This post was last updated on June 26, 2024
The following are excellent books geared towards children after experiencing the loss of a sibling. Listed in order of most recommended/spoken highly of by other bereaved families.
“The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst
Parents, educators, therapists, and social workers alike have declared The Invisible String the perfect tool for coping with all kinds of separation anxiety, loss, and grief. In this relatable and reassuring contemporary classic, a mother tells her two children that they're all connected by an invisible string. "That's impossible!" the children insist, but still they want to know more: "What kind of string?" The answer is the simple truth that binds us all: An Invisible String made of love. Even though you can't see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love. Does everybody have an Invisible String? How far does it reach? Does it ever go away? This heartwarming picture book for all ages explores questions about the intangible yet unbreakable connections between us, and opens up deeper conversations about love.
“The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld (also in Spanish)
With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustrations, The Rabbit Listened is a tender meditation on loss. When something terrible happens, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn't feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that's not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to process this loss, and one by one they fail. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen, which is just what Taylor needs. Whether read in the wake of tragedy or as a primer for comforting others, this is a deeply moving and unforgettable story sure to soothe heartache of all sizes.
“The Memory Box: A Book About Grief” by Joanna Rowland
"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 own memory box.
“We were gonna have a baby, but we had an Angel instead” by Pat Schwiebert
Created especially for children who are suffering the loss of their family's pregnancy.
“Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You” by Nancy Tillman
. . . I wanted you more than you'll ever know, so I sent love to follow wherever you go. . . .
Love is the greatest gift we have to give our children. It's the one thing they can carry with them each and every day. If love could take shape it might look something like these heartfelt words and images from the inimitable Nancy Tillman. Wherever You Are is a book to share with your loved ones, no matter how near or far, young or old, they are.
“There was a baby” by Laura Camerona (also in Spanish & French)
This book is for children whose family experiences a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. Oftentimes, families don't know how to explain something this tragic to a child. The book gives families words to support feelings that a child may have and to move forward as a family unit. Appropriate for children ages 1-11.
"Always Ours” by Christy Wopat
Erin and Mae are sisters who are eagerly waiting to meet their new baby brother, James. When the girls find out that he has died before he even got to come home, they are confused and sad. With her teacher’s help and a heart full of bravery and love, Mae embarks on a journey to find a way to honor and cherish a family member that couldn’t stay. She and her sister help us see that even after our family members are gone, they will always be ours.
Always My Twin , for young children who have experienced the death of their twin sibling, is a book for any child whose twin died before birth, after birth or as a young child. The story is based on the author's own experience of losing a newborn twin daughter in 2002. The book tells the story through the eyes of a young girl whose twin sister dies shortly after their births. She begins her story with sharing the womb with her twin, the joy of her family anticipating the arrival of twins, the family's pain of losing one of their precious babies, and her own expressions of grief for her twin's death. The surviving twin also shares with the audience the precious ways in which she and her family remember her twin throughout the year. Included are interactive pages for the reader to respond to with pictures, identifying feelings and providing family information.
"Grief Is A Mess" by Jackie Schuld
After losing a loved one, grief can leave your life in a mess. Grief is a Mess is an illustrated book for grieving children and adults who need a healthy dose of understanding, comfort, and laughter. Through humorous animal illustrations, the book explores how grief is different for everyone and can change without warning. Having lost her mother to cancer, author/illustrator Jackie Schuld uses her illustrations to remind us to be kind to others and patient with ourselves as we find our way through the mess of grief.
“Someone I Love Died” by Christine Harder Tangvald
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 the 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.
"When Sadness is at Your Door" by Eva Eland
In When Sadness Is at Your Door, Eva Eland brilliantly approaches this feeling as if it is a visitor. She gives it a shape and a face, and encourages the reader to give it a name, all of which helps to demystify it and distinguish it from ourselves. She suggests activities to do with it, like sitting quietly, drawing, and going outside for a walk. The beauty of this approach is in the respect the book has for the feeling, and the absence of a narrative that encourages the reader to "get over" it or indicates that it's "bad," both of which are anxiety-producing notions.
"Eden & Ellie's Christmas Is Not the Same" by Autumn Cohen
Other Titles to Consider Related to Grief & Loss of a Loved One
"Ida, Always" by Caron Levis
"La Visite De Petite Mort" by Kitty Crowther
"The Immortal Jellyfish" by Sang Maio
"Ghost Wings" by Barbara Joosse
"Lost in the Clouds" by Tom Tinn-disbury
"Mum's Jumper" by Jayde Perkin
"Remembering Ethan" by Leslea Newman
"What Happened to Daddy's Body" by Elke & Alex Barber
"The Good Mourning: A Kid's Support Guide for Grief & Mourning Death" by Sheldon Peden II
"When Grandfather Flew" by Patricia Maclachlan