Our Chapter & Verse Book Clubs read three books about death, written for children, in April of 2017. We’ve updated this list with newer books in July, 2020. Several of our librarian members stated that they receive many requests from patrons for books that help children understand death. Our members around the country put their heads together to make recommendations of books they felt are excellent stories and discussion starters for families. They are presented in alphabetical order by title. There are books suggested for many age ranges from picture books to books for teens. And, as with most good children’s books, these are good reading for adults as well. (Thanks to all of those people who have contributed to this list: Patricia Bauer, Nancy Bo Flood, Margaret Hall, Paula Huddy, Susan Oleanna, Ramona from Slice of Life, and Carmela McCain Simmons.)
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Beat the Turtle Drum Two sisters, one gregarious and one more introspective, are best friends, exploring life together. One of them is horse-crazy and the other tries to understand what it is about a horse that makes her sister so entranced. Then one day, there’s an accident, and life changes dramatically for this family.
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Bridge to Terabithia Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie’s house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief. |
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Missing Mommy: a Book about Bereavement Written from a young boy’s point of view, with words and drawings appropriate for someone his age, this is a straightforward story that explores the many emotions a bereaved child may experience, from anger and guilt to sadness and bewilderment. Ultimately, Missing Mommy focuses on the positive―the recognition that the child is not alone but still part of a family that loves and supports him. |
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The Scar When the boy in this story wakes to find that his mother has died, he is overwhelmed with sadness, anger, and fear that he will forget her. He shuts all the windows to keep in his mother’s familiar smell and scratches open the cut on his knee to remember her comforting voice. He doesn’t know how to speak to his dad anymore, and when Grandma visits and throws open the windows, it’s more than the boy can take – until his grandmother shows him another way to feel that his mom’s love is near. |
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Something Very Sorry For ages 12 and up, this is the true story of a young girl’s struggle to come to terms with a tragedy. This sober narration reveals the private voice of a girl as she copes with the aftermath of a car accident: her mother’s death, the injuries of her father and sister, and her own grief, anger, and fear of the future. It’s a poignant story of a difficult family situation. |
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What is Goodbye? This is the book I recommend most often for children ages 9 through adult. Jerilyn and Jesse have lost their beloved older brother. Each of them deals with Jaron’s death differently. Jerilyn tries to keep it in and hold it together; Jesse acts out. But after a year of anger, pain, and guilt, they come to understand that it’s time to move on. It’s time for a new family picture — with one piece missing, yet whole again. Through the alternating voices of a brother and sister, Nikki Grimes eloquently portrays the grieving process in this gem of a book that is honest, powerful, and ultimately hopeful. |
Great list. I would add Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley.
Thank you for the suggestion, Ramona. I’ve added that book to the list. You’re right, it belongs there!
And Erica Perl’s ALL THREE STOOGES. Heartbreaking but also humorous.
Thanks for your recommendation, Carolyn. We’ll add that title shortly.
Wonderful list! Thank you
You’re welcome, Joanne.
May I recommend Newbery Medal winning author Patricia MacLaughlin’s 2018 middle grade novel My Father’s Words be added to this list?
Thank you for the suggestion, Carmela, for Ms. MacLachlan’s brand new book. We’ve added the book to the article … and I appreciate the heads-up. I’ve checked the book out of the library.
Another picture book I like is City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems
And the novel Line Tender by Allen Kate
Great list! Thanks, Vicki! I’ve also used “The Tenth Good Thing About Barney” by Judith Viorst, many times. It works so well to have kids write lists of things that they loved about the animal or person who died.