Loss of a Grandparent

• Abuelita's Paradise (Picture Books/E/Nod) by Carmen Santiago Nodar. As Marita sits in her beloved grandmother‘s rocking chair and remembers stories of Puerto Rico, she once again feels Abuelita‘s embrace.
• Dancing with Dziadziu (Picture Books/E/Bar) by Susan Bartoletti. During her last days, Gabriella‘s grandmother, Babci, shares stories about growing up in Poland and dancing with her husband, Dziadziu.
• Farolitos for Abuelo (Picture Books/E/Ana) by Rudolfo Anaya. Luz places luminarias around her grandfather‘s grave to honor his life and remember him.
• Gram's Song (Picture Books/E/Hen) by Karyn Henley. Anthony remembers his Gram by planting seeds, watching snails, and singing her favorite song.
• The Grandad Tree (Picture Books/E/Coo) by Trish Cooke. Two African American children remember their Grandad and learn about the seasons of life as they play under the apple tree.
• Grandma's Gone to Live in the Stars (Picture Books/E/Hay) by Max Haynes. When Grandma dies she stops to say good-bye to each sleeping family member, the dog, and the cat before rising into the stars.
• Grandma's Purple Flowers (Picture Books/E/Bur) by Adjoa J. Burrowes. After her much-loved grandma dies during the winter, a young girl looks forward to spring and the purple flowers that they both enjoyed.
• Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus' Name Amen (Picture Books/E/How) by James Howe. A 5-year-old wishes her grandpa goodbye in a Christian way, a Jewish way, and her own way.
• My Grandfather's House (Picture Books/E/Cov) by Bruce Coville. Although his grandfather has died, a little boy learns that he can still enjoy memories of his grandpa.
• One More Wednesday (Picture Books/E/Dor) by Malika Doray. A Bunny enjoys spending every Wednesday with his granny and, after she dies, remembering the things they enjoyed.
• Sophie (Picture Books/E/Fox) by Mem Fox. In this circle-of-life story, Sophie grows up and becomes a mother as Grandpa ages.
• Sweet, Sweet Memory (Picture Books/E/Woo) by Jacqueline Woodson. An African American girl balances the sadness of her grandfather‘s death by remembering that everyone and everything goes on and on.
• Where Is Grandpa? (Picture Books/E/Bar) by T. A. Barron. After his grandfather dies, a young boy tries to understand where he has gone. Is Grandpa in heaven? What is death?

Loss of a Pet

• Ada's Pal (Picture Books/E/Lyo) by George Ella Lyon. A little girl discovers how to help her heartbroken dog, Ada, recover from the death of another family pet.
• Best Cat in the World (Picture Books/E/New) by Leslea Newmann. After his cat dies, a young boy eventually accepts a new and very different cat.
• Good-bye Mousie (Picture Books/E/Har) by Robie H. Harris. A child discovers that it‘s perfectly okay to feel angry and sad when his pet mouse dies.
• Jasper's Day (Picture Books/E/Par) by Marjorie Blain Parker. A family celebrates one final day with their dog who has cancer.
• Jim's Dog Muffins (Easy Readers/ER/Coh) by Miriam Cohen. When Jim‘s dog is killed, the other first graders experience with him his natural reactions to death.
• Mending Peter's Heart (Picture Books/E/Wit) by Maureen Wittbold. Old Mr. MacIntyre shares his own experience and heartbreak from the passing of a loved one so that Peter can come to terms with the death of his pet.
• Saying Goodbye to Lulu (Picture Books/E/Dem) by Corinne Demas. A girl misses her dog, Lulu, but she is able to continue with her life.
• Six is So Much Less Than Seven (Picture Books/E/Him) by Ronald Himler. An old man misses his cat as he goes about his daily farm chores.
• The Tenth Good Thing about Barney (Picture Books/E/Vio) by Judith Viorst. In an attempt to overcome his grief, a boy tries to think of the ten best things about his dead cat.
• Up in Heaven (Picture Books/E/Chi) by Emma Chichester Clark. Daisy the dog watches out for her owner after she dies and sends him dreams from heaven.
• When a Pet Dies (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Rog) by Fred Rogers. Explores the feelings of frustration, sadness, and loneliness that a youngster may feel when a pet dies.

Loss of a Friend

• Badger's Parting Gifts (Picture Books/E/Var) by Susan Varley. Badger‘s friends are sad when he dies, but they treasure the legacies he left them.
• Bye, Mis' Lela (Picture Books/E/Car) by Dorothy Carter. An African American preschooler learns to say good-bye to her favorite babysitter after Mis‘ Lela dies.
• If Nathan Were Here (Picture Books/E/Bah) by Mary Bahr. When his best friend dies, a young boy‘s grief is guided with the help of a teacher, a neighbor, and his dad.
• The Purple Balloon (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Ras) by Chris Raschka. Easy to read text reveals that dying is hard work for the old and especially for the young. Discusses ways to help a dying friend.

Loss of a Parent

• After You Lose Someone You Love (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Den) by Amy, Allie, and David Dennison. The journals kept by three young children after the sudden death of their father.
• Everett Anderson's Goodbye (Picture Books/E/Cli) by Lucille Clifton. Everett Anderson has a difficult time coming to terms with this grief after his father dies.
• Mama's Going to Heaven Soon (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Cop) A loving, supportive father tells his children that their sick mother is going to die. Includes advice for caregivers on how to talk to youngsters about death.
• Our Dad Died (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Den) by Amy, Allie, and David Dennison. Through journal entries, three siblings recount their memories during the first two years after their father died.
• Sam's Dad Died (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Hol) by Margaret Holmes. This book of hope through grief includes an afterward for caregivers by a children‘s grief consultant.

Loss of a Sibling

• That Summer (Picture Books/E/Joh) by Tony Johnston. A boy grieves for his terminally ill brother.
• Stacy Had a Little Sister (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Old) by Wendie C. Old. Stacy has mixed feelings about her new baby sister. When the baby dies from SIDS, Stacy is sad and misses her.
• What is Goodbye? (Juvenile Nonfiction/J811.54/Gri) by Nikki Grimes. A brother and sister use poetry to talk about their older brother‘s death.
• Where's Jess?: for Children Who Have a Brother or Sister Die (Paperback Picture Books/ J) by Marv S. Johnson and Joy K. Johnson. A young child experiences a variety of feelings after the death of a sibling.

General Help for Parents, Caregivers, and Children

• Children Also Grieve: Talking about Death and Healing (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Gol) by Linda Goldman. An imaginative, fully illustrated, integrated storybook for bereaved children and those who care for them. Uses the death of a grandfather as an example.
• Death and Dying (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/San) by Pete Sanders. Presents death as a naturally occurring part of life and discusses how children can cope with feelings of loss and grief after the death of a family member or friend.
• Don't Despair on Thursdays: the Children's Grief-Management Book (Juvenile Nonfiction/ J155.937/Mos) by Adolph Moser. Examines how to deal with grief when people or pets die or when a friend moves away.
• The Goodbye Boat (Picture Books/E/Jos) by Mary Joslin. In sparse phrases, death is shown as the beginning of yet another journey.
• The Grieving Child: A Parent's Guide (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Fit) by Helen Fitzgerald.
• Guiding Your Child Through Grief (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Ems) by Mary Ann Emswiler.
• I Found a Dead Bird: the Kids' Guide to the Cycle of Life and Death (Juvenile Nonfiction/ J306.9/Tho) by Jan Thornhill.
• I Miss You: A First Look at Death (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Tho) by Pat Thomas. This reassuring picture book explores the difficult issue of death for young children. Their feelings and questions are addressed simply yet realistically.
• Let's Talk About Going to a Funeral (Juvenile Nonfiction/J393.9/Joh) by Marianne Johnston. Some of the funeral rites and ceremonies practiced in America are explained for young children.
• Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children (JuvenileNonfiction/J155.937/Mel) by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen. Tells about beginnings, endings and living in between of all living things from the tiniest insects to plants to people.
• On That Day: A Book of Hope for Children (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.935/Pat) by Andrea Patel. Torn paper collages and simple text are combined to help young children and preschoolers make sense of tragedy.
• Parenting Through Crisis (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.93/Col) by Barbara Coloroso.
• Part of Me Died, Too (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Fry) by Virginia Lynn Fry.
• Talking about Death (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Bry) by Karen Bryant-Mole. Simple text and clear photographs present a wide range of the issues and feelings that accompany death.
• Talking about Death: A Dialogue between Parent and Child (Juvenile Nonfiction/ J155.937/Gro) by Earl Grollman. A compassionate guide for adults and children to read together.
• Talking with Children about Loss (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.93/Tro) by Maria Trozzi.
• When Dinosaurs Die (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Bro) by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown. Cartoon illustrations and well-written text address the curiosities and fears that primary-school-aged children may have about death.
• Where Do People Go When They Die? (Juvenile Nonfiction/J155.937/Por) by Mindy Avra Portnoy. This book provides a variety of answers to the title‘s common childhood question.