The Grieving Child: Picture Books, Easy and Older Fiction

Boase, Susan

Lucky Boy (wife)

A neglected dog finds a real home with a grieving widower who needs a friend.

Bunting, Eve

I Have an Olive Tree (grandfather)

After her grandfather's death, eight-year-old Sophia fulfills his last request and journeys to Greece with her mother to see the land where her roots are.

Carlstrom, Nancy

Blow Me a Kiss, Miss Lilly (friend)

A young girl learns that the memory of a loved one never dies when her best friend, an older lady, passes away.

Carson, Jo

You Hold Me and I'll Hold You (aunt)

When a great-aunt dies, a young child finds comfort in being held and in holding, too.

Caseley, Judith

When Grandpa Came to Stay (grandfather)

When Grandpa comes to his house, Benny enjoys his company and helps him cope with Grandma's death.

Clifton, Lucille

Everett Anderson's Goodbye (father)

Depicts a boy going through the five stages of grief after his father dies.

Cohen, Miriam

Jim's Dog Muffins (pet)

When Jim's dog is killed, the other first graders help him deal with his reaction.

Cooke, Trish

The Grandad Tree (grandfather)

The changing nature of their apple tree, as it grows and goes through the seasons, reminds Leigh and Vin of their grandfather, who is gone but lives on in their memories.

Dabcovich, Lydia

Mrs. Huggins and Her Hen Hannah (pet)

Although Mrs. Huggins' beloved hen dies, her sadness is replaced by joy in an unexpected way.

DePaola, Tomie

Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs (grandmother)

Tommy enjoys his relationship with his grandmother and his great-grandmother, but eventually learns to face their inevitable death.

Engel, Diana

Eleanor, Arthur and Claire (grandfather)

A young mouse loves spending her summers with her grandparents, and although she finds things changed after her grandfather's death, she and her grandmother find the strength to go on without him.

Ewart, Claire

The Giant (mother)

As the seasons pass on the family farm after her mother's death, a young girl searches for the giant that her mother said would look after her.

Fraustino, Lisa Rowe

The Hickory Chair (grandmother)

A blind boy tells of his warm relationship with his grandmother and the gift she left him after her death.

Gould, Deborah

Grandpa's Slide Show (grandfather)

Whenever they visit Grandpa, Sam and Douglas watch a slide show. After Grandpa dies, they watch the slides to remember him.

Hesse, Karen

Poppy's Chair (grandfather)

On her first visit to her grandmother's house since her grandfather's death, Leah is saddened by his absence, but Gramm helps her learn how to remember Poppy with joy.

Hines, Anna Grossnickle

Remember the Butterflies (grandfather)

When Grandpa dies, Holly and Glen remember the special times they had together gardening, reading and learning about butterflies.

Hopkinson, Deborah

Bluebird Summer (grandmother)

Gramp's farm is not the same after Grandma's death, but slowly Mags and Cody work to recreate her spirit by bringing back some of the things she loved.

Joosse, Barbara M.

Better With Two (pet)

Laura helps Mrs. Brady feel better after her dog Max dies.

Joosse, Barbara M.

Ghost Wings (grandmother)

While celebrating the Days of the Dead, a young Mexican girl remembers her wonderful grandmother who sang songs, made tortillas, chased monsters away, and loved butterflies.

Keller, Holly

Goodbye, Max (pet)

Ben's dog dies, and he doesn't want a new puppy until his friend helps by sharing his grief.

Leavy, Una

Good-bye Papa (grandfather)

Two young boys have good times with their grandfather and mourn his loss.

LeTord, Bijou

My Grandma Leonie (grandmother)

A child describes all the things she did with her grandmother and how she felt when her grandma died.

Nobisso, Josephine

Grandpa Loved (grandfather)

A young boy describes all the things his grandpa loved and also taught him to love.

Russo, Marisabina

Grandpa Abe (grandfather)

Grandpa Abe becomes Sarah's grandfather by marriage and enriches her life before leaving it.

Smith, Maggie

Desser the Best Ever Cat (pet)

A child describes how Desser the cat had always been part of the family and how much he was loved even after he died.

Varley, Susan

Badger's Parting Gifts (friend)

Badger's friends are sad when he dies, but they treasure their memories of him.

Wahl, Mats

Grandfather's Laika (pet)

A grandpa and his grandson share their worries and overcome their grief together when grandpa's dog becomes sick and is put to sleep.

Wilhelm, Hans

I'll Always Love You (pet)

A boy's sadness at his dog's death is made easier by his remembrance of saying every night, “I'll always love you.”

Woodson, Jacqueline

Sweet, Sweet Memory (grandfather)

A child and her grandmother feel sad when Grandpa dies, but as the time passes, memories of him make them laugh and she feels better.

Zolotow, Charlotte

The Old Dog (pet)

When a young boy finds his old dog dead, he spends the day thinking about all the good times they had together and welcomes a new dog into his life.

Aliki

The Two of Them (grandfather)

Describes the relationship of a grandfather and his granddaughter from her birth to his death.

Viorst, Judith

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (pet)

To help cope with his cat's death, a boy makes a list of the best things he remembers about his pet.

Adoff, Arnold

The Return of Rex and Ethel (pet)

Two girls share many wonderful times with their beloved dogs, Rex and Ethel, and find a special way to remember them when they die.

Bunting, Eve

Rudi's Pond (friend)

When a sick boy dies, his friends and classmates remember him by building a schoolyard pond in his memory.

Burrowes, Adjoa J.

Grandma's Purple Flowers (grandmother)

After a girl's grandmother dies, she misses her. With the arrival of spring, she discovers her own way to remember her grandmother.

Clardy, Andrea

Dusty Was My Friend (friend)

A young boy remembers his friend who was killed in a car accident, and tries to understand his own feelings about losing his friend.

Cohn, Janice

I Had a Friend Named Peter (friend)

When a young girl learns of the death of her friend, her parents and teacher answer questions about dying, funerals and burials.

Coville, Bruce

My Grandfather's House (grandfather)

When a child attends his grandfather's funeral and feels the fingers of his dead grandfather, he finally understands that Grandpa no longer lives in the house that was his body.

Demas, Corinne

Saying Goodbye to Lulu (dog)

When her dog Lulu dies, a girl grieves but then continues with her life.

Doray, Malika

One More Wednesday (grandmother)

When an animal's grandmother dies, he remembers good times with her and asks his mother about death.

Durant, Alan

Always and Forever (friend, loved one)

A family of forest animals learns to cope with the death of a loved one.

Fritts, Mary Bahr

If Nathan Were Here (friend)

A young boy grieves the loss of his best friend and thinks about how it would be if he were still alive.

Harris, Robie H.

Goodbye Mousie (pet)

A boy grieves for his dead pet mousie, helps bury him, and begins to come to terms with his loss.

Haynes

Grandma's Gone to Live in the Stars (grandmother)

In the moments after Grandmother has passed away her spirit is at peace as she says goodbye to her sleeping family and home.

Holmes, Margaret M.

Sam's Dad Died (father)

After Sam's father dies, Sam tells how he feels and what he can do so he doesn't hurt so much.

Jordan, MaryKate

Losing Uncle Tim (uncle)

When his beloved uncle dies of AIDS, a boy struggles to find understanding.

Lanton, Sandy

Daddy's Chair (father)

When a boy's father dies, his family observes the Jewish week of mourning and remembers the good things about him.

Limb, Sue

Come Back, Grandma (grandmother)

Bessie misses her grandmother when she dies, but when Bessie grows up, she has a little girl who looks and acts just like Grandma.

McNamara, Jill Westberg

My Mom Is Dying: a Child's Diary (mother)

When Kristine learns her mother is dying, she begins writing to God to help her understand her feelings and fears.

Mellonie, Bryan

Lifetimes: a Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children

Mills, Joyce

Gentle Willow: a Story for Children About Dying (tree)

Amanda, the squirrel, is upset that she is going to lose her friend Gentle Willow, but the Tree Wizards help her understand that her memories are gifts from her friend and that there are special ways of saying goodbye.

Napoli, Donna Jo

Flamingo Dream (father)

Grieving over her father's death from cancer, a young girl celebrates their last year together by making a book that includes mementos and a story.

Newman, Leslea

The Best Cat in the World (cat)

A young boy deals with the loss of his beloved cat Charlie, eventually accepting the arrival of another, very different cat.

Old, Wendie

Stacy Had a Little Sister (sister)

Stacy had mixed feelings about her new sister, but when the baby dies of sudden infant syndrome, Stacy is sad and misses her.

Prestine, Joan Singleton

Someone Special Died

A little girl begins to accept the death of someone special by making a scrapbook and remembering all the good times she had with the person.

Puttock, Simon

A Story For Hippo (friend)

Hippo and Monkey are best friends and when the wise old Hippo dies, Monkey is very sad until Chameleon helps him remember the stories he and Hippo shared.

Rosen, Michael

Michael Rosen's Sad Book (son)

A man tells about all the emotions that accompany his sadness over the death of his son, and how he tries to cope.

Rothman, Juliet

A Birthday Present for Daniel (brother)

A young girl describes how she feels and tells about some of the things her family does to help them accept her brother's death, including a special birthday celebration.

Sanford, Doris

It Must Hurt A Lot: a book About Death, Learning and Growing (pet)

Describes a boy's reactions of anger, grief, and eventual acceptance when his dog dies. Includes suggestions to parents for helping a child deal with loss.

Schick, Eleanor

Mama (mother)

A child remembers special moments with Mama and starts to feel better after grieving over her death.

Schlitt, Ra Ra Sartwell

Robert Nathaniel's Tree (newborn)

Deals with how young children experience the death of a new baby.

Schneider, Antonie

Good-bye, Vivi! (grandmother, pet)

When Granny's beloved canary Vivi dies, the family comes to accept it, as well as the idea that some day they will lose Granny. When Granny finally dies, the family keeps Granny and Vivi in their memories through a book of stories Granny has written for the children.

Spelman, Cornelia

After Charlotte's Mom Died (mother)

Because her mom's death causes her to feel sad, mad, and scared, she and her dad visit a therapist who helps them acknowledge and express their feelings.

Turner, Barbara J.

A Little Bit of Rob (son, brother)

After Rob's death, his parents and sister finally take their boat out again in an effort to get their lives back to normal.

Vigna, Judith

Saying Good-bye to Daddy (father)

After her father is killed in a car accident, a girl is helped through the grieving process by her mother and grandfather.

Wallace-Brodeur, Ruth

Goodbye, Mitch (pet)

A young boy describes how he felt while the family cat was dying.

Weigelt, Udo

Bear's Last Journey (friend)

All the animals in the forest must deal with the death of their old friend, the bear, when he goes to sleep and never wakes up.

Wild, Margaret

Old Pig (grandmother)

Because Old Pig knows that her time to die is near, she puts her affairs in order and takes a slow walk with Granddaughter to savor the beauty for one last time.

Older Fiction:

Caseley, Judith

Dorothy's Darkest Days (classmate)

Dorothy's boisterous life with her parents, two brothers, and sister is suddenly changed when something tragic happens to a classmate of hers, but she finds that things eventually do return to normal.

Deans, Sis Boulos

Every Day and All the Time (brother)

Eleven-year-old Emily, still reeling from the car accident that took her older brother's life and badly injured her, uses psychotherapy and ballet dancing to cope with her parents' decision to sell their house the only place she can still feel and talk to her brother.

Dreyer, Ann

After Elaine (sister)

Gina relives events that preceded her angry, hostile, older sister Elaine's senseless death, as her family struggles with their grief and Gina faces the added pressures of starting middle school.

Friend, Natasha

Perfect (father)

Following the death of her father, a thirteen-year-old uses bulimia as a way to avoid her mother's and ten-year-old sister's grief, as well as her own.

Greene, Constance

Beat the Turtle Drum (sister)

A young girl learns to cope with her feelings about her sister's accidental death.

Hermes, Patricia

Nobody's Fault? (brother)

Emily likes to play baseball and tease her brother, but her happy life is interrupted when her brother has a fatal accident.

Katz, Susan

Snowdrops for Cousin Ruth (brother)

Nine-year-old Johanna and eighty-two-year old Cousin Ruth try to help their family heal after the accidental death of Johanna's younger brother.

McGhee, Alison

Snap: a Novel (grandmother)

Eleven-year-old Edwina confronts old and new challenges when her longtime best friend Sally faces the inevitable death of her grandmother who raised her.

Maynard, Bill

Rock River (brother)

Twelve-year-old Luke's summertime adventures along the river are haunted by the memory of his older brother Robert, who died being a daredevil in the same place a year and a half earlier.

Park, Barbara

Mick Harte Was Here (brother)

Thirteen-year-old Phoebe recalls her younger brother Mick and his death in a bicycle accident.

Paterson, Katherine

Bridge to Terabithia (friend)

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.

Smith, Doris Buchanan

A Taste of Blackberries (friend)

A young boy recounts his efforts to adjust to the accidental death of his best friend.

Stevens, Diane

Liza's Star Wish (sister)

While unwillingly spending the summer at her grandmother's house in Texas, fourteen-year-old Liza gains insights into relationships with family and friends, old and new, and into the effects of her younger sister's death on everyone.

Stolpe, Hans

The Golden Bird

Engaged in a losing battle with cancer, ten-year-old Daniel is comforted by many people but finds his greatest solace in the visits of a phoenix-like golden bird and its vision of rebirth and renewal.

Thesman, Jean

Calling the Swan (sister)

When Skylar goes to summer school and tentatively begins to make some friends, she finally starts to get over the loss of her older sister and its terrible effects on the whole family.

Wallace, Bill

No Dogs Allowed! (horse)

Twelve-year-old Kristina, still struggling to come to terms with the death of her beloved horse, finds it difficult to accept the new dog she receives for her birthday.

Wallace-Brodeur, Ruth

Blue Eyes Better (brother)

Written with quiet intensity, this beautiful and spare novel examines what happens to Tessa's family after her 15-year-old brother is killed in a drunk driving accident.

Warner, Sally

This Isn't About the Money (parents)

Twelve-year-old Janey tries to adjust in the aftermath of an automobile accident that kills her parents, severely injures her face, and forces her and her younger sister to move from Arizona to California to live with their grandfather and great-aunt.