In honor of Children’s Grief Awareness Month we want to share some meaningful books for kids and teens. Grief is hard for kids to put into words — these books can help open conversations, build understanding, and create emotional safety.
With guidance from Annie Gunning, our CCLS and Grief Counselor, we are here to help families create safe spaces where children can process loss, find comfort, and begin healing.
Recommended Books
Browse the recommended books by age range.
Ages 0-3
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
The Goodbye Booky by Todd Parr
In My Heart - A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
Something Very Sad Happened by Bonnie Zucker
The Feelings Book by Todd Parr
My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas
Something Small - A Story About Remembering by Rebecca Honig (Sesame Street)
Where Are You: A Children's Book About Loss by Laura Olivieri
Feeling All My Grief by Kim T.S.
Goodbye: A First Conversation About Grief by Megan Madison
The Memory Tree by Britta Teckentrup
Glad Monster, Sad Monster by Ed Emberley
The Feelings Activity Book for Toddlers by Stacy Spensley
Let's Talk About Our Baby: A Book for Families After SIDS by Lauren Camerona
A Little Spot of Feelings by Diane Alber
Ages 4-5
Remembering Ethan by Leslea Newman
Tears by Sibylle Delacroix
Why Do We Cry? by Fran Pintadera
Cape by Kevin Johnson
The ABCs of Grief by Jessica Correnti
What Does Grief Look Like? by Korie Leigh
You'll Find Me by Amanda Rawson Hill
Why Do I Feel Sad? by Tracy Lambert
Everywhere, Still by M.H. Clark
Ben's Flying Flowers by Dr. Inger Maier PhD & Maria Bogade
I Will Always Love You: A Journey of Grief and Loss to Hope and Love by Melissa Lyons
The Memory Box: A Book About Grief by Joanna Rowland
One Wave at a Time: A Story About Grief and Healing by Holly Thompson
The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
Timmy's Christmas Surprise by Karla Wheeler
The Funeral by Matt James
Ida, Always by Caron Levis
Roney was a Tortoise by Nan Forler & Yong Ling Kang
The Garden of Creatures by Sheila Heti
When Someone Dies by Andrea Dorn
A Land Called Grief by Maddie Janes
The Color Monster by Anna Llenas
More Than Sad by Laura Camerona
Lost in the Clouds by Tom Tinn-Disbury
When the Dinosaurs Roar by Amber Smith
Grief is a Mess by Jackie Shuld
Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You by Nancy Correnti
The ABCs of Grief - Emotions and Feelings by Jessica Correnti
I Can't Believe They're Gone by Karen Brough
Always Remember by Cece Meng
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
My Hot Air Balloon Ride by Alexa Gretchell
The Hole by Lindsay Bonilla
Grief is an Elephant by Tamara Ellis Smith
Someone I Loved Had Died - A Grief Activities Book for Children by Catherine & Jenny Stephenson
Our Lake by Angie Kang
Still Mine by Jayne Pillemer
The Cloud: A Gentle Love Story About Grief, Loss, & Love by Kate Houser
Goodbye, Bear by Jane Chapman
Missing Violet by Kelly Swenba
The Bear-Shaped Hole by John Dougherty
Ages 6-10
I Hope You Will Know by Jaren Ahlmann
How I Feel: A Grief Journal for Kids by Mia Roldan
Death is Stupid by Anastasia Higginbotham
A Kids Book About Death by Taryn Schuelke
Badger's Parting Gift by Susan Varley
Check In: Being Present by Virginia Loh-Hagan
Where Are You Lydie? by Emma Poore
My Forever Guardian by Kristina Bingham Jones
Grief is Like a Snowflake by Julia Cook
The Boy and the Gorilla by Jackie Azua Kramer & Cindy Derby
Angel Catcher for Kids by Amy Eldon
My Emotions Journal by Lilly's Journal
Draw It Out by Art with Heart
Forever Connected by Jessica Correnti
Nana and Me and the Tree by Amanda Silva
You'll Be There by Amanda Rawson Hill
The Grief Bubble by Kerry Debay
Tear Soup by Pat Schwiebert
How I Feel: A Coloring Book for Grieving Children by Alan Wolfelt
A Birthday Present for Daniel by Juliet Rothman
Memory Stones by Kathy Kacer
13 Ways to Say Goodbye by Kate Fussner
Finding Lost by Holly Goldberg Sloan
I Have a Question About Death: Clear Answers for All Kids by Arlen Grad Gaines
Middle School
Grieving the Sibling You Lost by Erica Goldblatt Hyatt
Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith
Ink About It by Art with Heart
It Won't Ever Be the Same: A Teen's Guide to Grief & Grieving by Korie Leigh
Weird is Normal When Teenagers Grieve by Jenny Lee Wheeler
Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers by Earl A. Grollman
Guts by Raina Telgemeier
Losing Someone You Love - When a Brother or Sister Dies by Elizabeth Richter
That Summer by Tony Johnston
13 Ways to Say Goodbye by Kate Fussner
Finding Lost by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Healing a Teen's Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas by Alan Wolfelt
Deconstruction/Reconstruction: A Grief Journal for Teens Created by Teens Who Are Grieving
High School
Chill and Spill by Steffanie Lorig & Jeanean Jacobs
Wreck This Journal by Keri Smith
Tru Confessions by Janet Tashijan
Chronic Illnesses, Syndromes, and Rare Disorders by Marlene Brill
Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata
Physical Disabilities by Denis Thorton
If Only by Carole Geithner
Teen Grief Relief by Heidi Horsley PsyD & Gloria Horsley PhD
The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds
The Grieving Teens by Helen Fitzgerald
Weird is Normal When Teenagers Grieve by Jenny Lee Wheeler
Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins by Enid Samuel Traisman
Common Threads of Teenage Grief by Teens Who Know & Janet Tyson
Annie Gunning, our on-staff Certified Child Life Specialist and Grief Counselor, is trained to provide coping strategies and suggestions for making memories through the bereavement and grief journey for the whole family—parents, siblings, and extended relatives.
For more resources on supporting children in their grief: Connect to support at HIE.support.
