Books about grief, loss, and hope for children and adolescents
Loss of Grandparents
Losing a grandparent is often our first glimpse of grief, so it can hit hard.
Annie and the Old One
by Miska Miles
Annie's grandmother has told her Navaho family that she is preparing to die. She will live until the latest rug is finished and asks her loved ones what gift they wish to keep. Annie chooses her grandmother's weaving stick but she panics at the thought of her grandmother's death. Although she works on the rug, every night she unravels all the work which has been done that day. At last, her grandmother explains that death is part of a natural cycle, an integral part of creation. Annie understands and begins to weave the rug again.
The Key Into Winter
by Janet S. Anderson
This is a magical story about a household in which there are four keys which open the seasons. A young girl hides the key into winter to prevent her grandmother's approaching death. It is an allegory for the natural cycles of life and coming to terms with grief and loss and learning to hope.
Finding Grandpa Everywhere: A Young Child Discovers Memories of a Grandparent
by Marta Felber
A young child discovers memories of a grandparent. This book is beautifully illustrated with a storyline that addresses issues that children have after a grandparent dies. It includes a section for teachers and parents.
Grandad’s Island
by Benji Davies
A beautifully illustrated book that uses metaphor to explain the concept of death, as a young boy's grandfather embarks on a final journey.
Gran-Gran’s Best Trick: A Story for Children Who Have Lost Someone They Love
by MAD. Holden and L. Dwight
A child recounts her special relationships with her grandfather and the difficulty of coping with his death from cancer.
When a Grandparent Dies: A Kid's Own Workbook for Remembering Shiva and the Year Beyond
by Nechama Liss-levinson, PhD
The rituals surrounding death are clearly explained.
Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs
by Tomie dePaola
An autobiographical story that gently introduces children to the concept of death through the eyes of a young boy and his relationship with his grandmother and great-grandmother.
The Cemetery Quilt
by Kent and Alice Ross
A very wise story of a girl who goes to her grandfather's funeral and talks to her grandmother about death and how she feels about it.
Loss of a parent
The loss of a parent when one is still a child or adolescent could be considered an out-of-order grief, as we expect that our parents will get to see us grown with children of our own.
Daddy's Climbing Tree
by C.S. Adler
Jessica, 11, takes her little brother Tycho to her grandparent's house to look for Daddy, who was struck and killed by a hit and run driver. She is sure that he is up in his favorite climbing tree, where he had told her that he had spent many happy hours growing up. But the grandparents don't live there anymore and Daddy isn't there either. She learns to look for his memory in her heart. This is meant for older children to read on their own.
Samantha Jane's Missing Smile: A Story About Coping With the Loss of a Parent
by Julie Kaplow
The story of a young girl whose father has recently died; deals with the full range of emotions, questions, and worries that children have when a parent has died. Offers ways to remember and honor the lost parent, encourages the open sharing of feelings, and helps children understand that their parents want them to be happy and live their lives fully.
The Last Invisible Boy
by Evan Kuhlman
A poignant story about a boy who feels invisible after his father's death, exploring themes of grief and healing. (Ages 8 - 12)
Hazel Bly and the Deep Blue Sea
by Ashley Herring Blake
Follows a young girl's journey through grief after losing her mother, highlighting the healing power of friendship and the sea. (Ages 8 - 12)
You Are Not Alone: Teens Talk About Life After the Loss of a Parent
by Lynne Hughes
A collection of personal stories from teens who have lost a parent, providing comfort and understanding to readers facing similar experiences. (Adolescence)
Still Here With Me: Teenagers and Children on Losing a Parent
by Suzanne Sjöqvist
An anthology of interviews with young people discussing their experiences with parental loss, offering diverse perspectives on grief.
A Monster Calls
by Patrick Ness
A beautifully illustrated story about a boy coping with his mother's terminal illness, blending fantasy and reality to explore grief and healing.
The Key to the Golden Firebird
by Maureen Johnson
A novel about three sisters coping with their father's sudden death, exploring themes of family, grief, and personal growth. (Adolescence)
loss of a young person (friend or sibling)
When someone close to a child or teen's age dies, it brings not only grief but mortality.
Flying Hugs and Kisses
by Jewel Sample
Heartwarming story about how children learn to accept family loss and change. Five children creatively take on roles of support toward each other while showing their individual feelings about the death of their baby brother. This sensitive story of grief recovery is a great resource for parents to use to help their children understand and affirm their experience of the loss of a brother or sister.
I Had a Friend Named Peter:Talking to Children About the Death of a Friend
by Janice Cohn, D.S.W.
Betsy's friend Peter has been struck by car and killed. Her parents explain what death is and what will happen. Betsy and her friends at school make pictures of Peter and decide that as long as they remember him, Peter will always be with them in a special way.
If Nathan Were Here
by Mary Bahr
This is a story of the grief of a young boy whose best friend has died. With the help of an understanding teacher, a kind neighbor, and an empathetic parent, the boy finds ways to give expression to his questions and sorrow and to reach out to someone else who needs him.
Missing Hannah: Based on a True Story of Sudden Infant Death
by Darlene Kane
A sensitive story portrays a child’s journey as she faces her feelings about the death of her baby sister to SIDS.
Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson
A poignant novel about a deep friendship between two children and the devastating loss that follows. It explores themes of imagination, grief, and healing.
Mockingbird
by Kathryn Erskine
Told from the perspective of a girl with Asperger's syndrome coping with the loss of her brother in a school shooting. The story delves into understanding emotions and finding healing.
Dear Zoe
by Philip Beard
An epistolary novel where a teenage girl writes letters to her deceased sister, navigating guilt and the complexities of grief.
Beat the Turtle Drum
by Constance C. Greene
A middle-grade novel that deals with the sudden loss of a sibling, capturing the raw emotions and the journey towards acceptance.
You’ll Always Be
by Callie Fryt
A heartfelt picture book reflecting the love and memories shared between siblings, offering comfort to young children dealing with loss.
Remembering Ethan
by Lesléa Newman
A gentle story about a boy coping with the loss of his older brother, emphasizing the importance of memories and open conversations.
Always in My Heart: A Workbook for Grieving Children
by Clementina M. Chéry
An interactive workbook designed to help children express their feelings and memories after the loss of a sibling or friend.
When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens About Grieving and Healing
by Marilyn E. Gootman
A guide for teenagers dealing with the death of a friend, offering advice, coping strategies, and reassurance.
Loss
Books and Workbooks for loss in all of its forms.
by Dougy Center
Practical strategies for helping children through the tragedy of grief
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf
by Leo Buscaglia, PhD
Natural cycles of life and death discussed in simple terms by a cultural icon.
Helping the Grieving Student: A Guide for Teachers
by The Dougy Center
This guidebook is an essential resource for elementary, middle and high school teachers, offering practical tips and information for how to respond to a death.
I Miss You: A First Look At Death
by Pat Thomas
This book helps children understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one's death. Titles in this sensitively presented series explore the dynamics of various relationships experienced by children of preschool through early school age. Kids are encouraged to understand personal feelings and social problems as a first step in dealing with them.
Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss
by Pat Schweibert and Chuck DeKlyen
Excellent book for all ages, but meant to be worked through by or with an adult. The vocabulary is mature, and the print is… like a regular book — although accompanied by warm and welcoming illustrations — and encourages those who grieve to work through their own grief in their own way, with many helpful ‘recipes’ that the individual may find useful in their own situation.
The Invisible String
by Patrice Karst
A comforting tale that reassures children about the enduring connection between loved ones, even after death, through an invisible string made of love.
Badger’s Parting Gifts
by Susan Varley
A story that helps children understand grief by showing how friends remember and honor a loved one who has passed away.
The Memory Box: A Book About Grief
by Joanna Rowland
A gentle story that encourages children to create a memory box to keep memories of a loved one alive, aiding in the grieving process.
Hey, Kiddo
by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
A graphic memoir about growing up with a parent struggling with addiction and the impact of loss, offering a raw and honest portrayal of grief.
