Bereavement Books and Websites
Books
Adults
Cacciatore, Joanne. (2017). Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief. MA. Wisdom Publications.
Devine, Megan. (2017). It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand. CO: Sounds True.
Kessler, David. (2019). Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. Scribner
Lewis, C.S. (2015). A Grief Observed. HarperOne
Westberg, Granger. (2018). Good Grief. MN: Fortress Press
Wolfelt, Alan. (2021). Understanding Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart. Companion Press.
Caregivers/Professionals
Channing L Bete Co. Helping your Child Grieve
Davies, Bettie. (1998). Shadows in the Sun: The experiences of sibling bereavement in childhood. Routledge.
The Dougy Center. 35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child
Emswiler, Mary Ann. Guiding your Child through Grief
Fitzgerald, Helen. (1992). The Grieving Child: A Parent’s Guide. Touchstone
Fitzgerald, Helen. The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends
Grollman, Earl. (1996). Bereaved Children and Teens: A Support Guide for Parents and Professionals. Beacon Press.
Hilden, Joanne, Lindsey, Karen, & Tobin, Daniel. (2002). Shelter from the Storm: Caring for a Child with a Life-Threatening Condition. Perseus Publishing
Huntley, Theresa. Helping Children Grieve When Someone They Love Dies
Lowenstein, Liana. (2006). Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children. Champion Press.
McCue, Kathleen. How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness
Nussbaum, Kathy. (1998). Preparing the Children Information & Ideas for families facing Terminal Illness & Death. Gifts of Hope Trust
O’Toole, Donna. Helping Children Grieve and Grow
Rosof, Barbara D. (1995). The Worst Loss: How Families Heal from the Death of a Child. Holt Paperbacks.
Schaefer, Dan & Lyons, Christine. (2010). How Do We Tell the Children? A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children Cope When Someone Dies, Third Edition by
Smith, Harold Ivan & Johnson, Joy. What Does That Mean? A Dictionary of Death, Dying and Grief Terms for Grieving Children and Those Who Love Them.
Wakenshaw, Martha. Caring for Your Grieving Child.
Wolfelt, Alan. (2012). Companioning the Grieving Child: A Soulful Guide for Caregivers. Companion Press.
Wolfelt, Alan. (2001). Healing a Child's Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas for Families, Friends, and Caregivers. Companion Press.
Children and Teens
Preschool
Bergren, Lisa (2008). God Gave Us Heaven. Waterbrook Press.
Blackburn, Lynn (1990). I know I Made It Happen. NE: Centering Corporation.
Brallier, Jess (2009). Tess’s Tree. HarperCollins.
Harris, Robert H. (2001). Goodbye, Mousie. NY: Simon & Schuster. *Also available in Spanish
Mellonie, B. & Ingpen, R. (1983). Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Death. NY: Bantam.
McLauglin, Kirsten (2000). The Memory Box. NE: Centering Corporation.
Mills, Joyce C. (1993). Gentle Willow. NY: Magination Press.
Mundy, Linus (2012). Being Sad When Someone Dies: A Book about Grief. Abbey Press.
Mundy, Michaelene (2006). Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-Grief Workbook. Abbey Press.
Mundy, Michaelene (2009). What Happens When Someone Dies?: A Child’s Guide to Death and Funerals. Abbey Press.
Olivieri, Laura (2007). Where Are You? A Child’s Book About Loss.
Palmer, Pat (1994). I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand. CA: Impact Publishers.
Rivett, Rachel (2013). Are You Sad, Little Bear. Lion Hudson.
Shriver, Maria (2007). What’s Heaven. Golden Books Adult Publishing.
Silverman, Janice (1999). Help Me Say Goodbye. MN: Fairview Press.
Stickney, Doris (1997). Waterbugs and Dragonflies. PA: Pilgram Press.
Varley, S. (1984). Badger’s Parting Gifts. NY: Wm. Morrow & Company.
Wilhem, Hans (1988). I’ll Always Love You. NY: Crown Publishers.
School Age
Brown, Laurie & Marc (1996). When Dinosaurs Die. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
Bunting, Eve (2004). Rudi’s Pond. HMH Books for Young Readers.
Clifton, Lucille (1988). Everett Andersons Goodbye. NY: Henry Holt.
Greenlee, Sharon (1992). When Someone Dies. Peachtree Publishers.
Hanson, Warren (1997). The Next Place. Waldman House.
Heegard, Marge (1990). Coping with Death and Grief. MN: Lerner.
Holmes, Margaret (1999). Molly’s Mom Died. NE: Centering Corporation.
Karst, Patrice (2000). The Invisible String. Devorss & Co.
Layne, Alesia (2011). Dream Clouds. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
MacGregor, Cynthia (1999). Why Do People Die? Lyle Stuart.
Moser, Adolph (1995). Don’t Despair on Thursdays. KS: Landmark Editions.
Pastor, Melanie Joy (2006). Wishes for One More Day. Flashlight Press.
Penn, Audrey (2009). Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories. Tanglewood Press.
Simon, Norma (1986). The Saddest Time. Albert Whitman & Company.
Tangvald, Christine Harder (2012). Someone I Love Died. David C. Cook.
Temes, Roberta (1992). The Empty Place. New Horizon Press.
Teens
Blume, Judy (1981). Tiger Eyes. NY: Brabury Press.
Buchanan Smith, Doris (1973). A Taste of Black Berries. NY: Harper Collins.
Dower, Laura (2001). I Will Remember You. NY: Scholastic Paperbacks.
Fitzgerald, Helen (2000). The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends. Touchstone
Gootman, Marilyn (1994). When A Friend Dies. MN: Spirit Publishing.
Grollman, Earl (1993). Straight Talk about Death to Teenagers. MA: Beacon Press.
Hipp, Earl (1995). Help for the Hard Times. Hazeldon Info & Ed Series.
O’Toole, Donna (1995). Facing Change: Falling Apart and Coming Together Again in the Teen Years. Compassion Books.
Wheeler, Jenny Lee (2010). Weird is Normal When Teenagers Grieve. Quality Of Life Publishing Co.
Wolfelt, Alan (2001). Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens. Companion Press. * Also look for Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens Journal
Additional Children’s Books
Buckley, Colleen. Grandma Kathy has Cancer
Carney, Karen. Everything Changes, but Love Endures: Explaining Hospice to Children
Carney, Karen. Honoring Our Loved Ones: Going to a Funeral
Carney, Karen. Our Special Garden: Understanding Cremation
Carney, Karen. What is Cancer Anyway?: Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages
Copeland, Kathe Martin. Mama’s Going to Heaven Soon
Heegaard, Marge. When Someone has a Very Serious Illness: Children can learn to cope with loss and change
Hemery, Kathleen Maresh. The Healing Tree
Holmes, Margaret M. A Terrible Thing Happened
Johnson, Marvin & Johnson, Joy. Where’s Jess: For Children who have a Brother or Sister Die
Munoz-Kiehne, Marisol & Pitzer, Susanna. Since My Brother Died
Peterkin, Allan & Middendorf, Francis. What About Me?: When Brothers and Sisters Get Sick
Pillo, Cary. Gentle Willow: A Story for Children about Dying
Puttock, Simon & Bartlett, Alison. A Story for Hippo
Scrivani, Mark & Aitken, Susan. I Heard Your Daddy/Mommy Died
Sherkin-Langer, Ferne. When Mommy is Sick
Sims, Alicia. Am I Still a Sister
Thomas, Pat. I Miss You: A first look at death
Workbooks, Activities & Journals
Boulden, Jim (1992). Saying Goodbye.
Drescher, Joan (1996). The Moon Balloon: A Journey of Hope and Discovery for Children and Families.
Eldon, Kathy (2007). Angel Catcher: A Journal of Loss and Remembrance.
Heegaard, Marge (2002). Beyond the Rainbow.
Heegard, Marge (1996). When Someone Very Special Dies. Woodland Press.
Salloum, Alison (1998). Reactions. NE: Centering Corporation.
Silverman, Janis (1999). Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies.
Traisman, Enid (1992). Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins. NE: Centering Corporation.
Wish, Winstons (2001). Muddles Puddles & Sunshine. Hawthorn Press.
Wolfelt, Alan (1996). How I Feel: A Coloring Book for Grieving Children.
Spanish Resources
Children
Since My Brother Died: Desde que Murio Mi Hermano by Marisol Munoz-Kiehne
Katie's Premature Brother / El Hermano Prematuro de Katie (English and Spanish Edition) by Elizabeth Hawkins-Walsh
No Tendremos Un Neuvo Bebé: Para niños y niñas cuyo hermanito o hermanita murió antes de nacer by Marilyn Gryte
El Cuento de Thumpy - Un Cuento que Comparte Amor y Pena por Thumpy, el Conejito by Nancy C Dodge
Adults
Cuando alguien muy especial muere: Los ninos apprender a enfrenar la adverisded by Marge Eaton Heegaard
Sopa de Lagrimas: Una Receta Para Sanar Despues de una Perdida (Tear Soup) (Spanish Edition) by Pat Schwiebert
Websites
Helpful trauma resources for parents and caregivers.
Provides helpful activities and support for families to share personal loss.
Helpful tips for professionals, caregivers, and children.
Great listing of grief websites.
Provides education and resource materials about loss and grief.
A nationwide organization dedicated to helping parents and families who have lost children in life.
Link to books and articles on grief by counselor and educator Alan Wolfelt, PhD
Non-profit organization dedicated to providing education and resources for the bereaved.
Self-help organization for families who have experienced the loss of a child of any age
Provides helpful activities and support for families to share personal loss.
Forum for grieving parents; has list of literature, memorial sites, and useful links.
Grief recovery online for all bereaved.
The National Center for Grieving Children and Families- useful information and recommended readings.
GriefShare: Grief Recovery Support Groups-GriefShare features resources to assist and encourage people grieving the death of a friend or family member and includes database of more than 12-00 listings of GriefShare support groups.
One Bright Star-A non-profit organization offering financial and counseling support for families who have experienced the death of a child.
www.helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm
Information about grief; Includes explanations about differences between grief, trauma, and depression.
http://www.good-grief.org/resources.html
Connects the bereaved and their caregivers to bereavement support resources.
A helpful and informative website concerning the grief process and its manifestations.
CareNotes for Children and Teens
- Bereavement Care
- Phone: 214-456-2822