10 Best Children’s Books about Death, Grief, and Loss

Are you looking for children’s books about death, grief, and loss? You’ve come to the right place.

Children’s books are often one of our best resources as parents, teachers, and caregivers in challenging situations. When tragedy strikes, literature sometimes holds the key to opening difficult conversations. I used books to help my daughters understand death, grief, and loss after my mother and grandfather died.

Here’s a list of the best children’s books about death, grief, and loss to read with kids who need encouragement. These books offer reassurance that their loved one lives on in them.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

10 Best Children’s Books about Death, Grief, and Loss

God Gave Us Heaven by Lisa Tawn Bergren (product link)

A sweet bear family teaches kids about heaven in a tender way in God Gave Us Heaven.

Grief is Like a Snowflake by Julia Cook (product link)

Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go?: A Preschooler’s Guide to Losing a Loved One and Where Did My Sweet Grandpa Go? by Lauren Flake

My picture books, Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go? and Where Did My Sweet Grandpa Go?, use rhyming text and watercolor illustrations alongside my late mother’s artwork to encourage kids to look for signs of their loved ones in nature.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (product link)

Karst also wrote The Invisible Leash for children facing the loss of a pet.

Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaolo (product link)

The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr (product link)

The simplicity and bright colors of The Goodbye Book are perfect for the youngest readers.

The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland (product link)

A Kids’ Book about Death by Taryn Schuelke (product link)

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (product link)

This classic story of selfless love and legacy gets me every time.

Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler’s Guide to Understanding Death by Bonnie Zucker (product link)

Need children’s books about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia?

Check out my favorite children’s books about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

A version of this post was originally published November 7, 2019.