Staff Picks
Sometimes I'm Sad: Talking to Children about Tragedy
- Rebecca T.
- Thursday, July 19, 2018
Collection
Books are one of the best ways to open the door on a topic, to start a discussion with your children about tough issues. Reading a story about the death of a loved one, a family pet, or even a leaf in autumn, can help young children begin to understand that sad events and tragedy are sometimes a part of life. Books are also a meaningful way to connect with your child as you start conversations about difficult news stories or tragic events. We've listed some of the best books here for you and your family to share.
Where Are You Now?
Published in 2019
"Told in simple but powerful prose, and illustrated by the author in a wash of brilliant watercolor, Tyler Clark Burke's Where Are You Now? is a beautiful small book about change, death and transformation. As the tenth anniversary of her mother's death approached, Tyler Clark Burke set about creating a picture book to share her mother's memory--and more poignantly, her death--with her two young children. The result is a picture book that communicates a powerful underlying idea--that death catalyzes powerful growth, contemplation, and regeneration in its wake."-- Provided by publisher.
Missing Mommy
A Book About Bereavement
Published in 2013
Daddy comforts and reassures a very young boy after Mommy dies.
Big Cat, Little Cat
Published in 2017
"A moving tale about friendship, new beginnings, and cats"-- Provided by publisher.
The Rabbit Listened
Published in 2018
"When Taylor's block castle is destroyed, all the animals think they know just what to do, but only the rabbit quietly listens to how Taylor is feeling"-- Provided by publisher.
One More Wednesday
Published in 2001
When a little animal's grandmother dies, he remembers good times with her and asks his mother about death.
Always and Forever
Published in 2004
A family of forest animals learns to cope with the death of a loved one.
If Nathan Were Here
Published in 2000
A young boy grieves the loss of his best friend and thinks about how things would be if he were still alive.
Part of Me Died, Too
Stories of Creative Survival Among Bereaved Children and Teenagers
Published in 1995
Maybe Dying is Like Becoming a Butterfly
Published in 2019
A philosophical conversation about death from the author of I Give You My Heart. "Are you going to die, Grandpa?" "Someday, sweetheart. But I hope not too soon." Their simple exchange covers a lot of philosophical ground. Grandpa allows that "no one really knows" what happens after death, but he tells Christopher that some people think of heaven ("a place without sadness or war"), others of rebirth ("each time, you get wiser"), and others of "nothing" ("the same as before you were born"). The pair discusses the whys of death ("dying is part of life"), birth ("to learn all sorts of things"), and feelings of fear or comfort about dying.
That Summer
Published in 2002
A family, including a child who is dying, sews together a quilt of its memories and love.
Waiting to Sing
Story
Published in 2000
A family that loves music and spends many hours at the piano is devastated by the death of the mother, but those still living find consolation in the beautiful music that also remains.
Remembering Crystal
Published in 2010
Zelda is a young duck that lives in the garden. Her friend Crystal is a turtle who is growing old. The two do many things together. One day Crystal is not in the garden. But friendship never dies.
Loss and Grief
Published in 2015
"The death of a loved one is a heartbreaking event in a child's life. This book will guide readers through the feelings and questions they might have after such a loss and identify what grief is and how it is different for each person. Readers are encouraged to accept their feelings and talk them out with the people in their support system."--Provided by publisher.
The Scar
Published in 2011
When his mother dies, a little boy is angry at his loss but does everything he can to hold onto the memory of her scent, her voice, and the special things she did for him, even as he tries to help his father and grandmother cope.
The President Sang Amazing Grace
Published in 2019
'Following the 2015 mass shooting that took nine lives in a historic Black church in Charleston, South Carolina, President Obama sang "Amazing grace" to a grieving congregation and nation. Inspired by the event, songwriter Zoe Mulford wrote a song called "The president sang amazing grace."' This picture book features the lyrics of this song and the paintings by filmmaker Jeff Scher, originally created for a short film for the song, performed by Joan Baez. -- front book flap
The Goodbye Book
Published in 2015
Illustrations and brief text relate how a person might feel when they lose someone they love.
The Breaking News
Published in 2018
When devastating news rattles a young girl's community, her normally attentive parents and neighbors are suddenly exhausted and distracted. At school, her teacher tells the class to look for the helpers-the good people working to make things better in big and small ways. She wants more than anything to help in a BIG way, but maybe she can start with one small act of kindness instead ... and then another, and another. Small things can compound, after all, to make a world of difference. Both timely and timeless, this charmingly illustrated debut picture book from Sarah Lynne Reul touches on themes of community, resilience, and optimism with an authenticity that will resonate with readers young and old.
Cry Heart, but Never Break
Published in 2016
"Aware their grandmother is gravely ill, four siblings make a pact to keep death from taking her away. But Death does arrive all the same, as it must. He comes gently, naturally. And he comes with enough time to share a story with the children that helps them to realize the value of loss to life and the importance of being able to say goodbye."--from amazon.com
Michael Rosen's Sad Book
Published in 2005
A man tells about all the emotions that accompany his sadness over the death of his son, and how he tries to cope.
Dog Heaven
Published in 1995
God created Dog Heaven, a place where dogs can eat ice cream biscuits, sleep on fluffy clouds, and run through unending fields.
For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World
Published in 2020
Growing up, Jeremiah is puzzled by racially-motivated gun violence in and beyond his community but when he is ready to talk about it, he learns hopeful forms of activism and advocacy.
Finding the Words
How to Talk with Children and Teens About Death, Suicide, Funerals, Homicide, Cremation and Other End-of-life Matters.
Published in 2013
With this compassionate book by respected grief counselor and educator Dr. Alan Wolfelt, readers will find simplified and suitable methods for talking to children and teenagers about sensitive topics with an emphasis on the subject of death. Honest but child-appropriate language is advocated, and various wording and levels of explanation are suggested for different ages when discussing topics such as death in general, suicide, homicide, accidental death, the death of a child, terminal illness, pet death, funerals, and cremation. An ideal book for parents, caregivers, and counselors looking for an easy resource when talking to youths about death, this book can be used for any setting, religious or otherwise.
Sweet, Sweet Memory
Published in 2000
A child and her grandmother feel sad when Grandpa dies, but as time passes, funny memories of him make them laugh and feel better.