Recommended Readings
Helping children deal with grief is challenging, but there are picture books to help you navigate these difficult waters. These are the books you would rather not have to share about situations you and the child in your life would prefer not to face. When you need to guide a child through a significant grief or sadness, though, books are accessible tools for you to read with your child.
When choosing books to share with children in these circumstances, remember that the most important element is the conversation and connection between a child and adult that the book encourages. The real magic lies in that conversation the book creates: the questions, the love and support of open and empathetic listening and responses of the adult. Just being present to the child, reflecting and sharing and allowing the expression of sorrow, anger, guilt and grief, is what matters most. The books are a tool for the conversation and the process and can be safe conduits for every feeling each member of the family has.
While these recommendations are written specifically to support children (and adults) in grief, the real healing is in the interactions had while reading the book aloud, perusing the pictures together, or just talking about the stories. May these books be a stepping stone to good conversation with the child in your life about their sadness and grief.
Works Cited
Davis, Sarah. “When Sadness Visits: Helping Children Navigate Grief.” TulsaKids Magazine, www.tulsakids.com/helping-children-navigate-grief-with-books. Accessed 1 March 2021.
Martha Whitmore Hickman | Melodie Beattie | Sid Koysi | William P. Young
"Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief" by Martha Whitmore Hickman
"The Grief Club" by Melodie Beattie
"Good Grief: Finding Peace After Pet Loss: Personal & Professional Insights on the Animal Lovers Unique Grieving Process" by Sid Koysi
"When Bad Things Happen to Good People" by H. Lushness
"The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity" by William P. Young
"You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay
"When a Lifemate Dies: Stories of Love, Loss, and Healing" by S. Heinlein, G. Brunette, and J.E. Tibbals
"How to Survive the Loss of a Parent" by I Akner
"Empty Cradle, Broken Heart" by D. Davis
"When Someone Very Special Dies" by M. Heegaard
"Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins" by S.E. Traisman
"Healing after the Suicide of a Loved One" by A Smolin and J. Guinan
"The Four Things that Matter Most" by Ira Byock
"Thriving After Divorce: Transforming Your Life When a Relationship Ends by Tonja Weimer
"Heart of the Soul" by Gary Zukov
"Yoga for Emotional Trauma" by Mary NurrieStearns and Rick NurrieStearns
"Emotional Freedom" by Dr. Judith Orloff
“When Sadness Is At Your Door” written and illustrated by Eva Eland
“Boats for Papa” written and illustrated by Jessixa Bagley
“Grandpa’s Stories: A Book of Remembering” written by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Allison Colpoys
“BIG CAT, little cat” written and illustrated by Elisha Cooper
“Ladder to the Moon” by Soetoro-Ng, Maya
“Maybe Tomorrow?” by Agell, Charlotte
“Death Is Stupid” by Higginbotham, Anastasia
“Where Do They Go?” by Alvarez, Julia
“The Memory Box, A Book About Grief” by Rowland, Joanna
“The Scar” by Moundlic, Charlotte
“Is Daddy Coming Back in A Minute? Explaining (sudden) Death in Words Very Young Children Can Understand” by Barber, Elke
“What Happened to Daddy's Body? Explaining What Happens After Death in Words Very Young Children Can Understand” by Barber, Elke
“The Invisible String” by Karst, Patrice
“My Father's Arms Are A Boat” by Lunde, Stein Erik
“Something Very Sad Happened. A Toddler's Guide to Understanding Death” by Zucker, Bonnie
“Ida, Always” by Levis, Caron
“Tim's Goodbye” by Salerno, Steven
“The Pond” by Davies, Nicola
“Cry, Heart, but Never Break” by Ringtved, Glenn
“Lifetimes. A Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children” by Mellonie, Bryan