Books
for
Kids & Teens

Ages 3-6

(Let's Talk About) Feeling Angry (Sad, Frustrated etc.) [series on feelings for ages 3-6]
by Maggie Smith
Being a kid isn't always easy. These fun stories, along with colorful, humorous illustrations, help young children deal with tough situations and emotions, and learn about being responsible for themselves and their own actions

Ages 4-8

From Here to There [ages 4-8]
by Ben Keckler
This well-written and beautifully illustrated book is dedicated to Christopher Morrison...His incredible journey through grief and illness was the inspiration for this beautiful book that gently takes the reader From Here To There. Every page encourages the reader to explore the roller coaster of feelings that range from fear, anger, sadness to happiness and peace that come from ...learning about the eternal... This book reminds all who are grieving and transitioning through life's challenges that the journey has to be undertaken if one wants to find healing.

Gentile Willow [age 4 & up]
By Joyce C. Mills
Amanda and Little Tree discover that their friend Gentle Willow isn't feeling well. Amanda summons the Tree Wizards, who visit Gentle Willow and determine that they can't fix her. Amanda is angry at first, but eventually she listens to the Tree Wizards as they explain that death is a transformation and journey into the unknown. They also counsel Amanda that the medicine she can give Gentle Willow is love. In a final act of love, Amanda comforts Gentle Willow, who is afraid, with a story about the caterpillar who transforms into a butterfly.

My Grieving Journey [age 5 & up]
By Donna & Eve Shavatt
Children from all belief systems and all family situations can use this proven manual for working through the pain of loss. Unlike most other titles, this is neither story nor didactic text; it's a hands-on activity book so children can work their way through the process of grief to find healing.

I'll Always Love You [ages 4-8]
by Hans Wilhelm
"In this gentle, moving story, Elfie, a dachshund, and her special boy progress happily through life together. One morning Elfie does not wake up. The family grieves and buries her. The watercolor illustrations, tender and warm in color and mood, suit the simple text perfectly."--School Library Journal. 

 Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children [ages 4-8]
by Bryan Mellonie
A pet . . . a friend . . . or a relative dies, and it must be explained to a child. This sensitive book is a useful tool in explaining to children that death is a part of life and that, eventually, all living things reach the end of their own special lifetimes. 

Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs [ages 4-8]
by Tomie De Paola
Tommy is four years old, and he loves visiting the home of his grandmother, Nana Downstairs, and his great-grandmother, Nana Upstairs. But one day Tommy's mother tells him Nana Upstairs won't be there anymore, and Tommy must struggle with saying good-bye to someone he loves.

The Next Place [ages 4 & up]
By Warren Hansen
"It is quite simply, a treasure! It is one of those rare books that will sell & sell & sell..plus, it will enrich the lives of those who give it and receive it." (Bookstore Owner )
"The concept of timelessness, perfection, love...eternity are all brilliantly and literally portrayed." (Hospice Chaplain )

 Sad Isn't Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing With Loss [ages 4-8]
by Michaelene Mundy
Loaded with positive, life-affirming advice for coping with loss as a child, this guide tells children what they need to know after a loss--that the world is still safe; life is good; and hurting hearts do mend. Written by a school counselor, this book helps comfort children facing of the worst and hardest kind of reality.

Ages 8-12

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf [ages 8 & up]
by Leo F. Buscaglia
This story by Leo Buscaglia is a warm, wonderfully wise and strikingly simple story about a leaf names Freddie. How Freddie and his companion leaves change with the passing seasons, finally falling to the ground with winter's snow, is an inspiring allegory illustrating the delicate balance between life and death.

 Incredibly Lonely, That’s Me [ages 8 & up]
By Ben Keckler
In the very center of our grief, loss or transitional times is the intense feeling of loneliness! Our world is turned upside down. How will I make it through? When, if ever, will this haunting feeling disappear? If it doesn't end, what will I do? Is there hope when dealing with this dark emotion of loneliness? Who am I now?

Teens

Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens
By Alan D. Wolfelt
With sensitivity and insight, this series offers suggestions for healing activities that can help survivors learn to express their grief and mourn naturally. Acknowledging that death is a painful, ongoing part of life, they explain how people need to slow down, turn inward, embrace their feelings of loss, and seek and accept support when a loved one dies. Each book, geared for mourning adults, teens, or children, provides ideas and action-oriented tips that teach the basic principles of grief and healing. These ideas and activities are aimed at reducing the confusion, anxiety, and huge personal void so that the living can begin their lives again. Included in the books for teens and kids are age-appropriate activities that teach younger people that their thoughts are not only normal but necessary.

How It Feels When A Parent Dies [ages 7 & up]
by Jill Krementz Alfred A. Knopf
18 children from age 7 - 17, speak openly of their experiences and feelings. As they speak we see them in photos with their surviving parent and with other family members, in the midst of their everyday lives.

Families

Tear Soup [ages 8 & up]
By Pat Schweibert
If you are going to buy only one book on grief, this is the one to get! It will validate your grief experience, and you can share it with your children. You can leave it on the coffee table so others will pick it up, read it, and then better appreciate your grieving time. Grand's Cooking Tips section at the back of the book is rich with wisdom and concrete recommendations. Better than a casserole!

The downloadable program from Sesame Street is designed to help families sort through complex emotions, remember the life of a loved one, and find strength in one another.

When Families Grieve – Sesame Workshop