How do you explain sadness to a child? Children also feel sad after the death of a loved one, the loss of a pet, or a major life change and it can be hard for them to understand and express these emotions. That’s why picture books about grief and loss are so valuable.
Because grief is deeply personal and complex, they help children feel seen in their sadness, confusion, or fear… they provide comfort, clarity, and a safe space for children to explore and share their feelings.
These children’s books about grief and bereavement don’t just explain what death is but helps you explore powerful ways to begin this conversation.
So take a look at this carefully curated list of picture books about grief and loss that address death, bereavement, and emotional healing.
These books go from metaphorical to factual, offering different approaches to families, educators, and therapists navigating this tough topic with younger readers.
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14 Picture Books About Grief And Loss Every Child Should Read
1. The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Theme: Separation, death, or loss
Whether dealing with the death of a loved one or other kinds of separation, this book provides a comforting visual metaphor: the invisible string of love that binds us together.
This is a gentle, bestselling classic that reassures children they are always connected to the ones they love, no matter how far apart they are.
2. Ida, Always by Caron Levis and Charles Santoso
Theme: Loss of a friend
It’s one of the most poignant books about grief and bereavement, emphasizing presence, memory, and saying goodbye.
Inspired by a true story of two polar bears in the Central Park Zoo, this beautiful tale explores anticipatory grief and enduring friendship.
3. The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
Theme: Metaphorical approach to grief
A deeply symbolic picture book about the emotional walls we build after loss. With minimal text and Jeffers’ signature illustrations, it explores how grief can make us close ourselves off and how healing begins when we start letting the world back in.
4. Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
Theme: Gentle explanation of death
It introduces the concept of a “lifetime” to help children understand that every living thing has a beginning and an end. This enduring nonfiction classic frames death as a natural part of life’s cycle.
5. The Memory Tree by Britta Teckentrup
Theme: Healing and remembrance
This quiet, touching fable shows how love and memory help us process grief and celebrate a life lived.
In the story when, Fox dies, his forest friends gather to share their memories, and from their stories, a beautiful tree grows.
6. A First Look At: Death: I Miss You
Theme: Straightforward explanation of death
A clear, accessible guide for younger children, blending factual information with emotional support. It’s often recommended by professionals as one of the most direct children’s books about grief available.
7. Big Cat by Emma Lazell
Theme: Death of a grandparent
A quirky, whimsical take on grief, this story uses metaphor and playful illustrations to show how the memory of a loved one, like a mysterious, comforting cat, can remain part of our everyday lives.
8. The Scar by Charlotte Moundlic And Olivier Tallec
Theme: Death of a mother
Unflinchingly honest, this book captures a child’s raw experience after the loss of his mother. It doesn’t shy away from anger or confusion, making it a powerful tool for children wrestling with overwhelming feelings.
9. Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved And Charlotte Pardi
Theme: Death as part of life’s balance
A Danish masterpiece that personifies Death as a gentle visitor who helps children understand that sorrow and joy must coexist. This deeply moving story turns the abstract into something compassionate and wise.
10. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
Theme: Emotional processing
A deceptively simple story that’s become a favorite among therapists and parents. When a child’s tower falls, a range of animals offer advice, but only the rabbit quietly listens. A perfect book for teaching emotional presence and validation after any kind of loss.
11. When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Theme: Educational support for grieving children
From the creators of Arthur, this comprehensive guide explains everything from funeral customs to feelings of anger and guilt. It’s ideal for children who want answers and caregivers who want conversation starters.
12. Sad Book by Michael Rosen And Quentin Blake
Theme: Death of a child, ongoing grief
A candid and hauntingly illustrated memoir of the author’s grief after losing his son. It’s often used with older children or teens and can also provide solace to grieving adults. This book reminds us that grief doesn’t follow a timeline, and that it’s okay to be sad for a long time.
13. Remembering Mom’s Kubbat Halab by Medeia Sharif
Theme: Death of mother, grief, and healing
This is a comforting story about remembering loved ones and staying connected to them through traditional ways.
It explores grief, loss, through the lens of a young girl who misses her mother and their shared traditions, especially the delicious rice and potato patties called kubbat halab that her mother made.
14. When I’m Gone by Marguerite McLaren
Theme: Grief and loss
“When I’m Gone” is a sensitively-written and deeply-moving picture book that explores the feelings of grief, anger, and sadness that accompany the loss of a parent.
However, it also celebrates the joy and love that life brings, and it helps kids to recognize that nobody lives forever.
In this story, the child learns that while they may have wished a parent could have stayed longer, they can still celebrate the days they were given.
Why Reading Picture Books About Grief Is Important?
Reading books about grief and loss allows children to process complex emotions. These stories create a space that feel safe and approachable for silence, for tears and sometimes, for laughter and hope.
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These books are a reminder to children that they are not alone, and that their feelings are valid!.
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