In 2009, I had my first conversation with a student about death. I was a fresh-out-of-college rookie teacher— the kind that veteran teachers chuckled at when I rambled on about all my grand ideas about changing the school system.
One of my first graders, Jamar, experienced the sudden passing of his father. It broke my heart to watch this kid, who was once the class clown, lose the twinkle in his eye. No words could make sense of his sadness. He was withdrawn in class and even started picking fights with the other students. I knew he needed help but didn’t know how or where to start.
So I turned to the wonderful world of books—my sanctuary when nothing makes sense. There weren’t many children’s books about death and grief at the time. Luckily, I came across “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst—a story that gently said what I couldn’t. I sat with Jamar the next day and read to him. It gave him the space to feel seen and gave me the words I was struggling to find. That moment taught me that the right book can sometimes help our hearts heal when nothing else will.
Over the years, I’ve collected hundreds of books to help kids and grownups talk about hard things. Then, in 2014, I published my first children’s book about grief.
And you, dear friend, get to benefit from my years of research and experience! I’ve compiled this list of 20 incredible children’s books about grief—whether it's the loss of a pet, parent, grandparent, or sibling. These stories help kids (and us grown-ups) make sense of the hardest goodbyes, offering comfort when life feels too heavy.
So, grab a tissue or two—because we can get through this together, one story at a time.
General Books About Grief
1. The ABCs of Grief
By Jessica Correnti, MS, CCLS (Author), Rachel Nieman (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“The perfect book for children facing grief related to death, moving, illness, traumatic medical experiences, new diagnoses, natural and artificial disasters, extensive changes with school or other activities, feeling ‘different’ from others, abuse, immigration, foster care, absent or distant caregivers, and more.”
Why you'll like it:
- Simple language to define grief and all its emotions from A to Z.
- A beautifully illustrated book for all ages to understand loss.
- Written by a true grief expert with 16+ years experience as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) at several children's hospitals, including Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Johns Hopkins Medicine All Children's Hospital, and GBMC.
2. The Invisible String
By Patrice Karst (Author), Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator)
(I love the illustrations in the second edition, which came out in 2023).
Book Description:
“With over 1.5 million copies sold, this accessible, bestselling picture book phenomenon about the unbreakable connections between loved ones has healed generations of children and adults alike. A Spanish edition (El Hilo Invisible by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff) and a companion workbook are also available (The Invisible String Workbook).”
Why you'll like it:
- A timeless, comforting metaphor that explores our invisible connection with the people we love.
- Great for kids dealing with any type of separation or death.
- Reader tested and approved with over 20k 4-5 star reviews.
3. When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death
By Laurie Krasny Brown (Author), Marc Brown (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“For over 25 years, families have used When Dinosaurs Die to explain death, dying, and coping with grief and loss -- from the creators of the beloved Dino Tales: Life Guide for Families series, which has sold over 1.5 million copies.”
Why you'll like it:
- Uses dinosaurs to explain death in kid-friendly terms.
- Straightforward and comprehensive.
- Tackles the mystery of death with common answers to common questions.
4. The Memory Box: A Book About Grief
By Joanna Rowland (Author) and Thea Baker (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“A multi-award-winning story about dealing with the loss of a loved one, The Memory Box has been an invaluable resource for thousands of families.”
Why you’ll like it:
- Encourages kids to cherish memories of lost loved ones through activities.
- Gentle, poetic tone told from the perspective of a child, with beautiful illustrations.
- Throughout the narrative, the child's feelings are acknowledged, allowed, and assured that feelings are normal and healthy to express.
5. I Miss You: A First Look at Death
By Pat Thomas (Author), Lesley Harker (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“This book will help explain in a gentle way that death is a natural complement to life and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings to have following the death of a loved one.”
Why you’ll like this book:
- Simple, direct language that’s easy for young children to understand.
- Written by a psychotherapist and counselor.
- Part of a whole series of 40+ books for children to explore mental health and emotional issues like understanding autism, divorce, and more!
Pet Loss
6. What Happened To Zoey? A Book About Grief for Kids
By Auntie Angie (Author), Jason Velazquez (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“For most pet owners, pets are family, and when they die, it feels like a family member is missing. What Happened To Zoey? Helps parents and caregivers broach the difficult subject of pet loss through gentle storytelling and offers a timeless message of hope, healing, and the enduring power of love.”
Why you'll like it:
- An engaging grief activity included in the book.
- Identifies grief emotions and stages through rhyming words and color-shifting.
- Written in cooperation with children's psychologists and teachers.
- A poetic story written by a former teacher and children’s non-profit founder that helps kids process the loss of a beloved pet.
7. The Invisible Leash
By Patrice Karst (Author), Joanne Lew-Vriethoff (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“Accompanied by tender, uplifting art, this gentle story uses the same bonding technique as her classic book, The Invisible String, to help readers experience the loss of a beloved animal.”
Why you'll like it:
- Encourages children to focus on good memories of a pet.
- Sensitive and heartwarming narrative.
- The universal message of connection and hope.
8. Goodbye Mousie
By Robie H. Harris (Author), Jan Ormerod (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“One morning, a boy finds that his pet, Mousie, won't wake up. The truth is Mousie has died. At first, the boy doesn't believe it. He gets mad at Mousie for dying and then feels very sad. But talking about Mousie, burying Mousie in a special box, and saying goodbye helps this boy begin to feel better about the loss of his beloved pet.”
Why you’ll like it:
- A child's journey through grief after losing a pet mouse.
- Validates the wide range of emotions experienced during grief.
- Pet burial ceremony story.
9. Big Cat, Little Cat
By Elisha Cooper
Book Description:
“This story follows two cats through their days, months, and years until one day, the older cat has to go. And he doesn’t come back. This is a poignant story, told in measured text and bold black-and-white illustrations about the act of moving on.”
Why you’ll like it:
- A beautifully illustrated, subtle exploration of the circle of life through pets.
- Great for cat families.
- Unique black and white illustrations.
Loss of a Grandparent or Elderly Family Member
10. Tom’s Great-Grandma Eileen: Helping Children to Understand Death, Grief, and Loss
By Kate Melton
Book Description:
“When little Tom gets curious about a picture hanging on their wall, his mother must find a delicate way to tell him about a very special person, her grandmother. Soothing and beautiful illustrations, heart-warming rhymes, and touching messages make this children’s book a great tool to help your kids cope with the loss of a loved one and learn about life cycles and passing away in a sensitive and clever way.”
Why you'll like it:
- Helps children understand the concept of family history and loss.
- Written in cooperation with children's psychologists.
- Includes particular recommendations motivating parents to talk with their children about death.
11. What Happens When a Loved One Dies?: Our First Talk About Death
By Dr. Jillian Roberts (Author), Cindy Revell (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“Using questions posed in a child’s voice and answers that start simply and become more in-depth, this book allows adults to guide the conversation to a natural and reassuring conclusion.”
Why you'll like it:
- Written by a child psychologist..
- Straightforward answers to kids' tough questions about death
- Additional questions at the back of the book allow for further discussion.
12. Saturdays Are for Stella
By Candy Wellins (Author), Charlie Eve Ryan (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“Saturdays Are for Stella is a heartwarming story about George, who treasures Saturdays with his Grandma Stella. They spend those special days visiting the dinosaur museum, riding the carousel, and baking cinnamon rolls from scratch. When Stella passes away, George struggles with his grief and wants to stop celebrating Saturdays altogether. However, with the arrival of a new family member, George learns to honor his cherished memories of Stella while creating new ones.”
- Celebrates inter-generational bonds, highlighting love between grandparents and grandchildren.
- A powerful message about finding joy again after loss, showing that new beginnings can coexist with treasured memories.
- Gently addresses the loss of a loved one, offering children a way to understand grief and how cherished memories can help them heal.
Loss of a Parent or Sudden Loss
13. Where Do They Go?
By Julia Alvarez (Author) and Sabra Field (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“Bestselling novelist (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents) and Children's (The Tia Lola Stories) author Julia Alvarez's new picture book is a beautifully crafted poem for children that gently addresses the emotional side of death. Where Do They Go? is a beautiful and comforting meditation on death, asking questions young readers might have about what happens to those they love after they die.”
Why you'll like it:- Explores the mystery of where loved ones go after they die.
- Encourages reflection without definite answers.
- A Spanish-language edition of the book, ¿Donde va a parar?, is available in paperback.
14. The Heart and the Bottle
By Oliver Jeffers
Book Description:
“What happens when that special someone who encourages such wonder and magic is no longer around? We can hide, we can place our heart in a bottle and grow up . . . or we can find another special someone who understands the magic. We can also encourage them to see things in the stars and find joy in colors and laughter as they play.”
Why you’ll like it:
- Uses a metaphor about bottling emotions after loss.
- Inspires children to reconnect with their feelings.
- A resonant tale reminiscent of The Giving Tree.
Loss of a Sibling or Infant
15. Sometimes Babies Can’t Stay
By Jessica Ells (Author), Stefanie St. Dennis (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“This book is a gentle poem for anyone who has ever experienced the unimaginable loss of a baby. It speaks to families who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or any type of infant loss.”
Why you’ll like it:
- The author lost a brother to SIDS as a child and then lost her son as an infant.
- A simple story suitable for toddlers and small children.
- Helpful for grieving parents.
16. My Sibling Still
By Megan Lacourrege (Author), Joshua Wichterich (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“My Sibling Still is written as a love letter from a sibling lost to miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death to any surviving siblings. It walks through the emotions that a child and their family may experience following a loss while also depicting the loving presence of the deceased child in the family's life.”
Why you'll like it:
- Focuses on emotions children experience after losing a sibling.
- Encourages dialogue between children and caregivers.
- Accessible whether the loss happened years ago or yesterday, whether a sibling was born at the time of the loss or came afterward.
17. Goodnight My Baby Brother
By Alicia Barnes (Author) and Andrea Angrisani (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“In this heartfelt story, we join a little girl as her parents lovingly explain the loss of her expected baby brother. With warm and comforting illustrations, "Goodnight, My Baby Brother" offers a compassionate way for young children to understand and navigate their feelings of grief.”
Why you’ll like it:
- A gentle rhyming tale with simple illustrations.
- Uses age-appropriate language and imagery.
- Tackles the complex emotions of miscarriage and sibling loss with compassion and realism.
Loss of a Friend
18. Missing Violet
By Kelly Swemba (Author), Fabiana Faiallo (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“Life is full of sunshine for inseparable friends Violet and Mia. Until one day, Violet leaves school sick and doesn't get better. Without her best friend, Mia slips into a gloomy existence. As she moves through the stages of grief like the colors of a rainbow, Mia wonders if she will ever feel like herself again. When Mia reaches out to her classmates, she remembers what she loved most about Violet.”
Why you'll like it:
- Story of coping with the sudden loss of a close friend.
- A gentle approach to dealing with grief through memories.
- Explore the different stages of grief.
19. Ida, Always
By Caron Levis (Author), Charles Santoso (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“This beautiful, honest portrait of loss and deep friendship is told through the story of two iconic polar bears.”
Why you’ll like it:
- Inspired by two real-life zoo polar bears.
- Gently addresses terminal illness.
- Focuses on love and remembrance.
Loss Due to Substance Use or Overdose
20. All the Pieces: When a Loved One Dies From Substance Use
By Hallie Riggs (Author), Adriana Predoi (Illustrator)
Book Description:
“Often, children who lose a loved one to an overdose are not truthfully told what happened to the person who died because of the stigma associated with this type of death. They often assume that the death was their fault (rather than that it was the symptom of a disease) and that it’s not okay to remember their loved one, nor is it okay to feel angry about the death.”
This book aims to help parents and practitioners address these specific areas and provide validation/ normalization of these grief responses.
Why you'll like it:- Explains the impact of addiction with age-appropriate language.
- Great for children processing complicated grief from substance-related deaths.
- Written by a licensed clinical social worker with experience in trauma therapy.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You just made it through a super-long list of excellent books that will help you and your child tackle the tough conversations about grief.
Many of these fantastic tales can be found in your local library. If you can’t find a book through your local library, ask your librarian about an Interlibrary Loan to request the title from another library. And always remember, we can talk about hard things.
References
- 20 Books to Help Grieving Children and Teens - Boston Tutoring Services.
- My Grief Connection - Books, Magazines & Audiobooks - MY GRIEF CONNECTION.
"Ask Auntie Angie" is a thoughts and advice column. The content provided is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice or counseling. Dreamshelf Press and its affiliates are not liable for any actions or outcomes based on the advice shared in this blog. Names may have been changed to protect the identities of the people and children in this story.