HopeWest Kids Grief Support
Recommended Reading for Children
HopeWest Kids Grief Support
Recommended Reading for Children
When Dinosaurs Die
by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
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Available from Mesa County Public Library →
When Dinosaurs Die is a straight forward approach to children’s fears and curiosity about death. It is an excellent resource for children and their families – a primary grade must have!
Lifetimes
by Bryan Mellonie & Robert Ingpen
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Available from Mesa County Public Library →
Lifetimes helps explain life and death in a sensitive, caring way. It tells about beginnings, endings, and about living in-between.
The Goodbye Book
By Todd Parr
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Available from Mesa County Public Library →
The Goodbye Book tells a moving story about saying goodbye through the lens of a pet fish who has lost his companion. It touches on a host of emotions children experience in grief.
I Miss You: A First Look at Death
By Pat Thomas
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Available from Mesa County Public Library →
When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. I Miss You helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one’s death.
My Big Dumb Invisible Dragon
By Angie Lucas
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Available from Mesa County Public Library →
My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon is a story for children dealing with loss, particularly the death of a parent. Although grief is a heavy topic, the authors explain it well using the metaphor of the dragon, a light tone, and touches of humor. The book shows that healing takes time and that it’s OK to experience a wide range of emotions as you process a really big loss.
Samantha Jane’s Missing Smile
Available from Mesa County Public Library →
Since Samantha Jane’s dad died, she has been sad and quiet, keeping to herself. One day, her neighbor Mrs. Cooper gently asks her about her missing smile, and Sammy Jane begins to open up about her grief, her worries, and her confusion.
In My Heart: A Book of Feelings
By Jo Witek
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Available from Mesa County Public Library →
In My Heart explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside.
The Hurt
by Teddi Doleski
The Hurt is a classic book that speaks about how we allow hurts to grow until they take over our lives. Finally in sharing his hurts with his father, Justin’s hurt which became too big for his room, began to shrink.
The Invisible String
By Patrice Karst
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Available from Mesa County Public Libary →
The Invisible String delivers a particularly compelling message in today’s uncertain times that though we may be separated from the ones we care for, whether through anger, or distance or even death, love is the unending connection that binds us all, and, by extension, ultimately binds every person on the planet to everyone else.
Rafi’s Red Racing Car
By Louise Moir
This imaginative, compassionate book aims to help young children come to terms with the loss of a family member to suicide. Rafi’s story explains what suicide is in a sensitive yet honest way, and helps children understand the many overwhelming emotions of grief.
Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories
By Audrey Penn
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Available from Mesa County Public Library →
When a young raccoon learns of the accidental death of his classmate, Chester’s mother comforts him by suggesting that they go to his friend’s favorite place in the forest and make a memory of Skiddil Squirrel.
Gentle Willow: A Story for Children about Dying
By Joyce C. Mills
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Available from Mesa County Public Library →
Amanda the squirrel is upset that she is going to lose her friend Gentle Willow, but the tree wizards give advice that help both her and Gentle Willow accept the change that comes with death.
When Someone You Love Has Cancer: A Guide to Help Kids Cope
By Alaric Lewis O.S.B.
Uses child-friendly language and illustrations to explain what cancer is, the terminology surrounding its treatment, and the potential consequences of the disease, as well as the healthy emotional reactions children may have when someone in their life has cancer.