15 Books to Help a Grieving Child
Grief is never one-size-fits-all, especially for children. Whether they’re just beginning to understand what death means or navigating complex emotions after a major loss, books can offer kids a safe, gentle way to explore their feelings. This article gives you insight into how books for grief can be helpful to the children in your life as well as some recommendations on some of the best books on grieving, based on age.
How books about grief can help grieving children
Books about grief can be powerful tools in helping children process and understand loss. When a child is grieving, they often struggle to articulate their feelings or even comprehend what death means. Age-appropriate grief books can offer language, reassurance, and relatable stories that normalize their emotions. These books serve as gentle guides through the confusing and painful experience of loss, helping children feel less alone and more understood. By reading stories about other children or characters who have experienced death, young readers can begin to identify their own emotions and learn healthy ways to cope. Here are a few ways books about grief can support grieving children:
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Normalize grief emotions: Children learn that sadness, anger, confusion, and even relief are natural responses to loss.
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Promote open communication: Books can spark conversations between children and caregivers, encouraging emotional expression.
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Offer comforting metaphors and visuals: Illustrations and gentle wording help children understand abstract concepts like death and remembrance.
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Provide a sense of connection: Characters in books can reflect a child’s own experience, helping them feel less isolated.
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Teach coping strategies: Many grief books include ideas for memorializing loved ones or calming anxiety during difficult times.
When looking through children's grieving books, it’s helpful to pick books that are appropriate for the child’s age. Picking age-appropriate books on grieving can ensure that the content makes sense to the child and is relatable. If the explanation and exploration of death is too advanced for their age, the result can be confusing.
Considering the age range and content for children’s books
Before buying children’s books, it’s helpful to understand the content and the age range they’re intended for. It’s recommended to give children’s books a read through on your own before giving them to your child or reading it alongside them. This can help you ensure the content is relevant and the explanations of death are appropriate to your culture and way of life. (For example, if you were hoping for christian books on grieving and end up choosing a book with a buddhist view on death, it may cause some confusion.)
Children’s books on grief and loss for preschoolers
Following are some popular books on grief that are intended to help children have a better understanding of what happens when someone dies.
1. Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler’s Guide to Understanding Death by Bonnie Zucker
This gentle, straightforward book helps toddlers understand death with clear language and calming illustrations. It validates the sadness they might feel and gives them words to talk about a very confusing experience. It’s ideal for parents who want to explain a loss in a way that feels safe and age-appropriate.
2. Where Do They Go? by Julia Alvarez
This poetic book explores the big question young kids often ask: “Where do people go when they die?” The lyrical text doesn’t give one definitive answer, but instead invites children to imagine possibilities in a way that feels comforting and hopeful. It’s a lovely tool for sparking meaningful conversations.
3. You’ll Always Be by Callie Fryt
With soothing words and soft illustrations, this book reminds children that even after someone is gone, love remains. It helps little ones feel connected to the person they lost and reassures them that it's okay to miss them while still feeling loved and safe.
4. Journey to Your Big Heart, by Lori Rubin
This beautifully illustrated story encourages kids to notice and name their feelings, teaching emotional awareness through a heart-centered metaphor. It helps grieving children understand that big emotions—like sadness, anger, and confusion—are okay and part of healing.
5. Remembering Blue Fish, by Becky Friedman
This sweet story follows a young child mourning the loss of a pet fish. It gently explores the concepts of memory, sadness, and saying goodbye in a way that resonates with preschoolers experiencing any type of loss, especially of a pet or friend.
Children’s books about grieving for elementary school kids
1. The ABCs of Grief by Jessica Correnti
This creative book walks kids through grief one letter at a time, using simple language and real emotions. It's great for helping children name what they feel and understand that grief can look and feel many different ways, even if it’s hard to explain.
2. What the Seahorse Told Me by Mary Knight
In this touching story, the ocean becomes a backdrop for exploring the emotions that come with loss. It reassures children that grief is personal and can unfold slowly, offering a gentle reminder that healing doesn’t follow a set timeline.
3. Pie in the Sky by Remy Lai
This graphic novel blends humor, family struggles, and the grieving process as a boy navigates life after his father's death. It’s especially helpful for kids dealing with complicated feelings—like guilt, loneliness, or not knowing how to talk about the person they’ve lost.
4. Am I Like My Daddy? by Marcy Blesy
This book follows a young boy asking questions about his father who died before he could remember him. It helps children process a loss they didn’t witness directly and encourages them to find meaningful connections through family stories and memories.
5. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
This beloved classic helps children understand that love keeps us connected, even when someone we care about isn’t physically present. It’s simple but powerful, offering comfort and a sense of closeness that can ease separation anxiety and grief.
Children’s books on grieving for middle schoolers
1. Eli Over Easy by Phil Stamper
This witty, heartfelt story centers on a middle-schooler trying to navigate big emotions after a major life change. Through humor and honesty, it shows kids that grief doesn’t always look like sadness—and that it’s okay to feel messy or unsure.
2. A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser
This moving novel follows two kids in transitional housing after a parent's death, highlighting friendship, resilience, and hope. It’s especially meaningful for children who are dealing with both grief and life upheaval at the same time and an excellent selection for those searching for grieving books for the loss of a parent.
3. Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
Told through poetic letters to a mythical creature, this unique book gives voice to a child grieving a best friend while also exploring gender identity. It offers an emotional, creative outlet for kids feeling misunderstood or isolated in their grief.
4. Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li
Ruby is navigating the loss of her grandfather and the complexities of growing up. This story gently explores how grief can show up alongside joy, friendship, and self-discovery, offering middle schoolers hope that healing doesn’t mean forgetting.
5. The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
In this beautifully written novel, a girl grapples with her best friend’s sudden death through scientific curiosity and emotional introspection. It’s perfect for introspective kids who may not express grief outwardly but are deeply impacted on the inside.
These stories create space for healing, spark important conversations, and remind children that they’re not alone. No matter their age, the right book can be a meaningful companion on a child’s journey through grief.
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