Books about bereavement and loss - for Younger Children
‘The Heart and the Bottle’ by Oliver Jeffers
A young girl is full of wonder at the world, until one day she sees an empty chair, and feeling
unsure, decides she must put her heart into a glass bottle to keep it safe. She no longer takes
interest in the world around her, until one day she meets a younger girl who helps get the
heart back out of the bottle.
‘Always and Forever’ by Debi Gliori and Alan Durant
Mole, Hare and Otter mourn the passing of their friend, Fox, who had been the head of
their household. They feel sad and stay indoors until Squirrel arrives and encourages them to
remember the happy times spent with Fox.
‘The Invisible String’ by Patrice Karst
Young twins feel scared by a storm and don’t want to go to bed until Mum tells them that they
are always connected to her by an Invisible String made of love. Even when they can’t see
her, or when she is mad, the String is still there. It connects them to everyone they love, even
Uncle Brian in heaven.
‘Granpa’ by John Burningham
A simple story about the loving and fun relationship between Granpa and his young
Grandaughter. They play together and go on adventures (both real and imagined) but then
Granpa gets ill and can’t come out to play anymore. At the end there is just his empty
armchair.
‘Badger’s Parting Gifts’ by Susan Varley
Badger was old and knew that he would soon be departing down the Long Tunnel but he
wasn’t afraid. His friends feel very sad but they find comfort in remembering the things that
Badger had taught them - his parting gifts – such as how to bake gingerbread, ice skate or use
scissors.
‘Rabbityness’ by Jo Empson
This is the story of a very special rabbit who enjoys doing lots of un-rabbity things. One day,
he disappears and leaves a big dark hole. But in that hole are some special gifts to encourage
his rabbit friends to do un-rabbity things too!
‘Heaven’ by Nicholas Allan
Dill the Dog is late – the angels are coming to collect him to take him ‘up there’. Lily wants
to go too but Dill says she can’t because she hasn’t been invited. Dill and Lily talk about what
they think heaven will be like. They say goodbye and Lily feels sad for a while, until she finds
a stray puppy.
‘The Saddest Time’ by Norma Simon
Three separate stories of death. The first is of Uncle Joe who becomes sick and dies, the
second is about 8 year old Teddy who is killed in a road accident, and the third is about
Emily’s Grandma who dies of old age.
What Does Dead Mean? By Caroline Jay and Jenni Thomas
An illustrated question and answer book tackling some of the questions that young children
may ask when someone dies, ‘Does dying hurt?’, ‘Where’s Heaven and how do you get
there?’, ‘Where do dead people go?’
‘Sad Book’ by Michael Rosen
An honest and open exploration of Michael Rosen’s feelings about losing his son Eddie. He
feels sad in many different ways and for a long time. He finds ways to try and cope with his
grief such as thinking of one thing to be proud of at the end of each day.
‘Water Bugs and Dragonfles.’ – Explaining Death to Young Children by Doris Stickney
A waterbug leaves the pond to become a beautiful dragonfly in the sky. The dragonfly loves
being able to fly but finds he can’t return to the pond in his new body. He must wait for the
other waterbugs to join him in the air. No specific mention of death. Includes simple prayer
and readings.
‘It Isn’t Easy’ by Margaret Connolly
An illustrated story by a young boy about his 9 year old brother who is killed by a car. The boy
remembers the good and bad times with his brother, and talks about how he sometimes paints
angry pictures and cries. A realistic story of a young boy’s grief.
‘The Copper Tree’ by Hilary Robinson and Mandy Stanley
A sensitively told story of Miss Evans, a class teacher who becomes ill and dies. The children
in her class are encouraged to think about their memories of her, and these are made into a
copper tree in the school hall.
‘The Scar’ by Charlotte Moundlic
A beautiful book about a little boy whose Mum dies. The boy closed all the windows to keep
his Mum’s smell in and plugs his ears to keep in the sound of her voice. When Grandma
arrives and open the windows, he screams and cries, until Grandma explains that his mum in
his heart and will always be with him.
‘The Day Great Grandma moved house’ by Joy Smith
A short story about Toby who is moving house and his Great Grandma who is dying and
preparing to move to a mansion that Jesus was getting ready for her. Great Grandma goes to
live in Heaven and is very happy there to feel young again and be with Jesus.
‘Being Sad when Someone Dies’ by Linus Mundy
Helping grieving young children to understand how they are feeling and what they could do
to make themselves feel a bit better.
‘The Lonely Tree’ by Nicholas Halliday
The story of a new evergreen tree that grows in the New Forest and is befriended by the oldest
Oak who has lived for hundreds of years. When winter arrives, all the oak trees must go to
sleep and the new tree is very lonely, but spring arrives and the trees come back to life, except
the old Oak who has died.
‘Up in Heaven’ by Emma Chichester Clark
Daisy the dog has died, and is happy in Heaven but it makes her sad to see her owners
missing her, especially little Arthur, so she sends him happy dreams about Heaven and
encourages him to get a puppy.
‘I Miss You’ by Pat Thomas
A factual book about death with lovely illustrations. It includes funerals and looking briefly at
different cultures and beliefs.
‘A Place in My Heart’ by Annette Aubrey
Andrew is feeling sad and doesn’t want to go home after school because Grandad has died.
His parents understand that he is feeling sad and they cook a special meal of Grandad’s food.
‘Are you sad, Little Bear?’ by Rachel Rivett
Grandmother Bear has died and little Bear is feeling sad so he goes into the wild wood to look
for answers. He asks the trees, and the birds and the stream if they feel sad too but is left filled
with wonder at the world.
‘The Memory Tree’ by Britta Teckentrup
Fox was old and died in the snowy forest. Fox’s friends were sad but they felt cheered when
they remembered happy things about Fox. As they talked a little tree began to grow, and the
more they remembered, the more the beautiful tree grew, until it was the tallest in the forest.
‘Goodbye Mog’ by Judith Kerr
Mog has died but she stays around in the house to see what would happen next and steps in
to help train the new kitten.
‘Remembering Candy’ by Xanthe, Quinn, Amanda and Rob van der Gulik
The family dog has died and everyone feels sad. They remember all the funny things that
Candy the dog used to do, and organise a special day to honour her life.
‘The Day the Sea Went Out and Never Came Back’ by Margot Sunderland
Eric the sand dragon loves the sea but one day it goes out and doesn’t come back. Eric is very
sad but then a flower forces its way through the hard stony ground and needs water so Eric is
moved to take action and build a beautiful rock pool.
‘Tell me about Heaven, Grandpa Rabbit!’ by Jenny Album
Grandpa Rabbit is poorly and tells Bradley that he might soon be going to Heaven. Bradley
asks Grandpa to describe what it is like there. When Bradley feels sad he remembers Grandpa
and feels warm inside.
‘Missing Mummy’ by Rebecca Cobb
A very touching book about a young girl who has lost her Mummy. She tries looking for her
and wonders why she hasn’t collected the flowers they left for her on the grave. Daddy says
they are still a family and she knows that she will always remember her Mummy even though
she misses her.
‘Lifetimes’ by Bryan Mellonie
‘There is a beginning and an ending for everything that is alive. In between is living.’ This
book tells us how plants, birds, fish, trees, animals and people all have a beginning and an
ending and that is their lifetime.
‘Grandma and Grandpa’s Garden’ by Neil Griffiths
Lucy loves to help out in Grandma and Grandpa’s garden. Grandma becomes ill and dies.
Lucy didn’t visit for a while but when she did the garden was overgrown and neglected.
Lucy tells her Grandpa that the garden reminds her of Grandma and over the years she helps
Grandpa to keep the garden looking beautiful, and Grandpa knows the garden will always be
in safe hands.
‘Tapestry’ by Bob Hartman
Danny’s Grandad died and his Grandma sewed a beautiful collage of their family, and
Grandad and people they know. The tree trunks were made from Grandad’s old jumper, and
the clouds were made from his shoelaces. Grandma tells Danny that Grandad is with Jesus in
a beautiful place.
Activity Books
‘Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine’ by Diana Crossley
This is an activity book for a child to fill in when someone they know has died. There are
spaces to write about the person, the funeral, how they died, to record special memories and
messages. There are also lots of creative activities, some not related to grief, such as planting
bulbs, making a papier mache spider, or friendship bracelets. From Winston’s Wish charity.
‘When Something Terrible Happens’ by Marge Heegaard
This is a workbook designed for children aged 6-12 who have experienced something terrible.
The child is encouraged to draw what has happened to them and to explore their feelings of
anger, sadness, fear and loss.
‘Help me Say Goodbye’ by Janis Silverman
An art therapy book to help children deal with grief by drawing their feelings and
remembering the special person who has died.