64 Children’s Books About Death and Grief

www.whatsyourgrief.com

When grief hits a family, children often become the focus - how to talk to them about death, how to recognize if they are grieving "normally", how to create open communication and dialogue, etc. When adults as asked what they need in their grief often their first response is what they need for their children. WYG has a number of articles offering this type of support. They have posts on the impact of age on understanding, on grief journals and workbooks for kids, on the risks of using euphemisms, on art activities for grieving kids, on talking to kids about suicide, and on holiday activities for kids. They also have an article reminding us why it is important to take care of yourself in order to better care for the children in our life. 

Sometimes a story is the best way to open a dialogue regarding grief. Often reading a story can help kids know they are not alone and normalize what they are experiencing. It can offer a safe way to open a dialogue with children about death and grief, in groups, as a family or one-on-one. So here is a list of 64 children's books about grief, primarily for the 10 and under crowd. 

1. Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children (kids 5+)
2. The Invisible String (kids 3+)
3. Everett Anderson's Goodbye (Reading Rainbow) (kids 5-8)
4. The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (kids 6-9)
5. I'll Always Love You (kids 3-7)
6. When Dinosaurs Die:  A Guide to Understanding Death (Dino Life Guides for Families) (kids 4-8)
7. I Miss You: A First Look at Death (First Look at Books) (kids 4+)
8. The Saddest Time (kids 6-9)
9. Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss (kids 8+)
10. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages (kids 4+)
11. Gentle Willow: A Story for Children About Dying (kids 4+)
12. Where Are You? A Child's Book About Loss (kids 4-8)
13. Samantha Jane's Missing Smile: A Story About Coping With the Loss of a Parent (kids 5+)
14. The Scar (kids 5-9)
15. A Terrible Thing Happened (kids 4+)
16. The Elephant in the Room: A Children's Book for Grief and Loss (kids 4+)
17. The Boy Who Didn't Want to Be Sad (kids 4+)
18. I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand...A Child's Guide to Grief and Loss (Little Imp Books) (kids 9+)
19. Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children (kids 4+)
20. When Your Grandparent Dies: A Child's Guide to Good Grief (Elf-Help Books for Kids) (kids 5+)
21. Someone I Loved Died (kids 4-8)
22. What Happened When Grandma Died? (kids 4+)
23. Always and Forever (kids 4+)
24. Badger's Parting Gifts (kids 4-8)
25. Ghost Wings (kids 5+)
26. Finding Grandpa Everywhere: A Young Child Discovers Memories of Grandpa (kids 7+)
27. The Grandpa Tree (kids 3+)
28. Sad Isn't Bad: A Good Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss (Elf-Help Books for Kids) (kids 6+)
29. Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs (Picture Puffins) (kids 4-8)
30. Daddy, Up and Down: Sisters Grieve the Loss of Their Daddy (kids 4-8)
31. Saying Goodbye to Daddy (kids 4+)
32. The Angel with the Golden Glow: A Family's Journey Through Loss and Healing (kids 4+)
33. Where's Jess: For Children Who Have a Brother or Sister Die (kids 3-6)
34. A Taste of Blackberries (kids 8-12)
35. Bridge to Terabithia (kids 8-12)
36. My Grandson Lew (kids 4-6)
37. Aarvy Aardvark Finds Hope: A Read Aloud Story for People of All Ages About Loving and Losing: Friendship and Hope (as the title says, people of all ages!)
38. The Empty Place: A Child's Guide Through Grief (Let's Talk) (kids 5-10)
39. Dancing on the Moon (kids 3+)
40. Lost and Found: Remembering a Sister (kids 6+)
41. Stacy Had a Little Sister (A Concept Book) (kids 4+)
42. Ragtail Remembers: A Story That Helps Children Understand Feelings of Grief (kids 4+)
43. Goodbye Mousie (kids 4-8)
44. Remembering Crystal (kids 3+)
45. Rudi's Pond (kids 5-8)
46. The Memory String (kids 4-8)
47. Sammy in the Sky (kids 4-8)
48. Where Do People Go When They Die? (kids 3-8)
49. Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories (kids 3-8)
50. Her Mother's Face (kids 4-8)
51. Remembering Mama (kids 4+)
52. Old Pig (Picture Puffin) (kids 3-8)
53. Pearl's Marigolds for Grandpa (kids 3-7)
54. Saying Goodbye to Lulu (kids 3-6)
55. The Mountains of Tibet (kids 7+)
56.  Rabbityness (kids 3-7)
57. I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand...A Child's Guide to Grief and Loss (Little Imp Books) (kids 9+)
58. Can You Hear Me Smiling?: A Child Grieves a Sister (kids 8+)
59. The Cooper Tree (kids 5-8)
60. Everybody Feels Sad (kids 4+)
61. Grief is Like a Snowflake (kids 4+)
62. My Babv Big Sister: A Book for Children Born Subsequent to a Pregnancy Loss (kids 4-8)
63. Ladder to the Moon (kids 4-8)
64. Missing Mommy: A Book About Bereavement (kids 3-8)