backyard funeral
by Stephanie V. W Lucianovic

Describes how to prepare a funeral for a beloved pet, from choosing a box and backyard location to saying a few words and marking the spot

Paws + Edward
by Espen Dekko

A compassionate, circular exploration of death follows the experiences of a tired, faithful old dog who dreams about the rabbits he used to chase before passing away, leaving his devoted young boy to dream of the days his beloved dog used to chase rabbits. 15, first printing.

Tim's goodbye
by Steven Salerno

A group of children says goodbye to a beloved pet turtle who has died

A stone for Sascha
by Aaron Becker

A little girl mourns the loss of her dog while walking along the beach during a first family vacation without him, discovering polished stones near the shoreline as well as profound and comforting truths, in a poignant, wordless picture book by the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of Journey.

Remembering Blue Fish
by Becky Friedman

Daniel learns how to handle the feelings he has after his pet fish, Blue Fish, dies

Goodbye to Goldie
by Fran Manushkin

Katie Woo learns different ways to cope with the death of her dog

Saying goodbye to Lulu
by Corinne Demas

Having always had her dog Lulu to accompany her in all the games she loves to play, a young girl finds it difficult to come to terms with the reality that Lulu is dying and has to find a way to say "good-bye" while moving on with her own life without her dear friend by her side.

Where Lily isn't
by Julie Paschkis

After her dog Lily dies, a young girl describes all the ways her beloved pet won't be around

Where Are You Now?
by Tyler Clark Burke

Using a simple but powerful metaphor of disappearance and reappearance, an evocative entry point for talking with children about death draws on examples from nature, from growing seeds and twinkling stars to the rising moon and melting snowflakes. Illustrations.

The phone booth in Mr. Hirota's garden
by Heather Smith

"This gorgeously illustrated picture book tells the story of a young Japanese boy who loses his dad in a tsunami."

Cry, heart, but never break
by Glenn Ringtved

Aware that their grandmother is gravely ill, four siblings make a pact to keep death from taking her away, but Death comes, nevertheless, gently and naturally, in a book that helps children realize the value of loss to life and the importance of being able to say goodbye.

Missing mommy : A Book About Bereavement
by Rebecca Cobb

Honest and straightforward, this touching story explores the many emotions a bereaved child may experience as a result of the loss of a parent or loved one, from anger and guilt to sadness and bewilderment.

Saying good-bye to Uncle Joe : what to expect when someone you love dies
by Nancy Loewen

"When someone you love dies, you might feel sad, lonely, and confused. What do you do? No matter who your loved one was, this story can help you through the tough times."--from cover, p. [4]

Someone I love died
by Christine Harder Tangvald

Discusses death from a Christian perspective, explaining God's plan for everlasting life

After life : ways we think about death
by Merrie-Ellen Wilcox

"Why do we die? Why can't we live forever? What happens to us after death? Moving between science and culture, After Life: Ways We Think About Death takes a straightforward look at these and other questions long taboo in our society. By showing the fascinating, diverse ways in which we understand death, both today and throughout our history, the book also shines a light on what it is to be human. Each chapter includes a brief telling of a death legend, myth or history from a different culture or tradition, from Adam and Eve to Wolf and Coyote, and ends with a section on a common theme in our thinking about death, such as rivers and birds in the afterlife, the colors that different cultures use to symbolize death, and, of course, ghosts. The final chapteris about grief, which is both a universal human experience and unique to each person. The text offers suggestions for ways to think about our grief, when to ask for help and how to talk to friends who are grieving."

Death is stupid
by Anastasia Higginbotham

""She's in a better place now," adults say again and again. Butmortality doesn't seem better, it seems stupid. This forthright exploration of grief and mourning recognizes the anger, confusion, and fear that we feel about death.Necessary, beautiful, and ultimately reassuring,Death Is Stupid is an invaluable tool for discussing death, but also the possibilities for celebrating life and love. The Ordinary Terrible Things Series shows children who navigate trouble with their senses on alert and their souls intact. In these stories of common childhood crises, help may come from family, counselors, teachers, or dreams-but crucially, it's the children themselves who find their way to cope and grow"

The remarkable journey of Coyote Sunrise
by Dan Gemeinhart

Living on the road in an old school bus with her dad after losing her mother and sisters, 12-year-old Coyote devises an elaborate plan to convince her father to make a first trip home to Washington state in five years, a journey marked by an eclectic group of passengers they meet along the way. Simultaneous eBook.

The thing about jellyfish
by Ali Benjamin

Twelve-year-old Suzy Swanson wades through her intense grief over the loss of her best friend by investigating the rare jellyfish she is convinced was responsible for her friend's death

Counting by 7s
by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Twelve-year-old genius and outsider Willow Chance must figure out how to connect with other people and find a surrogate family for herself after her parents are killed in a car accident

Right as Rain
by Lindsey Stoddard

Blaming herself for her brother's death a year earlier, Rain moves with her troubled family from Vermont to New York City, where she feels like an outsider and struggles against the weight of secret survivor's guilt. By the author of Just Like Jackie. 40,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook

The truth as told by Mason Buttle
by Leslie Connor

An oversized youth with challenging learning disabilities is wrongly suspected of having a hand in his best friend's death, a situation that compels him to create an underground haven for himself and a bullied new friend. By the award-winning author of Waiting for Normal. 50,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.

Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson

Jess Aarons gains the strength to cope with unexpected tragedy by going to a secret kingdom in the woods invented by Leslie Burke, a newcomer to his rural Virginia community

Clayton Byrd goes underground
by Rita Williams-Garcia

Feeling most alive when he plays music with his grandfather, aspiring bluesman Clayton Byrd is devastated when his grandfather passes away and his mother forbids him from playing the blues, losses that compel him to run away in the hope of joining other bluesmen on the road. By the Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of One Crazy Summer. Simultaneous eBook. 50,000 first printing.

The stars beneath our feet
by David Barclay Moore

Unable to celebrate the holidays in the wake of his older brother's death in a gang-related shooting, 12-year-old Lolly Rachpaul struggles to avoid being forced into a gang himself while constructing a fantastically creative LEGO city at the Harlem community center. Simultaneous eBook.

Mockingbird (Mok'ing-bûrd)
by Kathryn Erskine

Possessing an absolute view of the world that categorizes everything as good or bad, Caitlin, an 11-year-old with Asperger's syndrome, relies on her older brother to explain in-between things until his death forces her to cope with confusing feelings and develop greater self-reliance. 20,000 first printing.

Mascot
by Antony John

A witty, heartfelt story about perseverance in the face of adversity finds Noah Savino still in a wheelchair months after the car accident that paralyzed him and killed his father, struggling to come to terms with the changes in his life and the fears that are keeping him from moving forward. Simultaneous eBook.

Pie in the Sky
by Remy Lai

Feeling as out of place as if he landed on Mars when his family moves to an English-speaking country, 11-year-old Jingwen dreams about the cakes he would have baked with his late father, a hope that is challenged by his mother's strict kitchen safety rules. Simultaneous and eBook.

Raising Lumie
by Joan Bauer

Desperately wanting a dog in spite of her newly orphaned status, Olive moves in with a busy half sister she barely knows before receiving a chance to raise a guide dog puppy who she struggles to prepare to be loved by someone else. By the Newbery Honor-winning author of Hope Was Here. Simultaneous eBook.

King and the dragonflies
by Kacen Callender

A 12-year-old boy spends days in the mystical Louisiana bayou to come to terms with a sibling’s sudden death, his grief-stricken family and the disappearance of his former best friend amid whispers about the latter’s sexual orientation. By the award-winning author of Hurricane Child. Illustrations.

A home for goddesses and dogs
by Leslie Connor

Moving in with her welcoming last family members after losing both parents, 13-year-old Lydia struggles to bond with a disruptive rescue dog while dealing with increasingly painful secrets. 75,000 first printing. Simultaneous eBook.

The line tender
by Kate Allen

When a Great White shark appears in the water near in her sleepy Rockport community, triggering a devastating tragedy, a 12-year-old girl must pick up the work of her late marine-biologist mother to lift the cloud of grief hanging over her community. A first novel. Simultaneous eBook.

Planet earth is blue
by Nicole Panteleakos

Autistic and nearly nonverbal, twelve-year-old Nova is happy in her new foster home and school, but eagerly anticipates the 1986 Challenger launch, for which her sister, Bridget, promised to return

A parent's guide to raising grieving children : rebuilding your family after the death of a loved one
by Phyllis R. Silverman

Offers guidance to parents on how to help their children understand and grieve following the loss of a loved one

Guiding your child through grief
by Mary Ann Emswiler

The founders of The Cove, a program for grieving children and their families, offer advice to help children and teenagers cope with the death of a parent or sibling and effective ways to ease family members through a time of difficult transition

35 ways to help a grieving child
by Dougy Center for Grieving Children

Offers advice for dealing with children who have suffered the loss of a loved one, discussing how to include children in decision-making, what to expect from different age groups, and how to provide safe emotional outlets for children

Lifetimes : a beautiful way to explain death to children
by Bryan Mellonie

Explains that different plants and animals have different lifespans and grow up at different rates