Lindsay Bonilla’s book “The Hole” paints a beautiful metaphor of a young boy whose brother tragically dies. When he sees his brother’s empty chair, or goes to sleep above his brother’s empty bunk, he feels the pain of that hole deeply. Our narrator knows that he can try to avoid “the hole,” or he can dive headfirst into it and explore his grief. Even at this young age, he knows that this is where the healing happens!
Chris Buchanan created an awesome graphic novel for teens coping with grief, titled “RIP Corey: My Friend Died and it Sucks!” Through the illustrated pages, teens can find journal prompts, relatable stories, practical suggestions, and even tips on supporting their friends through loss. This is a highly recommended resource for teens that would benefit from journaling but might be intimidated by a blank page!
Based on the Buddhist method of healing, “Addy’s Cup of Sugar” by Jon M Muth is a beautiful story of loss and connection. When Addy’s pet kitten gets hit by a car, she is heartbroken. Wanting to stop hurting, Addy learns from her wise friend Stillwater that a very special potion can heal her heart. . .she only has to collect one cup of sugar from each of her neighbors to make this potion. The catch? Addy may only collect sugar from a neighbor whose life has not been touched by loss. You can only imagine what Addy finds and learns during this journey. . .
Donated to our library by Companion Lauren Blanar in honor of her late best friend, Jesse Holmes’s book “Georgia in the Jungle” tackles the topic of a young girl, Georgia, who is mourning the death of her best friend Sienna. Georgia is hurting, so her mom brings her to the zoo to connect with nature – a very healing activity! Through the animals, Georgia begins to process and feel her feelings, which we know is the only way toward healing.
Caroline Roodhouse’s book “Daddy Blackbird” is a raw, unflinching look at coping with the reality of suicide in the home. When her husband and father of her children died by suicide, Caroline found herself navigating her own anger and grief while also attempting to help her children heal as healthily as possible. Spoiler: it wasn’t always pretty! This is an excellent book for someone who loves to “tell it like it is,” especially in the face of life’s tragedies.
In the book “Always Sisters” by Saira Mir, narrator Raya is SO excited to be a big sister! She can’t wait for her baby sister to be born so that they can be best friends forever. One very sad day, Raya learns that her sister is not going to be born because she has died. But what about being a big sister?? Raya goes through some big feelings, learns coping, and finds that she will always have the identity of “big sister!”
When a parent is diagnosed with cancer, it can be scary and confusing. Adults often think children will be upset if the diagnosis is discussed, but it’s actually the opposite – talking about it makes it feels less scary! Sheetal Sheth’s book “Making Happy” is a gorgeously illustrated book that shows how, even through the changes that cancer brings, joy can still be found in the love of family.
After a loss, feelings of grief can cast a cloud over our day. Kate Hauser’s book “The Cloud” puts this metaphor right on the page! And yet – what if that cloud is actually the shadow of big, beautiful love we have for our person – and we can learn to find healing in having it accompany us through life? This is a perfect book for a child of any age to relate to after a loss.
It’s so important for children to see their own lived experiences in the pages of a book, and that is perfectly illustrated in Gayle Burne’s “Sometimes its Grandma and Grandpa (Not Mommy and Daddy).” Not all children live with a Mommy and a Daddy, and that’s okay! As long as there are safe, secure adults by their side, children can thrive – but it’s important to process feelings of uncertainty. And what better tool to use than a book!
When Benito’s dog, Perro, dies, Benito wants to do anything he can do remember his beloved best friend. The Day of the Dead celebration is meant for this exact thing – so Benito gets to work creating an altar for Perro. Throughout this beautifully illustrated book, watch Benito find hope and healing in his ritual for Perro.
