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Image by Mark Timberlake

This page contains books for all ages that are recommended for grief, end of life topics, and helping professionals working in this field.

BOOKS

Books For Children

Books For Childre

Cry, Heart, But Never Break

by Glenn Ringtved, Charlotte Pardi, et al.

Focus: Death comes to visit grandmother 

 

The Invisible String

by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Focus: Continuing bond or connection

 

The Memory Tree

by Britta Teckentrup

Focus: death of a friend and mourning

 

My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon

by Angie Lucas and Birgitta Sif

Focus: Death of mother and the grief after

 

Luna's Red Hat: An Illustrated Storybook to Help Children Cope with Loss and Suicide

By Emmi Smid

Focus: Death and Suicide

 

I Miss You: A First Look at Death

by Pat Thomas and Leslie Harker

Focus: pet loss

 

When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death

by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown

 

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings

by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey

Focus: Emotions

 

The Heart and the Bottle

by Oliver Jeffers

Focus: Grief 

 

The Invisible Leash: An Invisible String Story About the Loss of a Pet

by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff

Focus: Pet Loss

Books For Youth

Books for youth
Fiction

 

Ms. Bixby's Last Day

by John David Anderson

Focus: End of life and illness.

Ms. Bixby unexpectedly announces that she is very sick and won’t be able to finish the school year, they come up with a plan.

 

King and the Dragonflies

by Kacen Callender

“Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.”

 

When You Trap a Tiger

by Tae Keller

“When Lily and her family move in with her sick grandmother, a magical tiger straight out of her halmoni's Korean folktales arrives, prompting Lily to unravel a secret family history. Long, long ago, Halmoni stole something from the tigers. Now, the tigers want it back.”

Non-fiction

Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers: How to Cope with Losing Someone You Love

By Earl A. Grollman

Teen Grief: Caring for the Grieving Teenage Heart

Gary Roe

Books For Adults

Books for adults
Fiction

 

The Boy in the Black Suit

by Jason Reynolds

“Matt wears a black suit every day. No, not because his mom died—although she did, and it sucks. But he wears the suit for his gig at the local funeral home, which pays way better than the Cluck Bucket, and he needs the income since his dad can’t handle the bills (or anything, really) on his own.”

 

Early Departures

by Justin A. Reynolds

 

The Astonishing Color of After

by Emily X.R. Pan

“Leigh Chen Sanders is absolutely certain about one thing: When her mother died by suicide, she turned into a bird.”

 

Dancing at the Pity Party

by Tyler Feder

“Part poignant cancer memoir and part humorous reflection on a motherless life, this debut graphic novel is extraordinarily comforting and engaging.”

Non-fiction
Topic: Grief

Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief

by David Kessler

 

It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand

by Megan Devine and Mark Nepo

 

Topic: Parents helping Children

When a Parent is Sick: Helping Parents Explain Serious Illness to Children 

By Joan Hamilton

 

A Parents Guide to Raising Grieving Children 

By Phyilis Silverman

Books For Therapists

Books for therapists
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