Children’s Books About Grief, Trauma, and Loss

In this modern-day fable about grief, diversity, and family connections, a young girl discovers the joys–and pain–of the creative process.

For anyone going through a difficult passage, this uplifting, beautifully illustrated picture book is about finding optimism in the darkest of places.

George loves Saturdays. That’s because Saturdays mean time with Grandma Stella. The two of them love going on adventures downtown to visit the dinosaur museum and ride on the carousel Even when they stay in, George and Stella have fun together, making cinnamon rolls without popping open a tube and sharing the biggest, best hugs.
Then one day Stella is gone, and George is ready to cancel Saturdays. But when a new addition to the family arrives, George finds a way to celebrate the priceless memories he made with his grandma–while making new ones too.

A touching portrayal of the loss of a grandparent.”When summer started, I got Grampa’s stopwatch,” a small child says. “I don’t want his stopwatch. I want him.” Grampa used to time everything. A race to the end of the street and back: 24 seconds. Eating bubblegum ice cream: 1 minute, 58 seconds. But now, Grampa’s gone. “There are no more Grampa minutes, Grampa seconds,” the child says. “Time just stops.” But as time goes on, the stopwatch becomes a cherished symbol of remembrance, and the child uses it to carry on Grampa’s favorite pastimes and traditions.A treasured ritual from the past can sometimes offer the perfect bridge to the future.

What’s Happening to Grandpa meets Up in this tender, sensitive picture book that gently explains the memory loss associated with aging and diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

After his father dies, Kai experiences all kinds of emotions: sadness, anger, fear, guilt. Sometimes they crash and mix together. Other times, there are no emotions at all–just flatness. As Kai and his family adjust to life without Dad, the waves still roll in.

Daniel Tiger learns how to process the feelings that come with losing someone you love in this thoughtful 8×8 storybook based on an episode of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

A vibrant and honest picture book that helps children through their first bereavement. An invaluable tool for talking about death and celebrating life.

When someone you love dies, you might feel sad, lonely, and confused. What do you do? No matter who your loved one was, this story can help you through the tough times.

When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for kids to express their feelings. This book will help them understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one’s death.

Why do people die? : helping your child understand–with love and illustrations.

Saying goodbye to someone you love is always hard. Saying goodbye when someone you love dies is perhaps the hardest thing of all. Joslin’s simple, thoughtful text and Little’s evocative illustrations explore the pain and grief of saying goodbye and open the door to discussion for readers of any age. The Goodbye Boat provides a message of hope that sadness will ease and comforts with the reassurance that death is not the end.

Grandma took hold of my hand. She leaned over and picked something up off the ground. `See this little bud?¿ she asked. `It was supposed to keep growing and turn into a flower. But it didn¿t, and no one knows why. Most little buds become flowers, but some don¿t. This one died. It will never be a flower now.¿ I held the little bud in my hand. `Just like our baby,¿ I said. Grandma explains you¿re not to blame and we don¿t always have answers.Also available in Spanish

Trevor Romain knows, because it happened to him when his father died. This book can help you through a painful time. Trevor answers questions you might wonder about–”Why do people have to die?””Is the death my fault?””What happens to the person’s body?””How can I say good-bye?”–in simple, honest words. He describes the strong, confusing feelings you might have and suggests ways to feel better. He tells you it’s okay to cry, talk about the death, grieve … and go on with your life.

An early social issues series, which helps children to understand their feelings when faced with new situations or challenges.

A young girl describes the anger and sadness she feels after someone she loved dies, and makes a scrapbook to remember the things they did together.