Grief is a hard topic for many, but it is harder for children, right? Children don’t understand why someone’s here one moment and gone the next. That being said, it’s important to help them understand loss and grief in a way they can comprehend. What better way to discuss grief for children than a list of the best grief books for children, today?
Many adults avoid talking about grief and loss altogether. It’s hard for children to understand grief. In normal situations, children ask numerous questions, right? That said, I’m more than certain they’ll have tons of questions and fears after the death of a family member or friend.
When Tyler passed away, my first grandchild, I was shattered, angry, and mad at God for the longest time. Not talking about Tyler or any loved ones in general, that pass away for that matter, does not avoid grief, it only postpones it.
Sweet friend this is not a healthy way to come to terms with grief. Trust me, I have learned this lesson the hard way and do NOT want the same thing for you. If grief is hard for adults, do you understand how hard it can be for a child?
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What are the Best Grief Books For Children?
Let’s take a look at some of the best grief books for children that I’ve found, so far, when discussing death and grief for children. Each book description reference source is credited to Amazon.
Tell Me About Heaven
This is a book written by Randy Alcorn. He answers grief for children questions that kids have about Heaven and what it’s like for their loved ones who pass on to Heaven. To put it another way, it explains the hope of Heaven.
Tell me about what Heaven’s description states…
Ten-year-old Jake struggles to understand his grandma’s death. But as he spends two weeks at his grandfather’s home, he can receive answers to his questions about Heaven.
As Jake and Grandpa fish, watch the stars, and take long walks, Grandpa shares what the Bible says about the reality and beauty of Heaven. As Jake learns the truth about Heaven, he begins to better understand and accept his grandmother’s death.
As readers uncover the truths in the dialogue between Grandpa and Jake, they will better appreciate the home that awaits all who place their faith in Christ.
When someone dies: find comfort in Jesus
When Someone Dies: Find Comfort in Jesus description states…
Have you ever lost a favorite toy or had to say goodbye to a friend who moved away? At times like that, we feel sad. But when someone we love has died, we feel more than sadness. We feel grief.
This gentle book suggests ways to understand and cope with grief. Respectful and honest, this book does not diminish feelings of grief in whatever form it takes.
Instead, it encourages the reader to find comfort in Jesus, our Good Shepherd, and His promise of an eternal home and the good news of the gospel.
Covers topics including:
Being Sad
Being Lonely
Feeling Confused
Being Afraid
Feeling Angry
and more
Honor Your Loved One’s Memory
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Heaven God’s Promise for Me
This is a book written by Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham. In my opinion, Billy Graham left the legacy of the world’s greatest evangelist we will ever know.
Heaven God’s Promise for Me description states…
The light is always on. Because Jesus is waiting for you. The very best part of Heaven Is that He’s going to be there too. Heaven is a real place.
Heaven is where Jesus lives and waits for those he loves to come to him. It’s a place of joy and love and hopes a place where all of God’s children, young and old, will stay and be happy forever.
Engaging questions and scripture references in the back of this book will help parents reinforce the message that Heaven is a place of love that we can all look forward to seeing one day. There’s even a special keepsake invitation for children to RSVP to Jesus!
Quinn Says Goodbye: Friends May Go Away, but God Is Here to Stay
Goodbye Is Never Easy, but God Can Make It Better.
Quinn Says Goodbye: Friends May Go Away, but God Is Here to Stay description states…
When Quinn the Owl makes a new friend, a firefly named Blink, she is filled with joy. But one night, Quinn wakes up to find her friend has disappeared in a flash.
“Momma, why didn’t God make Blink stay with me? Didn’t he know how much I loved him?”
“God doesn’t always stop bad things from happening, Quinn. But He does promise that He will always be with you, and He will never stop being your friend.”
Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written, Quinn Says Goodbye is designed for children dealing with different kinds of loss, whether it be the death of a pet or a family member, or simply the loss of a favorite toy. Remind little ones that although people and things might not be in their life forever, God will never leave them.
Streams in the Desert for Kids: 365 Devotions of God’s Awesome Love
Streams in the Desert for Kids: 365 Devotions of God’s Awesome Love description states…
Streams in the Desert for Kids is a year-long devotional that speaks to kids where they are today, providing the same kind of wisdom and comfort for life found in the classic Streams in the Desert by Oswald Chambers, but with a modern and relatable twist for kids, eight to twelve will relate to.
No one has to tell you life is sometimes hard. And for your kids, navigating the confusing, everyday feelings of sadness, fear, loneliness, and anxiety can be difficult.
To help your child through those times, Streams in the Desert for Kids contains 365 daily devotions that provide comfort and advice centered on God’s promises to protect us and always stay near.
It also contains sports information, scientific facts, and interesting stories to keep your kids engaged, with timeless wisdom and biblical facts that provide a strong spiritual foundation as they grow.
Streams in the Desert for Kids:
- contains NIV scripture that ties in all the time-tested insights from the original Streams in the Desert to help apply each day’s reading to your child’s life
- has devotions that take only minutes to read, allowing you to fit each day’s reading into any schedule
- is perfect for daily devotions in the morning, at mealtimes, or before bed
- contains a sample prayer for each day to help make connecting with God easy and natural for your child
The Memory Box: A Book About Grief
The Memory Box: A Book About Grief description states…
“I’m scared I’ll forget you”
From the perspective of a young child, Joanna Rowland artfully describes what it is like to remember and grieve a loved one who has died.
The child in the story creates a memory box to keep mementos and written memories of the loved one, to help in the grieving process.
Heartfelt and comforting, The Memory Box will help children and adults talk about this very difficult topic together.
The unique point of view allows the reader to imagine the loss of any they have loved – a friend, family member, or even a pet.
A parent guide in the back includes information on helping children manage the complex and difficult emotions they feel when they lose someone they love, as well as suggestions on how to create their memory box.
The Memory Box is a 2017 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards winner a contest intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators and to support childhood literacy and lifelong reading.
When I’m With Jesus: For any Child with a Loved One in Heaven
When I’m With Jesus: For any Child with a Loved One in Heaven description states…
Children wonder about Heaven, especially when someone they love goes there. They have questions they are often afraid to ask grieving adults.
When I’m With Jesus is created to minister to young children and older children, with large text for young readers or as a read-to book, and smaller text for older readers.
Beautifully illustrated, When I’m With Jesus is a book that helps children see a loved one’s transition to Heaven as a joyful thing, and know they are still loved, even when that person is no longer near.
There shall be no more death, sorrow, or crying. There shall be no more pain. Revelation 21:4
When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief (Drawing Out Feelings)
When Someone Very Special Dies: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief (Drawing Out Feelings)
A practical format for allowing children to understand the concept of death and develop coping skills for life.
Someone I Love Died
First published in 1988, Someone I Love Died has long comforted the hearts of children 4 to 8 who have lost someone close.
It gently leads children through grief with age-appropriate words and solid biblical truth that understands a child’s hurting heart.
The added interactive resources ensure this book will become a treasured keepsake. Once complete, children create a memory book of their loved one’s life.
And it offers grown-ups a tool that turns what could be a difficult season into a meaningful time of healing.
Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss
Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss
Here is the book that Elf-help fans everywhere were asking for . . . a book to help children grieve in healthy ways.
This friendly and loving guide is loaded with positive, life-affirming help to cope with the loss of a child.
Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler’s Guide to Understanding Death
Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler’s Guide to Understanding Death
When a loved one dies, it can be hard to know how to explain it to a young child, particularly if you are grieving the loss yourself.
Something Very Sad Happened is intended to be read to two- and three-year-old children to help them understand death and process the loss of a loved one.
Written at a developmental level that is appropriate for two- and three-year-olds, the story explains death; lets children know that it is okay to feel sad, and reassures children that they can still love the person who died and that the person who died will always love them.
Since two- ta three-year-old children cannot read, this story is intended to be personalized; certain words are color-coded in red to cue you to substitute with the appropriate names and pronouns for the person who died.
Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers with more information about talking to children about death, guidelines for answering a child’s questions, advice for attending funerals and visiting cemeteries, and ideas for commemorating the loved one.
Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go?: A Preschooler’s Guide to Losing a Loved One
Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go?: A Preschooler’s Guide to Losing a Loved One
“Grandma’s in our hearts, you see.” ‘Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go?: A Preschooler’s Guide to Losing a Loved One gently leads little ones and their parents into meaningful conversations about death, grief for children, and eternal love.
When Your Grandparent Dies: A Child’s Guide to Good Grief
When Your Grandparent Dies: A Child’s Guide to Good Grief:
Explaining what happens from a child’s view, the elves depict the difficult days before, after, and beyond a grandparent’s death.
They explore the meaning of death and heaven, as well as how to stay close in spirit to a grandparent who has died. Includes questions for discussion about grief for children.
Here is a copy of the 13 Grief Books for Children.
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Your Turn
It’s my hope and sincere desire that these grief books for children help your child. If you have any recommendations on grief for children that I can add to this list please leave them in the comments below!
Hey Friend, Thanks For Reading!
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