Recommended books about death and grief for children and adolescents

Books for: Pre-school and early elementary school children | Elementary School Children
Late-elementary and middle-school children | Middle-school children | High school children | Non Fiction

For Pre-school and early elementary school children

Lonnie’s Tree by Anitra Wright Douglas (2018)

An autobiographical story of a young girl who losses her mother to cancer and finds ways to celebrate her life. The book is filled with creative activities children can do to remember their lost parent. The book has a Christian orientation but the activities are for all children.

Rooster’s Balloon: A child’s journey from grief to hope by Courtney P. Allen (2016)

A little girl’s story of grief turns into a story of hope when she begins to trust in the God that loves her. Rooster’s Balloon shows children that hope lives right around the corner from sadness and anger, sometimes we just need God to help us find it.

Goodbye, Mousie by Robie H. Harris (2004)

This story about the death of a pet effectively conveys the permanence of death and illustrates how burial provides closure.

The Happy Funeral by E. Bunting

An exceptionally interesting story about a little girl who participates in the rituals of her grandfather’s funeral.

I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas (2001)

This story gently touches on the theme of the permanence of death and will help a child understand a person who has died will not return.The book’s message is grief gets easier to manage over time.

Jasper’s Day by Marjorie Blain Parker

A beautiful book about a terminally ill dog who has been part of a loving family. As the dog’s pain worsens, the family makes a difficult decision

Last Week My Brother Anthony Died by M.W. Hickman (1984)

A poignant, ultimately upbeat story told through the eyes of a girl whose infant brother died of congenital heart disease. The family minister provides support for the grieving family.

Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen (1983)

This simply written and informative book about life cycles is ideal for parents and children to read and discuss together. It describes lifetimes for different living things as well as lifetimes that are shortened due to unusual circumstances.

The Purple Balloon by Chris Raschka (2007)

This story deals with the deaths of both a young friend and a grandparent and shows how a support system helps the characters handle their feelings of loss.

A Quilt for Elizabeth by B. Tiffault (1992)

After a girl’s father gets sick and dies, the girl and her grandmother decide to make a quilt from her father’s garments. This highly recommended book creatively deals with loss and mourning.

For Elementary School Children

After a Murder: A Workbook for Grieving Kids by The Dougy Center (2002)

Through the stories, thoughts and feelings of other kids who have experienced a murder, this hands-on workbook allows children to see that they are not alone in their feelings and experiences. The workbook includes drawing activities, puzzles and word games to help explain confusing elements specific to a murder, such as the police, media and legal system.

Talking about Death: A Dialogue between Parent and Child by Earl A. Grollman (2011)

Why do people die? How do you explain the loss of a loved one to a child? This book is a compassionate guide for adults and children to read together, featuring a read-along story and answers to questions children ask about death.

Not The End: A Child’s Journey Through Grief by Mari Dombkowski (2015)

In this book, a girl copes with the loss of her father. It is written in simple, plain language. This book is appropriate for children in elementary school experiencing a loss.

Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley (1984)

When Badger dies his friends are sad but begin to share their memories of his gifts, finding strength and hope for the future.

Birds of a Feather by Tom Crice & Ellen Rakatansky (2018)

A young boy’s happy life is interrupted when his grandfather passes away. Suddenly the boy’s life is filled with big questions and difficult emotions. Will things ever be normal again? Then a chance encounter with two birds on a subway train enables him to connect, process his feelings, and recover joy.

The Accident by C. Carrick (1976)

In this story, a little boy’s dog is run over by a truck. The boy reacts with anger at the truck driver, his parents and himself. While limited in scope and time frame (only one day), the book accurately portrays the child’s emotions and shows adults as being helpful to him.

Dusty Was My Friend by by A. F. Claudy (1984)

This is a beautiful, well-told story of an eight-year-old boy whose ten-year-old friend dies in a car accident. This is an excellent book for anyone who has lost a close friend.

Emily’s Sadhappy Season by S. Lowden-Golightly (1993)

This is an excellent story about a little girl’s reaction to the sudden death of her father from a heart attack. The story is realistic and portrays honest and sincere emotional responses to loss. At the end of the book, there are some helpful tips for children grieving the death of a parent. Highly recommended for children ages six to ten.

Grandpa Abe by Marisabina Russo (1996)

The story follows the course of events in a relationship between a grandfather and grandchild. When the grandfather dies, a funeral is held where family members comfort one another.

Mustard by C. Graeber (1982)

This excellent story about the aging and death of a cat is highly recommended for its realism and sensitivity.

For Late-elementary and middle-school children

Always with You by Ruth Vander Zee (2008)

In this book set during the Vietnam War, a little girl survives an explosion that destroys her home and kills her mother. A few pages describe the explosion more thoroughly than may be appropriate for younger elementary school readers. She is rescued by soldiers and then brought to an orphanage. Throughout the book, she has caring adults surrounding her and continues to miss her mother. This book is appropriate for older elementary school students experiencing a loss. A teacher’s guide is also available from the author’s website.

When Someone You Know Has Been Killed by Jay Schleifer (1998 )

Part of the Need To Know Library collection, this book is for children seeking help for themselves or others, offering a valuable first step toward identifying emotional reactions to untimely death and taking action to begin healing. This book discusses death and the fear of death, explains the emotions experienced when someone you know is killed, and gives strategies to cope with them.

Bridge to Terabithia by K. Paterson (1979)

A well-told novel about a boy and girl who become friends and build a tree house together. While the girl is visiting the tree house on her own, she falls in a creek and dies.The boy’s reaction to her death is accurately portrayed but too brief.

Her Mother’s Face by Roddy Doyle (2008)

A little girl whose mother died remembers many things about her mother, except her face. She meets a mysterious woman who tells her a secret that could help bring back forgotten memories.

Lanky Longlegs by K. Lorenzen (1983)

This prize-winning book is about a girl who experiences the death of her brother and the birth of her dog’s puppies. Appropriate for children who experience any kind of loss.Translated from Norwegian.

Sun & Spoon by Kevin Henkes (1997)

This thoughtful, well-written book describes how a ten-year-old boy deals with the death of his grandmother in a constructive way.

You Shouldn’t Have to Say Goodbye by P. Hermes (1982)

A touching story of a young girl’s struggle to deal with her mother’s imminent death.

For Middle-school children

Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins: A Journal for Teenagers Experiencing a Loss by Enid Samuel Traisman (1992)

Teens can write letters, copy down meaningful lyrics, write songs and poems, tell the person who died what they want them to know, finish business and use their creativity to work through the grieving process.

Beat the Turtle Drum by by C. Greene (1976)

A beautiful story about the love and friendship between two sisters. When the younger one dies after falling out of a tree, the older one (thirteen years old) describes her feelings in a very honest and realistic manner. An excellent book for children who have lost a sibling.

Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume (1987)

This excellent book is about a fourteen-year-old girl whose father is shot in a store robbery. The story describes the attempt by her, the mother, and the younger brother to cope with the loss in the course of a year. (Also appropriate for high school students.)

Puggy Brown Ears’ Purr Song by Linda Fausey (2005)

This is a beautifully illustrated book about a cat’s loss of his best cat friend. The message is paradoxical: the loved one is a part of you and you can keep the memory of the loved one inside you, but you also have to let it go in order to move through the grieving process. A good resource for children ages 8 to early adolescence who likes cats.

For High school children

The Grieving Teen : A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends by Helen Fitzgerald (2000)

Although the circumstances surrounding a death are difficult to handle at any age, adolescence brings with it challenges and struggles that until now have been largely overlooked. This book focuses on the special needs of adolescents struggling with loss and gives teens the tools they need to work through their pain and grief.

Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins: A Journal for Teenagers Experiencing a Loss by Enid Samuel Traisman (1992)

Teens can write letters, copy down meaningful lyrics, write songs and poems, tell the person who died what they want them to know, finish business and use their creativity to work through the grieving process.

After Suicide: Living with the Questions by Eileen Kuehn (2001)

This book provides a definition of suicide and describes its effects on survivors and the stages of grieving. It suggests ways teens can cope with suicide and heal.

Just One Tear by K.L. Mahon (1994)

A novel in the form of the diary of a 13-year-old boy who witnesses the shooting death of his father. The book explores the boy’s wide range of emotions.

A Matter of Time by R. Schotter (1979)

A very moving, beautifully written book about a high school girl coping with her mother’s illness and anticipated death.

A Time to Mourn, A Time to Comfort by Rachmiel Tobesman (2008)

This nonfiction guide for children explains Jewish mourning rituals and customs. It also helps children understand their feelings about loss, discusses how to manage their feelings and suggests whom to lean on for support.

What Do I Do: When Teenagers Deal with Death by Steven Gerali (2009)

This book offers a Christian perspective on the death of a teen or other loved one. It describes different causes of death (sudden, due to terminal illness) and provides suggestions on coping with death. Includes bible verses.

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