Top Ten Grief Picture Books
While we often turn to books for entertainment and fun, books can also offer readers healing and hope in their darkest moments. Grief can feel overwhelming and confusing to adults, let alone small children. In these books, the complexities of grief and love are woven together with simple, and often visual, form and structure. Such books can offer comfort, inspire clarity, and promote important conversations in the midst of difficult emotional experience. Take a look!
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
When a storm scares the twins, they run to Mom for comfort. She tells them about the Invisible String, which stretches from their hearts to the hearts of everyone they love– including pets! As the siblings think of all the places the string might need to reach, Mom assures them that the invisible string can reach anywhere in the whole world, and even up to heaven. In all the best ways, they’ll never be alone.
The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland, illustrated by Thea Baker
After losing someone she loves, a little girl worries that she might forget her friend. She creates a memory box to remember. When she visits places they loved, when she does things they planned to do together, when she listens to stories and thinks of memories, she adds to her box. Some days are happy, and some are still sad. But in the end, she knows her friend will always have a place in her heart.
Boats for Papa by Jessixa Bagley
Buckley the Beaver and his mama live close to the ocean, where Buckley loves to make boats out of driftwood. When he misses his papa, Buckley sends a boat into the ocean with a note for Papa. And when none of the boats come back, he knows Papa received his notes. Then Buckley unexpectedly discovers the truth of his boats– and realizes that grief and love go hand in hand.
Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved, illustrated by Charlotte Pardi & translated by Robert Moulthrop
When Death arrives as a visitor to Grandmother’s house, her grandchildren try everything they can to keep Death away. So Death tells them a story about Grief and Joy, and Sorrow and Delight, who couldn’t live without each other. With Death’s help, the children (and their hearts) learn how to grieve Grandmother’s passing without breaking.
Everywhere, Still by M.H. Clark, illustrated by Claire Sahara Lemp
A girl navigates feelings of loss with simple, lyrical language that reminds the reader of the complex relationship between grief and love. Paired with mixed media illustrations, her relationship with a plant and a bird provide visual metaphors for the story’s poetic text.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
When Taylor’s creation is destroyed, everyone has something to say about it. The bear wants Taylor to get angry, the ostrich recommends hiding, and the snake advises revenge. Taylor doesn’t want to do any of those things. But when the rabbit quietly sits by his side, everything changes for Taylor. And the rabbit listens to all of it.
The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr
Using a goldfish as a metaphor, this book reviews many different ways that people react to grief. It offers suggestions for hope, reminding readers that they are loved, and that they will be able to remember the good times–eventually. With simple illustrations in bold colors, this book is a great choice for even the youngest readers.
You’ll Find Me by Amanda Rawson Hill, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Written in the voice of the person who is gone, this book reminds readers that though the people they love may not be in the places they used to be, you can find them in other ways: in the sound of the wind, the cheers from others, or covers tickling your chin. With lyrical text that touches all the senses, this book helps readers notice and infuse the most beautiful parts of life with the memory of the person they’ve lost.
Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper
When a little cat joins the household, the big cat teaches it everything it needs to know. For years and years, they spend all day, every day, together. When the older cat dies, it’s hard for everyone. Then a new little cat arrives, and the now-big cat must teach the little cat everything it needs to know, just like it had been taught so long ago.
The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
When a girl loses the person she loves most, she stuffs her own heart in a bottle to keep it safe. But as she grows older, the bottle she wears around her neck only gets heavier. In time, the bottle is so heavy, the girl can no longer appreciate the things that used to bring her joy. And taking her heart out of the bottle isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. She’ll need the help of a new friend to finally break free.