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Books about Death and Grieving for Kids |
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Where Do They Go?
by Julia Alvarez
Children wonder what happens to their loved ones after death.
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The Rabbit Listened
by Cori Doerrfeld
A metaphorical tale of empathy and friendship follows the experiences of a small child who is offered well-intentioned advice from his animal friends in the wake of a loss but only finds comfort with the last animal, a rabbit who just quietly listens. By the creator of Little Bunny Foo Foo.
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The Goodbye Book
by Todd Parr
A pet fish who has lost his companion imparts a gentle, age-appropriate message about saying goodbye while touching on the emotions commonly experienced by children in the face of loss. By the best-selling author of The Earth Book.
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The Purple Balloon
by Christopher Raschka
As captured in the drawings of purple and blue balloons, an inspiring book deals with children who are coping with fatal illnesses and their own mortality through direct and sensitive language.
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Books about the Death of a Pet
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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.
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Sally Goes to Heaven
by Stephen Huneck
A gentle celebration of the natural cycle of a pet's life follows the peaceful passing of beloved dog Sally, who transitions to a happy existence in heaven and helps her family on Earth find a new pet, in a story complemented by a removable magnetic picture frame.
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Blue
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
A companion to the Caldecott Honor-winning Green presents a dual celebration of the myriad shades of blue and the bond between children and their pets, depicting scenes of a boy and puppy snuggling on a cherished blanket, splashing in ocean waves and sharing a wintry walk.
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The Longest Letsgoboy
by Derick Wilder
As a dog and his little girl go on their final walk together, he gets to experience the sights, smells, and wonders of this world one last time before peacefully passing on. But for such a good boy and his forever friend, that doesn't mean it's the end.
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Books about Grandparents and an Uncle
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The Funeral
by Matt James
Norma and her parents are going to her great-uncle Frank's funeral, and Norma is more excited than sad. She is looking forward to playing with her favorite cousin, Ray, but when she arrives at the church, she is confronted with rituals and ideas that have never occurred to her before. While not all questions can be answered, when the day is over Norma is certain of one thing: Uncle Frank would have enjoyed his funeral. This sensitive and life-affirming story will lead young readers to ask their own questions about life, death and how we remember those who have gone before us.
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Holes in the Sky
by Patricia Polacco
A companion to Chicken Sunday finds young Trish mourning the passing of her beloved grandmother and receiving solace from a new friend and his family before joining other community members to help a neighbor in need.
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Dadaji's Paintbrush
by Rashmi Sirdeshpande
Once, in a tiny village in India, there was a young boy who loved to paint. He lived with his grandfather, who taught him to paint with his fingers, to make paints from marigolds and brushes made from jasmine flowers. Sometimes, the village children would watch them painting together, and the boy's grandfather would invite them to join in. They didn't have much, but they had each other. After his grandfather dies, the boy notices a little box wrapped in string with a note that read: 'From Dadaji, with love,' with his grandfather's best paintbrush tucked away inside. But he feels he will never want to paint again. Will the boy overcome his grief and find joy in painting and his dadaji's memory again?
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Forget Me Not
by Nancy Van Laan
An evocative introduction to the experiences of having a close family member with Alzheimer's disease traces the bond between a little girl and her grandmother whose daily activities are impacted by the latter's increasing forgetfulness and their family's need to make caregiver decisions. By the award-winning author of Possum Come-a-Knockin'.
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Sweet, Sweet Memory
by Jacqueline Woodson
Sarah and her grandmother feel sad when Grandpa dies, but as time passes, funny memories of him make them laugh and feel better, in a moving picture book which balances sadness and mourning with the comforting notion of the continuity of all life.
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Books about Teachers or Friends
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I Remember Miss Perry
by Pat Brisson
Worried about attending his first day of school, Stevie is comforted by his teacher, Miss Perry, who shares with him her special wishes and dreams, yet when Miss Perry dies in an accident, Stevie finds a special way to deal with the loss with the help of his new classmates--honoring his teacher and friend in a way she would have truly appreciated.
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Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson
The life of a ten-year-old boy in rural Virginia expands when he becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia, during a storm.
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Books about Immediate Family Members
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Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero
by Kelly J. Baptist
Referring to his late father's journal for advice on how to be the man of the house, young Isaiah taps the support and ideas of two school friends who help him navigate rules and manage without superpowers. By the award-winning author of Young.
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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.
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Keeper of the Night
by Kimberly Willis Holt
As she watches all three of her younger siblings struggling to cope with the sudden loss of their mother, Isabel knows that she must be their protector and foundation in order to get them through the crisis and so works hard to get them back on track, but Isabel is only a child herself and wonders if someone would ever do the same for her. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults.
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Cape
by Kevin Johnson
After losing the person in his life he loves more than anything, a young child holds onto a cape as a source of comfort and strength as he navigates the sadness and joy of his memories. 40,000 first printing. Illustrations.
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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.
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The Labors of Hercules Beal
by Gary D. Schmidt
Given an assignment to duplicate the mythical feats of Hercules in real life, Herc Beal, the smallest kid in his class, figures out how to take his first steps and discovers that, unlike his namesake, he doesn't have to go it alone.
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Sitting Shiva
by Erin Silver
A little girl grieves the loss of her mother. Her friends and family arrive at her house to sit shiva, the Jewish practice of mourning the death of a family member, but she refuses to come downstairs. Eventually, she comes out of hiding and feels solace with others. A beautiful, heartfelt story about grief, loss, comfort and the importance of community.
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