In Kathe Martin Copeland’s Mama’s Going to Heaven Soon, a little girl learns that her mom has terminal cancer. Her father finds all the right words to tell her what is happening, and that makes this book a perfect guide for any parent who is preparing their child for the death of a loved one.
The death of a sibling is a unique loss that often leaves parents confused about how to help their surviving children process what has happened. “Forever Connected” by Jessica Correnti is a beautifully illustrated example of a bereaved sibling’s experience, intertwining stories from many walks of life. This book provides the perfect language for rituals and remembering!
When an infant sibling dies, it is so important to remind your other children that their brother or sister are still an important part of the family. Megan Lacourrege’s “My Sibling Still” reads as a love letter to the sibling who has passed, showing how the family remembers and cherishes their spirit-side child. This is a beautiful book for children of all ages!
The best way to tell if a book is right for you is to open it up, flip through the pages, and get a sense for the feeling it provides. When your child or teen pops open A Kids Book About Grief by Brennan Wood, they will immediately be blown away by just how stunning the book is. Reading almost like a graphic novel without pictures, this resource is sure to engage a child of any age!
When young Rachel realizes her grandfather, Zayde, is moving into her family’s house permanently, she suspects something is going on. In Sheri Sinykin’s Zayde Comes to Live, we follow Rachel as she learns through eavesdropping and clue-solving that Zayde is dying. Rachel seeks advice from her friends, her Rabbi, and her family, before coming to understand that the love between her and Zayde will outlast his physical life on this earth. Though his death will hurt her heart, Rachel knows she will never be living a life “without” her Zayde!
You Wouldn’t Understand by Eileen Ennis tells the story of a fourth-grade class whose teacher dies unexpectedly. The narrator of our story, a 9-year-old student, thinks that no one understands his pain. But when he sees all of his classmates talking about their feelings, he realizes that expressing himself might be the way to go!
Children naturally have questions when someone they love dies, and it is a tall order for adults to know what to say! Julia Alvarez’s book “Where do They Go?” is a gentle, poetic look into exploring loss-related questions. As always, the illustrations are breath-taking. Don’t miss this one on our shelves!
When a child loses a parent, it can leave their remaining caregivers in a state of limbo. How do you know what to say to your child when they are hurting? When Mom or Dad Dies by Daniel Grippo is a wonderful resource that empowers caregivers to open the door for conversation with young children about loss, feelings of sorrow, and healing.
When Author Pat Schweibert wanted to pen a resource to help children who are experiencing the loss of their family’s pregnancy, she beautifully titled her book, We Were Gonna Have a Baby, But We had An Angel Instead. This amazing resource explains to young children who were expecting a baby to join the family how to instead grow a spiritual relationship with their sibling. The book meets children where they are at, even acknowledging that “a baby would have been more fun.” This book is a great support for a bereaved family.
You are in for a treat with this whimsical yet enthralling book! Turned Upside Down by Teana Tache is actually two books. . .when you finish one side, just flip the book around to start the next story! This incredible resource helps children foster their spiritual connection to their special person who has died, by showing how signs and symbols from our loved ones can feel like a unique form of communication.