Book Recommendations

Book Recommendations for Grieving Families

Toddler, preschool and young school age

• I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas and Leslie Harker
  Summary: This book explores difficult issues surrounding death for young children. It can help them understand their loss, and it provides suggestions on how to cope.
• Mouse Was Mad by Linda Urban
  Summary: Mouse tries many different ways to get his anger out. Finally, after many attempts, he lands on one that works perfectly for him. This book can be used to address a child’s anger or other big feelings and explore different ways to let them out.
• My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
  Summary: This rhyming story describes each day in terms of a particular color which, in turn, is associated with specific emotions.
• The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr
  Summary: This is a story about a pet fish who has lost his companion. The fish shares what he misses about his friend and how he said goodbye.
• The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
  Summary: Illustrations and text in this book portray children experiencing a range of emotions including frustration, shyness, jealousy, and pride.
• Helping Kids Grieve: Sesame Street in Communities
  This online resource provides free Sesame Street episodes which talk about death and grief, suggests coping activities for children, and offers tips for adults.

School age

• After the Fall, How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat
  Summary: a picture book about resilience and the ability to get back up after a difficult situation.
• Always Remember by Cece Meng
  Summary: Old Turtle’s friends remember him after his death and all the ways he impacted their lives. This book may help children share memories and things they miss about the person who died.
• Grandad’s Camper by Harry Woodgate
  Summary:  a book that honors love and reminds us not only to remember those we have lost, but to celebrate them.
• Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley
  Summary: Badger’s friends are overwhelmed when he dies. This book shares their stories of Badger and how they remember him. This book can help foster communication, care, and understanding.
• When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
  Summary: This book explores many different types of death, feelings people may have regarding death, and beliefs about what happens after death using simple, straight-forward language. Because this book describes many different types of death, it would be best to look ahead and read only the applicable pages to avoid confusing children.
• Where’s Jess? by Marvin Johnson
  Summary: This book is for children whose brother or sister has died. It uses straight forward language to talk through some questions and feelings children may have after the death of a sibling.
• Draw It Out by Art with Heart
  Summary: An activity book that allows kids to share their emotions, identify their support systems, and normalize their experiences with loss and grief.
  Ages: 7-10yrs
  To order: artwithheart.org
• Invisible String Workbook: Creative Activities to Comfort, Calm, and Connect by Patrice Karst, Dana Wyss
  Summary: Offers activity ideas for children of all ages to utilize with the book.

Middle school - teen

• Grief is a Mess by Jackie Schuld
  Summary: This book takes a humorous approach to the ways grief makes your life a “mess”. It applies to both children and adults and conveys how grief is different for everyone.
• Healing Your Grieving Heart Journal for Teens by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., and Megan E. Wolfelt
  Summary: This journal encourages teens to learn about grief and mourning by recording their unique thoughts and feelings. Topics include: what makes each teen’s grief unique, common feelings after a death, the needs of mourning, and capturing memories of the person who died.
• Help for the Hard Times: Getting Through Loss by Earl Hipp
  Summary: This book discuses young peoples’ experiences with loss and helps them figure out ways to continue functioning while grieving.
• Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
  Summary: This book explains death in a sensitive and caring way. It talks about beginnings, endings, and life in between, and reinforces the concept that all living things will eventually die. It is appropriate for many ages, including adults.
• Modern Loss: Candid Conversation About Grief by Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner
  Summary: This book shares how to navigate grief and coping in the age of social media. It offers wisdom and support from many different perspectives and acknowledges sharing grief can be difficult and messy.
• Straight Talk About Death For Teenagers by Earl A. Grollman
  Summary: This book explains to teens what to expect from the loss of a loved one, and how to cope, grieve, and live with their grief.
• Chill & Spill by Art with Heart
  Summary: Chill & Spill combines prompts and blank pages to give pre-teens and teens ample room to write down or draw out their feelings, fears, and frustrations.
  Suggested age range: 9^th – 12^th grade
  To order, go to: Artwithheart.org
• Deconstruction/Reconstruction: A Grief Journal for Teens by The Dougy Center
  To order go to: tdcbookstore.org

Caregivers

• Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief by Joanne Cacciatore, Ph.D.
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
• How To Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies by Therese A. Rando
• It’s OK that You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture that Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine
• A Parent’s Guide to Raising Grieving Children: Rebuilding Your Family after the Death of a Loved One by Phyllis R. Silverman and Madelyn Kelly
• I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping, & Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One by Brook Noel & Pamela D. Blair, Ph.D.
• The Other Side of Sadness: What the New Science of Bereavement Tells Us About Life After Loss by George A. Bonanno, Ph.D.
• What Do We Tell the Children? Talking to Kids about Death and Dying by Joseph M. Primo