Recommended Reading

RECOMMENDED READING

Each link below will redirect you to Amazon.com where you can learn more about each book, read reviews, or order. Most of these books can also be found at your local library.

For Children and Teens

Understanding Grief and Explaining Death

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages by Leo Buscaglia, 1982
Illustrates the delicate balance between life and death by following the story of Freddie the leaf through changes with each passing season, designed to be a resource for all ages.
Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-Grief Handbook for Children by Michaelene Mundy, 1998
A comforting, realistic look at loss helping to promote honest and healthy grief in toddlers and children throughout development.
When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown, 1996
A comprehensive, succinct guide to navigate conversations about death with children and answer kids’ most frequently asked questions.

Mama’s Going to Heaven Soon by Kathe Martin Copeland and Elissa Hudson, 2005
A father tells his children their sick mother Is dying. Includes advice for caregivers on how to talk to children about death.
Why Did You Die? Activities to Help Children Cope with Grief and Loss by Erika Leeuwenburgh and Ellen Goldring, 2008
A workbook offering tools to help a grieving child deal with the kaleidoscope of feelings, thoughts, myths, and questions that arise during grief.

Ages 2-5

Lost and Found: Remembering a Sister by Ellen Yeomans and Dee Derosa, 2000
A child’s search for understanding the death of her sister. Understanding her own grief and coping with he emotions of those around her, this child finds her way to healing.
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst and Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, 2018
A bestselling picture book about the unbreakable connections between loved ones, even after they are gone.
When Sophie Gets Angry – Really, Really Angry… by Molly Bang, 2004
This book talks about different ways to handle anger.
Comfy-Cozy Nest (Bilingual) by Sesame Street

Traumatic experiences are a big deal… but Big Bird’s got a big spirit, a big heart, and big dreams. That’s why he’s the perfect bird to teach kids (and grown-ups too!) how to imagine the important coping strategy of creating their own safe place inside. Use this storybook to help kids learn the strategy themselves.
Something Small (Bilingual) by Sesame Street
Show children that even a small memory can help us remember loved ones. In this book, Elmo’s cousin Jesse has lost her daddy.

The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr, 2015
A moving story about saying goodbye told through the pens of a pet fish who has lost his companion.
The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers, 2010
#1 New York Times bestseller – a poignant story about finding joy after loss.
Brave, Strong, Resilient by Sesame Street, 2017
Children face many challenges in life, and learning to cope with these obstacles is part of growing. This guide has been created for adults and kids to use together to develop during challenges in life. You will learn about feelings, build confidence, solve problems, lead with “I can do it,” and identify the circle of care.

Ages 6-9

Sophie by Mem Fox and Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson, 1997
A book about the loss of a young girl’s grandfather, showcasing family love and the natural cycle of birth, life, and death.
Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert, Chuck DeKlyen, and Taylor Bills, 2005
Ida, Always by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso, 2016
A story about two best friends, inspired by a real bear friendship, reminding us that loved ones will always stay in our hearts.
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst and Erik Blegvad, 1987
A story about a child who loses his pet cat.
Comfy-Cozy Nest (Bilingual) by Sesame Street

Traumatic experiences are a big deal… but Big Bird’s got a big spirit, a big heart, and big dreams. That’s why he’s the perfect bird to teach kids (and grown-ups too!) how to imagine the important coping strategy of creating their own safe place inside. Use this storybook to help kids learn the strategy themselves.
Something Small (Bilingual) by Sesame Street
Show children that even a small memory can help us remember loved ones. In this book, Elmo’s cousin Jesse has lost her daddy.

Finding Grandpa Everywhere: A Young Child Discovers Memories of a Grandparent by John Hodge and Susan Aitken, 1998
After his grandfather dies, a young boy finds memories of him and his love live on everywhere he looks.
A Dog Like Jack by DyAnne DiSalvo, 1999
A story about confronting inevitable changes with an aging pet and coping with loss.
Cry, Heart, but Never Break by Glenn Ringtved, Charlotte Pardi, and Robert Moulthrop, 2016
Four siblings try to keep death from taking their grandmother away, but death does arrive gently and naturally, taking time to share a story with children that helps them realize the value of loss, life, and the importance of saying goodbye.
Brave, Strong, Resilient by Sesame Street, 2017
Children face many challenges in life, and learning to cope with these obstacles is part of growing. This guide has been created for adults and kids to use together to develop during challenges in life. You will learn about feelings, build confidence, solve problems, lead with “I can do it,” and identify the circle of care.

Ages 10-13

Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert, Chuck DeKlyen, and Taylor Bills, 2005
Rich with wisdom and concrete recommendations designed to validate your grief and spur important conversations following loss.
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White and Garth Williams, 2012
A tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death.

A Taste of Blackberries by Doris Buchanan Smith and Michael Wimmer, 2004
A story about a young boy who loses his best friend. A story about coping with change and grief after losing a friend.
The Dragonfly Secret: A Story of Boundless Love by Clea Adams, John Adams, and Barbara Gibson, 2008
Encourages children and adults to explore life’s infinite possibilities. Part mystery, part surprise, this timeless story celebrates the dragonfly’s gift to others.

Teens 13+

The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends by Helen Fitzgerald, 2000
A compassionate guide by renown grief counselor, Fitzgerald focuses on the needs of adolescents struggling with loss and gives teens tools to work through their pain and grief.
If Only by Carole Geithner, 2020
A novel following the story of a teenage girl’s journey through oss and grief after the death of her mother.
Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers: How to Cope with Losing Someone You Love by Earl Grollman, 1993
A book written for teenagers coping with the loss of a friend or relative.

Help for the Hard Times: Getting Through Loss by Earl Hipp and L. K. Hanson, 1995
Discusses young people’s experiences with loss to provide tools for healthy grieving.
You Are Not Alone: Teens Talk about Life after the Loss of a Parent by Lynn Hughes, 2005
Words of reassurance and strategies for coping with the loss of a parent.

For Adults

Grieving Mindfully: A Compassionate and Spiritual Guide to Coping with Loss by Sameet Kumar
A guide to help you transform and heal your grief by helping to connect you with spirituality and emotional resilience.
Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing After Loss by Pat Schwiebert, and Chuck DeKlyen
If you are going to buy only one book on grief, this is the one to get! It will validate your grief experience, and you can share it with your children. You can leave it on the coffee table so others will pick it up, read it, and then better appreciate your grieving time. Grand’s Cooking Tips section at the back of the book is rich with wisdom and concrete recommendations. Better than a casserole!

I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye: Surviving, Coping, and Healing After the Sudden Death of a Loved One by Brook Noel and Pamela Blair
A comforting guide to help you through the grieving process, from the first weeks to the longer-term emotional and physical effects of loss.

Grieving a Parent

Death of a Parent: Transition to a New Adult Identity by Debra Umberson, 2006
A book discussing the ways adults, far from the “finished” beings we are assumed to be, can be profoundly impacted by the death of a parent.
Forgiving Our Parents, Forgiving Ourselves: The Definitive Guide by Dr. David Stoop, 1991
Helping to heal the grief that accompanies growing up in a dysfunctional household.
Healing the Adult Child’s Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas After Your Parent Dies by Alan D. Wolfelt, 2002
Simple, realistic suggestions for adult children whose parent(s) have died.

The Orphaned Adult by Alexander Levy, 2000
A book designed to guide readers through the storm of change that follows losing both parents with compassionate and reassuring wisdom.
How to Survive the Loss of a Parent: A Guide for Adults by Lois Akner and Catherine Whitney, 1994
Therapist Lois F. Akner explains why the loss of a parent is different from other losses and how it is possible to work through grief.
The Modern Loss Handbook: An Interactive Guide to Moving Through Grief and Building Your Resilience by Rebecca Soffer, 2022
An interactive guide to help you stay connected to yourself and the world around you in the aftermath of loss.

Grieving a Father

Fatherloss: How Sons of All Ages Come to Terms with the Deaths of Their Dads by Neil Chethik, 2001
The first book specifically focusing on how sons cope with the loss of their fathers.

Longing for Dad: Father Loss and Its Impact by Beth Erickson, 1998
A resource to help identify, validate, and heal the pain surrounding the loss of a father.

Grieving a Mother

Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman, 2014
Profound and far-reaching, this book reveals the shared experiences and core identity shift of motherless women.
Motherless Mothers: How Losing a Mother Shapes the Parent You Become by Hope Edelman, 2007
Filled with practical insight and advice for parenting choices, triumphs, and fears, offering motherless mothers the guidance and support they need.

Healing After the Loss of Your Mother by Elaine Mallon, 2018
A practical guidebook for those mourning the loss of their mother.
Things I Wish I Knew Before My Mom Died: Coping with Loss Every Day by Ty Alexander, 2016
A book to help soothe the pain of losing a loved one, assistance to understand grief, and comfort while learning how to move forward.

Grieving a Spouse or Partner

It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture that Doesn’t Understand by Megan Devine
A profound new approach to both experience and understand grief by challenging myths about grief, providing wisdom, and practical guidance.
Comfort for the Grieving Spouse’s Heart: Hope and Healing After Losing Your Partner by Gary Roe, 2019
Brief chapters designed to be read one chapter per day, giving you small pieces of comfort, encouragement, and healing over a period of time as you cope with the loss of a life partner.
A Grief Observed by C. S. Lewis, 2015
A classic work on grief offering honest reflections on the fundamental issues of life, death, and loss.
Widow to Widow: Thoughtful, Practical Ideas for Rebuilding Your Life by Genevieve Davis Ginsburg, 2004
Widow, author, and therapist, Ginsburg offers her perspective on coping with anger, guilt, dating, money, and maintaining family relationships after the loss of a spouse.

I’m Grieving as Fast as I Can: How Young Widows and Widowers can Cope and Heal by Linda Feinberg, 1994
Young widows and widowers share thoughts about losing a partner, how to talk to children, returning to work, and managing relationships with in-laws.
Lost my Partner – What’ll I Do? By Laurie Spector and Ruth Spector Webster, 2008
A clear, practical guide for coping and finding strength when your spouse or partner dies.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion, 2007
A powerful memoir which chronicles the author’s first year coping with the sudden loss of her husband.
The Widowed Dancer: Growing Through Grief with Gratitude by Bryan Martin, 2022
A book showcasing social media posts, blog posts, insights, and reflections following multiple losses in a short timeframe.

Grieving a Child

Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief by Dr. Joanne Cacciatore
A companion for life’s most difficult times. This book offers a path to open hearts to connection, compassion, and shared humanity after an earth shattering loss.

The Grieving Garden: Living with the Death of a Child by Suzanne Redfern and Susan Gilbert, 2008
Readers are welcomed into a community of common understanding that you can enter at will, at your own pace, for reassurance and hope after the loss of a child.