Error: List cannot contain more than 100 items.

Dealing with Death/Loss in Picture BooksUnpublished

Picture books for children to help them work through and put words to the loss of a loved one.

Updated September 19, 2022

Unbound Librarians Unbound Librarians

This is your list in printable form. Simply print this page using your browser's print command.

Dealing with Death/Loss in Picture Books

Picture books for children to help them work through and put words to the loss of a loved one.

List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.
List cannot contain more than 100 items.

Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.

A Stone for Sascha

Aaron Becker

Paper Book

A girl grieves the loss of her dog in an achingly beautiful wordless epic from the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of Journey. This year's summer vacation will be very different for a young girl and her family without Sascha, the beloved family dog, along for the ride. But...

A Last Goodbye

Elin Kelsey

Paper Book

How do we say goodbye to a loved one after they die? This book broaches a difficult topic in a heartfelt way by exploring the beauty in how animals mourn. From elephants to whales, parrots to bonobos, and lemurs to humans, we all have rituals to commemorate our loved ones and to lift each other up...

Where Lily Isn't

Julie Paschkis

Paper Book

Where Lily Isn't is Julie Paschkis and Margaret Chodos-Irvine's beautiful bereavement picture book celebrating the love of a lost pet. Lily ran and jumped and barked and whimpered and growled and wiggled and wagged and licked and snuggled. But not...

The Boy and the Gorilla

Jackie Azua Kramer

Paper Book

This profoundly moving tale about a grieving boy and an imaginary gorilla makes real the power of talking about loss. On the day of his mother's funeral, a young boy conjures the very visitor he needs to see: a gorilla. Wise and gentle, the gorilla stays on to answer the heart...

Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler's Guide to Understanding Death

Bonnie Zucker

Paper Book

A Gentle, Supportive Story to Help Young Children Understand the Death of a Loved One This compassionate picture book gives very young children a simple and honest way to understand death and the feelings that come with losing someone they love. Written for two- and three-year-olds, the...

Dance Like a Leaf

AJ Irving

Paper Book

"This lovely Spanish translation of Dance Like a Leaf contains melodic language and high-level vocabulary that create a sophisticated, heart-tugging story about how our loved ones never truly leave us" - Booklist As her grandmother's health declines, a young girl begins to...

Ida, Always

Caron Levis

Paper Book

A beautiful, honest portrait of loss and deep friendship told through the story of two iconic polar bears. Gus lives in a big park in the middle of an even bigger city, and he spends his days with Ida. Ida is right there. Always. Then one sad day, Gus learns that Ida...

The Pond

Nicola Davies

Paper Book

A touching picture book for children about a young boy and his family overcoming the loss of his father. This colorful, emotional book is filled with natural imagery, centering on a small pond in the garden, and will teach children not only about death and loss, but the importance of the natural...

Harry & Hopper

Margaret Wild

Paper Book

When Harry's beloved dog Hopper dies, he has a hard time letting go, as Harry sees Hopper still in his life. Are Hopper's visits to Harry the boy's imagination, or is the dog truly leaving Harry gradually, once he makes sure his boy will be all right? Eyes will not stay dry as readers experience...

Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?: Explaining (sudden) death in words very young children can understand

Elke Barber

Paper Book

When we were on a No Girls Allowed! holiday, my daddy's heart stopped beating and I had to find help all by myself. He was very badly broken. Not even the ambulance people could help him... This honest, sensitive and beautifully illustrated picture book is designed to help...

Death Is Stupid

Anastasia Higginbotham

Paper Book

'She's in a better place now,' adults say again and again when someone dies. But it doesn't seem better, it seems stupid. This forthright exploration of grief and mourning recognises the anger, confusion and fear that we feel about death - but refuses to succumb to banalaties when talking about it....

It's Tough to Lose Your Balloon

Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Paper Book

Lost balloons. Melted ice cream. Babysitters. Life as a kid can be pretty daunting. But don't let these troubles get you down. With the right attitude, a hurdle can become a hammock and an obstacle can become an opportunity! Veteran picture book creator Jarrett J....

Grandma's Gloves

Cecil Castellucci

Paper Book

From a debut illustrator comes a story about a child who loses a beloved grandparent finds comfort in carrying on the activities they shared in this sweet, genuine look at a universal rite of passage. Grandma is always on her knees in the dirt, with her gardening gloves on,...

The Goodbye Book

Todd Parr

Paper Book

From New York Times bestselling author Todd Parr comes this poignant and reassuring story about loss. With his colorful illustrations, playful humor, and inclusive storytelling, beloved author Todd Parr has long been a favorite among young readers and...

Missing Mommy: A Book About Bereavement

Rebecca Cobb

Paper Book

Some time ago, we said good-bye to Mommy. I am not sure where she has gone. Honest and straightforward, this touching story explores the many emotions a bereaved child may experience, from anger and guilt to sadness and bewilderment. Ultimately, Missing Mommy focuses on the...

Sammy in the Sky

Barbara Walsh

Paper Book

A deeply affecting tale of love, loss, and remembrance -- told in clear-eyed prose by a top journalist and illustrated by a renowned American painter. Sammy, the best hound dog in the whole wide world, loves his girl and she loves him. When illness cuts Sammy's life short, the...

The Heart and the Bottle

Oliver Jeffers

Paper Book

From #1 New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers, comes a poignant and beautiful story about finding joy after loss. There is a wonder and magic to childhood. We don't realize it at the time, of course . . . yet the adults in our lives do. They encourage us to see...

Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You

Nancy Tillman

Paper Book

Perfect for new babies, new grads, Mother's Day, and Father's Day, Nancy Tillman celebrates the ways in which love is forever. . . . I wanted you more than you'll ever know, so I sent love to follow wherever you go. . . . Love is the...

The Scar

Charlotte Moundlic

Paper Book

A little boy responds to his mother's death in a genuine, deeply moving story leavened by glimmers of humor and captivating illustrations. When the boy in this story wakes to find that his mother has died, he is overwhelmed with sadness, anger, and fear that he will forget her....

Find this list online

https://librarian.syndetics.com/syndeticsunbound/lp/793.1156/list/308

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.