• Topic Guide
  • Staff-Created List

Introducing Death

These are books for children meant to introduce the idea of death, grief, and saying goodbye forever to a loved one or pet. For this list, fiction will be listed first followed by nonfiction. Resources intended for parents and guardians will be listed at the end.

Library Staff
New Westminster Public Library

40 items

  • An honest and simple exploration of death and grief for kids 4 to 8. With playful illustrations by a therapist-turned-artist, Bird is Dead uses humor to make death a more approachable topic.
    BookVancouver : Greystone Kids, 2024. — PIC Fis
  • When Old Turtle dies and is taken back by the sea, his friends remember that he was a wonderful teacher and friend who made his world a better place.
    BookNew York, NY : Philomel Books, c2016. — PIC Men
  • In this gentle meditation on the cycle of life, author and illustrator Paloma Valdivia gives us an opportunity to reflect on those who have gone, those who will come, and those of us who are here in this world--for the time being.
    BookToronto ; Berkeley : Groundwood : House of Anansi Press, 2017. — PIC Val
  • Illustrations and brief text relate how a person might feel when they lose someone they love.
    BookNew York ; Boston : Little, Brown and Company, 2015. — PIC Par
  • The Flat Rabbit treats the concept of death with a sense of compassion and gentle humor -- and a note of practicality. In the end, the dog's and the rat's caring, thoughtful approach results in an unusual yet perfect way to respect their…
    BookToronto ; Berkeley, CA : Owlkids Books Inc., 2014. — PIC Osk
  • Told in simple but powerful prose, and illustrated by the author in a wash of brilliant watercolor, Tyler Clark Burke's Where Are You Now? is a beautiful small book about change, death and transformation.
    BookToronto, Ontario : Owlkids Books, c2019. — PIC Bur
  • When they find a dead bird, a group of children bury it in the woods, sing a song to it, and put flowers on the grave.
    BookNew York, NY : HarperCollins, 2016. — EASY FIC Bro
  • Parent Loss. After the death of her mother, Anna and her father imagine that Heaven might be a place where one can help in God's garden, visit with old friends, and take off one's socks whenever one pleases.
    BookGrand Rapids, Michigan : Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2014. — EASY FIC Hol
  • Parent loss. After losing the person in his life he loves more than anything, a young child holds onto a cape as a source of comfort and strength as he navigates the sadness and joy of his memories.
    BookNew York : Roaring Brook Press, 2023. — PIC Joh
  • Parent loss. This gorgeously illustrated picture book tells the story of a young Japanese boy who loses his dad in a tsunami. Also available in eBook and audiobook formats.
    BookVancouver : Orca Book Publishers, 2019. — PIC Smi
  • Parent loss. Written in collaboration with an experienced grief professional, Lost in the Clouds gently explores the idea of grief and teaches children how to understand and deal with their emotions surrounding the death of a loved one.
    BookNew York, NY : DK Publishing, 2021. — EASY FIC Tin
  • Grandparent Loss. In this poignant story, we follow young Emily who has recently lost her grandfather. With gentle watercolours and fold-out letters for sharing with loved ones, Always With You is a timeless story about grief, growing up,…
    BookHalifax, Nova Scotia : Nimbus Publishing, 2019. — PIC Wal
  • Grandparent loss. After her grandmother's funeral, Grace's mom turns on all the outside lights so that Grandmother's spirit can find its way home for one final goodbye.
    BookToronto ; Berkeley : Groundwood Books, [2018] — PIC Qua
  • Parent loss. In this deeply moving picture book, a young girl learns about the practice of sitting shiva after her mother dies. Includes "A note about grief".
    BookVictoria, British Columbia : Orca Book Publishers, 2022. — PIC Sil
  • Grandparent loss. A young girl reflects on a year of exploring and laughing with her beloved Grandpa, remembering many special moments as she seeks a way to honor him after his death.
    BookNew York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2019. — PIC Coe
  • Grandparent loss. When she finds a feather, Grandma Dot adds it to her collection. Feathers, she tells her two granddaughters, remind Grandma Dot of people shes lost. At first, the girls see the feathers as fun to play with. But soon,…
    BookNew York : Feiwel and Friends, 2023. — PIC Sch
  • Grandparent loss. When Grampa gets sick and falls into a coma, a little girl must lean on his teachings as she learns to say goodbye. From Dene artist and bioethicist Lisa Boivin comes this healing story of hope, dreams, and the special…
    BookWinnipeg, Manitoba : HighWater Press, [2021] — EASY FIC Boi
  • Grandparent loss. A child asks different family members about her late grandfather and learns of his characteristics through the features he passed down to his children and grandchildren.
    BookNew York ; Boston : Little, Brown and Company, [2019] — EASY FIC Xia
  • Grandparent loss. George loves spending Saturdays with his grandmother, Stella. One day, Stella is gone and George is ready to cancel Saturdays-- until a new addition to the family arrives and George finds a way to honor the memories of…
    BookSalem, MA : Page Street Kids, 2020. — PIC Wel
  • Grandparent loss. A children's book about loss and the struggles of grief from a child's point of view. This story is created with love and compassion so young readers will find comfort during this stressful and difficult time.
    BookPlymouth, MA : Elk Lake Publishing, Incorporated, [2020] — EASY FIC God