Gentle Guides Through Grief: Children’s Books on Bereavement
Loss is one of the hardest parts of life—and one of the hardest subjects to talk about with children. How do you explain why someone they love is gone, or why a pet will never come back? How do you honor their sadness without overwhelming them? Books can be a bridge in those moments, offering language, comfort, and gentle honesty when words feel impossible.
The stories below take on grief in many forms—losing a grandparent, saying goodbye to a beloved pet, or facing the deeper questions of mortality. Each one provides children with a safe space to explore their feelings while reassuring them that love does not end with loss. Whether through tender storytelling, warm illustrations, or interactive activities, these books become companions for families navigating the journey of bereavement together.
Saturdays with Gramps by Marissa BaderMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Finding Joy in the Memories
Some of the most meaningful moments in childhood aren’t big events—they’re the quiet, ordinary rituals that children look forward to week after week. Saturdays with Gramps by Marissa Bader captures that beautifully, showing how the bond between a grandparent and grandchild is built not on grand gestures, but on time, presence, and love.
Each Saturday, a young child spends the day with Gramps, and together they weave a rhythm of laughter, discovery, and connection. There’s no rush, no distraction—just shared activities that transform simple moments into treasured memories. Through gentle storytelling, Bader highlights how consistency and care create a sense of security for children, while also reminding us of the special role grandparents play in shaping who we become and helping to deal with bereavement.
Ellie Beykzadeh’s illustrations are a delight: warm colors, expressive faces, and cozy scenes that radiate joy. They invite readers to linger on each page, almost as if we’re there in the kitchen, the backyard, or the quiet moments in between.
Saturdays with Gramps is more than a story—it’s an invitation. It nudges us to slow down, notice the people who make us feel safe, and cherish the bonds that last across generations. Families will see themselves reflected here, and children will finish the book eager for their own special Saturday.
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NIGHT-NIGHT, NANA: A Child's Guide to Grieving and Loss by Nicola J. MooreMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Helping Children Say Goodbye
Grief is one of the hardest emotions to explain to children, especially when it comes after the loss of someone they love deeply. Night-Night, Nana by Nicola J. Moore approaches this tender subject with honesty, compassion, and warmth, offering a gentle guide for young readers navigating loss.
Through the eyes of a child, the story captures the mix of emotions that follow the death of a beloved grandmother—confusion, sadness, longing, and the need for comfort. Moore’s writing is simple yet profound, providing language children can grasp while never minimizing the depth of their feelings. It’s written with a sensitivity that gives caregivers a way to start conversations about what it means when someone we love is gone.
Will Maccabe’s illustrations soften the subject matter beautifully. The warm palette, expressive faces, and touches of light bring reassurance to each page. Rather than focusing on absence, the images emphasize connection, memory, and the love that continues even after goodbye.
Night-Night, Nana is more than just a story—it’s a resource. Families and educators will find it especially valuable when looking for a way to talk about death with children in a supportive and age-appropriate way. It reminds us that while grief is heavy, love remains a constant presence.
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Everyone You Love Will Die by Daniel CrosbyMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Facing Mortality with Honesty
There are titles that stop you in your tracks, and Daniel Crosby’s Everyone You Love Will Die is one of them. Stark, unsettling, and undeniably blunt, the title alone dares you to confront a truth most of us prefer to avoid. Yet what lies beyond those five words is not a book meant to shock—it’s a deeply reflective guide on what it means to live more fully by acknowledging the inevitability of loss.
Crosby, a psychologist and writer, approaches the subject of mortality with candor but also with compassion. Rather than drifting into morbidity, he uses plain language, humor, and relatable stories to help readers face the fragile nature of life. The paradox he presents is simple but profound: when we accept that everyone we love will eventually die, we learn to cherish them more fiercely while they are here. In a culture that often tiptoes around grief, this book feels like both a wake-up call and a gentle hand on your shoulder.
What makes the book stand out is its balance of intellect and heart. Crosby weaves psychological insight with personal anecdotes and practical reflections, offering readers both food for thought and small, actionable ways to embrace presence. He reminds us that mortality is not a looming threat but a universal condition that can guide us toward kindness, gratitude, and stronger relationships. Rather than pulling us into despair, his words nudge us toward clarity: life’s transience is the very thing that makes it meaningful.
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Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend: A story about pet loss, compassion, saying goodbye to a special friend, and the rainbow bridge. by Terri SabolMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Gentle Goodbyes
Grief is never easy to explain to a child, especially when it comes in the form of losing a beloved pet. Terri Sabol’s Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend steps into this tender space with compassion and honesty, offering children a story that both validates their feelings and gently guides them through the idea of saying goodbye.
The story follows two cats, Oscar and Emmy, as they face the heartbreaking loss of a fellow animal friend. Through their perspective, young readers are introduced to themes of loss, remembrance, and the comforting image of the rainbow bridge. Instead of shying away from sadness, Sabol acknowledges it openly, showing that it’s natural to feel sorrow and important to talk about it.
Roksana Barwinska’s illustrations bring warmth and tenderness to the pages. Soft colors and expressive details capture not only the grief but also the compassion that surrounds it, reminding readers that love doesn’t end when a life does. The pairing of text and art creates a safe space for children to process their emotions and for parents to begin gentle conversations about loss.
This is not just a book about pets—it’s a book about empathy, memory, and the healing power of love. For families navigating the difficult terrain of saying goodbye, Oscar and Emmy Lose a Friend offers comfort in both words and images.
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Love Is The Gift: Supporting Children Age 6 To 11 Through Bereavement by Joanna P.A. MooreMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Gentle and Supporting Words
Grief is often a subject adults struggle to put into words, let alone explain to a child. In Love Is The Gift, Joanna P.A. Moore offers an invaluable guide that helps bridge that gap with empathy, clarity, and genuine care. Written for children ages 6 to 11, the book provides both comfort and practical support as families navigate the complex emotions of bereavement.
What stands out most is how the book balances honesty with gentleness. Moore never dismisses or sugarcoats loss, but instead provides language children can grasp, opening space for them to voice their own feelings without fear of being “wrong.” The text validates a wide spectrum of emotions — sadness, anger, guilt, even moments of relief — and shows children that all of these responses are natural parts of grieving.
The supportive exercises and reflective prompts make this book more than just something to read; it becomes a tool children and caregivers can return to again and again. By encouraging creativity, journaling, and conversation, it helps young readers find ways to keep memories alive while also learning that grief changes over time.
Love Is The Gift is not only a compassionate resource for children but also a gentle companion for adults guiding them. It’s a gift of language, understanding, and hope in one of life’s most difficult seasons — a book that will undoubtedly bring comfort to families who need it most.
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Higgledy Piggledy Hearts - Bereavement by Emma FarrellMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Higgledy Piggledy Hearts – Bereavement by Emma Farrell is a heartfelt picture book that gently introduces children to the concept of grief and loss. As the first book in the Higgledy Piggledy Hearts series, it focuses on emotional honesty and reassurance, offering young readers a story they can relate to in moments of sadness.
The narrative follows a two characters experiencing the overwhelming emotions of bereavement. Emma’s writing is simple yet profound, making space for children to see their own feelings reflected on the page. It validates emotions without offering rushed solutions - just quiet understanding and gentle companionship.
As the illustrator, I aimed to complement the story’s sensitivity with artwork that is expressive and emotionally resonant. The soft color palette and relatable characters help convey vulnerability while leaving room for imagination and interpretation.
This book is a powerful tool for families, schools, and therapists wanting to start important conversations about loss in a warm, age-appropriate way.
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Higgledy Piggledy Hearts - Bereavement Workbook by Emma FarrellMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Higgledy Piggledy Hearts Bereavement Workbook is a beautiful hands-on companion to the picture book. Designed by Emma Farrell with input from child development experts, this workbook helps children process their grief in creative, open-ended ways.
Inside, children will find guided activities that encourage expression through drawing, writing, and reflecting. Whether it’s a memory page, an emotion chart, or a gentle prompt to share how they feel, every page is crafted with care and purpose.
As the illustrator, I continued the visual world of the story into the workbook, using comforting imagery and soft lines to make each activity feel welcoming. The hearts remain the emotional anchors - quiet companions on the page who mirror the child’s inner world.
This workbook turns emotional support into an interactive, empowering experience. It’s ideal for therapists, teachers, or caregivers supporting a grieving child.
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Grief will always be difficult, but children don’t have to face it alone. Stories like these remind us that sadness is natural, that memories can be treasures, and that love is a thread strong enough to outlast loss. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or caregiver, these books can help open gentle conversations and offer comfort in the hardest of times.
If you’d like to explore these books further, you can find each one on Amazon through the links in this post. And if you’re an author with a children’s book that touches on sensitive subjects like bereavement, I’d love to hear from you—submit your book through my blog form for a chance to be reviewed.
