Children & Youth Grief Resources

The Heart and the Bottle - Oliver Jeffers, 2010. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a girl who bottles up her heart after losing a loved one, and how she learns to open it again.

Where Do They Go? - Julia Alvarez, 2016. This lyrical picture book explores the concept of death and the enduring presence of loved ones.

I Miss You: A First Look at Death - Pat Thomas, 2001. Provides a gentle introduction to the concepts of death and grief, helping children understand and cope with their emotion.

You Are the Best Medicine - Julie Aigner Clark, 2010. This book helps children understand and cope with a parent’s illness, emphasizing the love and connection that remains strong even during difficult times.

The Empty Room: Surviving the Loss of a Brother or Sister at Any Age - Elizabeth DeVita-Raeburn, 2004. This book provides a comprehensive look at the unique grief experienced by siblings, offering personal stories and expert insights.

Sibling Grief: Healing After the Death of a Sister or Brother - P. Gill White, 2008. White explores the emotional journey of losing a sibling and provides practical advice for healing.

Surviving the Death of a Sibling: Living Through Grief When an Adult Brother or Sister Dies - T.J. Wray, 2003. This book offers support and guidance for adults coping with the loss of a sibling, drawing from the author’s own experience.

Making Lemonade: Choosing a Positive Pathway After Losing Your Sibling - Zander Sprague, 2013. Sprague shares his personal journey of finding positivity and purpose after the loss of his sister.

The Last Time I Saw You: A Sibling Anthology: Death of a Sibling - Danielle Lee Zwissler, 2018. This anthology includes stories and reflections from various authors about their experiences with sibling loss

I Miss the Baby: A Child’s Grief Process Following the Miscarriage of a Sibling - Irma G. Prosser and illustrated by Emma Marsh, 2022. A sensitive and compassionate children’s picture book designed to help young children understand and process the grief associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, or pregnancy loss.

Once for Yes - Allie Millington, 2025. A heartfelt middle-grade novel that celebrates the power of community and the endurance of love.

Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs - Tomie dePaola, 2000. A touching story about a young boy’s relationship with his grandmother and greatgrandmother, and how he copes with their passing.

My Superhero Grandpa - Michele McAvoy, 2016. This book celebrates the special bond between a child and their grandparent, offering comfort and understanding through the story of a superhero grandpa.

The Heart and the Bottle - Oliver Jeffers, 2010. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of a girl who bottles up her heart after losing a loved one, and how she learns to open it again.

Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories - Audrey Penn, 2011. After his friend Skiddel Squirrel dies, Chester Raccoon learns to cope with the loss by sharing and appreciating memories of their times together.

Ida, Always - Caron Levis and Charles Santoso, 2016. This touching story follows a polar bear dealing with the sickness and loss of a friend, offering a gentle way to discuss death and grief.

The Goodbye Book - Todd Parr, 2015. A pet fish loses a friend and copes with feelings of sadness and grief, presented in a simple and accessible way for young children.

The Invisible String - Patrice Karst, 2018. This comforting story reassures children that they are always connected to their loved ones through an invisible string made of love.

Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss - Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen, 2005. This story uses the metaphor of making soup to help children understand and express their grief.

When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death - Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown, 1998. This book uses dinosaurs to explain death and the feelings that come with it in a straightforward and gentle manner.

The Goodbye Book - Todd Parr, 2015. A pet fish loses a friend and copes with feelings of sadness and grief, presented in a simple and accessible way for young children.

Ida, Always - Caron Levis and Charles Santoso, 2016. This touching story follows a polar bear dealing with the sickness and loss of a friend, offering a gentle way to discuss death and grief.

Why Do I Feel So Sad?: A Grief Book for Children - Tracy Lambert LPC (Author), Elena Napoli (Illustrator), 2020. Illustrated kid’s book designed to help young children understand their own grief.

Everywhere, Still: A Book about Loss, Grief, and the Way Love Continues - M.H. Clark and Claire Sahara Lemp, 2023. A touching children’s book that explores themes of loss and grief.

The Thing About Jellyfish - Ali Benjamin, 2015. This novel follows a young girl grappling with the sudden death of her best friend, blending scientific curiosity with a poignant exploration of grief.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages - Leo Buscaglia, 1982. This allegorical story helps both children and adults understand the cycle of life and death through the changing seasons of a leaf.

Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins: A Journal for Teens Experiencing a Loss - Enid Samuel Traisman, 1992. This interactive journal provides a space for teens to express their feelings and work through their grief with guided prompts and activities.

Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers: How to Cope with Losing Someone You Love - Earl A. Grollman, 1993. This book offers straightforward advice and support for teens dealing with the loss of a loved one, addressing common feelings and challenges.

When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens About Grieving & Healing - Marilyn E. Gootman, 2019. This book offers compassionate advice and practical strategies for teenagers dealing with the loss of a friend to suicide.

Coping with Grief, Guided Journal for Teen Girls - Thandie Press, 2023. A supportive and interactive journal designed specifically for teenage girls dealing with grief.

As Long As You Need: Permission to Grieve - J.S. Park, 2024. A compassionate guide for those navigating the complex journey of grief.

Why?: A Story for Kids Who Have Lost a Parent to Suicide - Melissa Allen Heath, PhD, and Frances Ives, 2023. A sensitive and compassionate picture book designed to help young children understand and cope with the loss of a parent to suicide.

Supporting Children After a Suicide Loss: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers - Sarah S. Montgomery and Susan M. Coale, 2015. A well-researched and thoughtful guide designed to help parents and caregivers support grieving children after a death by suicide.

My Grief is Like the Ocean: A Story for Children Who Lost a Parent to Suicide - Jessica Biles and Jillian Kelly-Wavering, 2022. A compassionate and therapeutic book designed to help children navigate the complex emotions that come with losing a parent to suicide.

The Requirement of Grief: A Memoir on the Loss of a Sister to Suicide - Danielle Ariano, 2020. A poignant and deeply personal account of the author’s journey through grief after losing her sister, Alexis, to suicide.

Someone I Love Died by Suicide: A Story for Child Survivors and Those Who Care for Them - Doreen Cammarata, 2009. This book provides a gentle and honest explanation of suicide, helping children understand and process their feelings.

But I Didn’t Get to Say Goodbye: Helping Children and Families After a Suicide - Barbara Rubel, 2020. This book provides support for parents and professionals helping children cope with the aftermath of a suicide, with portions that can be read aloud to older children.

Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide: Or Even Starts Talking About It - Earl A. Grollman and Max Malikow, 2010. This book offers practical advice for teenagers dealing with the loss of a friend to suicide, including how to talk about their feelings and avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms.

The Memory Box: A Book About Grief - Joanna Rowland, 2017. This book helps children create a memory box to keep mementos and memories of their loved one, providing a tangible way to remember and honor them.

After a Suicide Death: An Activity Book for Grieving Kids - The Dougy Center, 2001. This activity book offers various exercises and prompts to help children process their emotions and memories after a suicide loss.

The Grief Bubble: Helping Kids Explore and Understand Grief - Kerry DeBay, 2007. This interactive book includes activities and exercises designed to help children understand and express their grief.

My Memory Book: A Journal for Grieving Children - Gretchen Gaines-Lane. This journal provides guided prompts and activities for children to document their memories and feelings about their loved one.

Healing Your Grieving Heart for Kids: 100 Practical Ideas - Alan D. Wolfelt, 2001. This book offers 100 practical activities and ideas to help children express their grief and begin the healing process.