Themes - Death

Death

Aliki. The Two of Them. (Morrow, 1979; Greenwillow, l979) "It's about a grandfather and granddaugher who share a special relationship. Her grief after his death is dealt with in a realistic way." "The two of them_ by Aliki is a wonderful look at a grandfather and his beloved granddaughter. He is always there for her, a special part of her life. Of course as she grows older, so does he and their relationship grows and changes. He does pass away, though not very suddenly. It explores a little how she misses him, but whe does the things she knows would please him anyway"
Ancona, George. Pablo Remembers. (1993) " is about a young boy who celebrates the day of the dead and it takes on special meaning for him because his grandmother has recently died."
Anderson, Rachel. Letters from Heaven.
Astor, Cynthia. A Song for Cecilia Fantini. "When her beloved music teacher dies suddenly, Emmaline tries to find indelible ways to remember her always." --from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Balter, Lawrence. A Funeral for Whiskers: Understanding Death. "Sandy is very sad and upset when her cat Whiskers dies, but her parents help her understand and accept the loss." "from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Brown, Laurie Krasney. Illus. by Marc Brown. When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death. (Little Brown, 1996) "my best seller"
Brown, Margaret Wise. Illustrated by Remy Charlip. The Dead Bird. (Harper Trophy, 1995; Addison-Wesley, l938 ) "last April, my nieces (aged 4 and 5) lost both an aunt and an uncle. It was extremely hard on the whole family, in fact, we're still getting over it. This book was comforting in an odd, inexplicable way. I highly recommend it.
Bryant-Mole, Karen. Death. (Wayland, 1992) "a more direct, factual book for rather older children. A somewhat quirkier book - but ideal for those children who would find it easier to deal with death in terms of the whole life cycle rather than on its own is.
Bunting, Eve. Illus. by Mai Vo-Dinh. The Happy Funeral. (Harper, 1982)
Bunting, Eve. Illustrated by: Ronald Himler. The Wall (Clarion, 1990) ALAN 1991 "A boy and his father come from far away to visit the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington D.C. and find the name of the boy's grandfather, who was killed in the conflict. (P)"
Buscaglia, Leo. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf (1982)"(not sure of the spelling of the author's last name). It is an excellent book on death for children" " I personally like Freddy the Leaf best, but my best seller is When Dinos die." "The leaf is afraid of letting go of the branch like all the other leaves. He is afraid of dying. I know this book is used with children about death." "Death (of a leaf, in this case) is presented in much the same fashion as in the Lion King's "Circle of Life." The dedication is to "all children who have ever suffered a permanent loss, and to the grownups who could not find a way to explain it."
Carlstrom, Nancy White. Blow Me a Kiss, Miss Lilly. " When her best friend, an old lady named Miss Lilly, passes away, Sara learns that the memory of a loved one never dies." "from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana"
Carrick, Carol. Illus. by Donald Carrick. The Accident (Houghton, 1981)
Carrick, Carol. Illus. by Donald Carrick. The Foundling (Houghton, 1983)
Casley, Judith. When Grandpa Came to Stay. (Greenwillow, 1986)
Carson, Jo. Illus. by Annie Cannon. You Hold Me and I'll Hold You. (Orchard, 1992) "When a great-aunt dies, a young child finds comfort in being held and in holding, too." --from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana"
Carter, Dorothy. Bye, Mis' Lela. " At first, Sugar Plum cries when her mother leaves her with Mis' Lela, but the happy days they spend together make Sugar Plum want to remember her, even after she dies." --from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana"
Cave, Anne Good. Balloons for Trevor: Understanding Death. " Helps children deal with death, especially the death of a peer, by discussing what happens inside them when someone dies." --from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana"
Cazet, Denys. Christmas Moon. (MacMillan, 1984)
Cazet, Denys. A Fish in His Pocket. (Bradbury, 1984)
Clifton, Lucille. Illus. by Ann Grifalconi. Everett Anderson's Goodbye. (Henry Holt, 1998) " Everett Anderson has a difficult time coming to terms with his grief after his father dies." --from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Coerr, Eleanor. Illus. by Bruce Degen. The Josefina Story Quilt. (Harper, 1986)
Coerr, Eleanor. Illus. by Ed Young. Sadako. (Putnam, 1992)
Cohen, Miriam. Illus. by Lillian Hoban. Jim's Dog Muffins. (Picture Yearling, 1996)
Cohn, Janice. Illus. by Gail Owens. I Had a Friend Named Peter. (Morrow, 1987)
Cohn, Janice. Molly's Rosebush. " When the new baby they've been expecting isn't strong enough to be born, Molly and her family find different ways to express their feelings and comfort each other." "from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana"
Coleman, William L. When Someone You Love Dies. " Writing for children 8-12 and their parents, Coleman discusses the fears and questions that young people have when someone they love dies." "from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana"
Coville, Bruce. Illus. by Henri Sorensen. My Grandfather's House. (Bridgewater Books, 1996)
Dabcovich, Lydia. Mrs. Huggins and Her Hen Hannah. (Dutton, 1985)
DePaola, Tomie. Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs. (Penguin, 1978; Viking, 1997) "a lovely book about a grandmother's death" "for young children" " This is a gentle and moving picture-book. I find that the religious sentimentality of the last page weakens it for me; but could be comforting for someone else."
De Paola, Tomie. Now One Foot, Now the Other. (Putnam, l981)
Dickerson, Julie G. Grandpa's Berries. "This book, written by a clinical hypnotherapist specializing in emotional healing in children, aims to help children and their parents deal with grief and loss." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Donnelly, Elfie. Odd Stockings. (Andersen Press, 1982). "for older children"
Engle, Diana. Eleanor, Arthur, and Claire. (Macmillan, 1992)
Fox, Mem. Sophie. "for young children"
Fox, Mem. Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge. (Kane/Miller, l985)
Goble, Paul. Beyond the Ridge. "is about a mother who dies. She's older, though, and has grandchildren already. Still, it is about the pain the family who is left behind feels, as well as the fear the one who is gone feels, and her inability to help those she's left behind. It is as much about the ones left as the journey the "dead" one begins.
Gould, Deborah. Illus by Cheryl Harness. Grandpa's Slide Show. (Lothrop, 1987)
Greenlee, Sharon. When Someone Dies. (1992) "In a picture book format, Greenlee offers help in dealing with the confusion and hurt felt by children and adults alike."-- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Heckert, Connie. Illus. by Elizabeth Sayles. Dribbles. (Clarion, 1993)
Hickman, Martha Whitmore. Illus. by Francis Livingston. Last Week My Brother Anthony Died. (Abingdon, 1983)
Hines, Anna Grossnickle. Remember the Butterflies. "When Grandpa dies, Holly and Glen remember the special times they had together - gardening, reading and learning about butterflies."-- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Hoopes, Lyn Littlefield. Illus. by Arieh Zeldich. Nana. (Harper, 1981)
Hurd, Edith Thatcher. The Black Dog Who Went into the Woods. (Harper, 1980)
Joossee, Barbara M. Illus. by Catherine Stock. Better with Two. (Harper, 1988)
Jukes, Mavis. I'll See You in My Dreams. "for young children"
Keller, Holly. Goodbye Max. (Greenwillow, 1987)
Kilborne, Sarah S. Paintings by Steve Johnson. Peach and Blue. (Knopf, 1994)
Kroll, Virginia. Fireflies, Peach Pies & Lullabies. "One of my favorites. . . . This book places the emphasis on celebrating a person's life, recalling all the wonderful interactions we've had with that person, and honoring the memories."
Kusugak, Michael. Northern Lights and the Soccer Trails. "a beautifully illustrated story set in Alaska (the author is Inuit) about a child's coming to terms with her mother's death."
LeTord, Bijou. My Grandma Leonie. (MacMillan, 1987)
Libby, Larry. Someday Heaven. "My son is so close to his Nana who is in her 80's and I have read it a lot to him over the last few years, because it answers so many questions children have about losing loved ones in such a lovely way"
Little, Jean. Mama's Gonna Buy You a Mocking Bird. "for older children. This was the one book that offered some comfort when my father died when I was already an adult."
London, Jonathan. Illustrated by Robert Sauber. Gray Fox. (Viking, 1993)
Mellonie and Ingpen. Lifetimes: A Beautifyl Way to Explain Death to Children "a favorite book I have always used in times such as this. . . . This book really is calming and gives one less trepidation about death. It lets us know that everything has a beginning and an end and it is the living that is in between."
Mellonie, Bryan, and Ingpen, Robert. Beginnings and Endings and Lifetimes in Between and over).. "for children of 7 or 8"
Miles, Miska. Illus. by Peter Parnell. Annie and the Old One. (Little Brown, 1971) "addresses the inevitability of a grandparent's death very gently" "about a grandmother's impending death"
Moore, Elaine. Grandma's House. (Lothrop, l985)
Moore, Elaine. Grandma's Promise. (Lothrop, l988)
Nodar, Carmen Santiago. Illus. by Diane Paterson. Abuelita's Paradise (Albert Whitman, 1992)
Nystrom, Carolyn. Emma Says Goodbye: a Child's Guide to Bereavement. "Emma comes to terms with her aunt's illness and eventual death from cancer."-- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Old, Wendie C. Stacy Had a Little Sister. "Stacy has mixed feelings about her new sister Ashley, but when the baby dies of sudden infant death syndrome, Stacy is sad and misses her."-- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Pank, Rachel. Under the Blackberries. (Scholastic, 1992)
Perkins, Ginny. Remembering Mum. (Simon and Schuster, 1991). "With its photographs and reference to what seems to be a real family, it may be a bit too close to the bone for some children; but this real-life quality might make it particularly comforting for others."
Porte, Barbara Ann. Harry's Mom. (Greenwillow, 1985)
Ransome, James. This Old Dog. "for young children"
Raschka, Chris. Arlene Sardine. (Orchard, 1998)
Rogers, Fred. Photos by Judkis. When a Pet Dies. (Putnam, 1988)
Rylant, Cynthia. Cat Heaven. (Scholastic, 1997)
Rylant, Cynthia. Dog Heaven. (Scholastic, 1995)
Sanford, Doris. It Must Hurt A Lot: A Book About Death, and Learning, and Growing. (1986) "Sanford describes a boy's reactions of anger, grief, and eventual acceptance when his dog dies. Includes suggestions to parents for helping a child deal with loss." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Simon, Norma. The Saddest Time. "Explains death as the inevitable end of life and provides three situations in which children experience powerful emotions when someone close has died." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Sprung, Barbara. Death. "Discusses what it feels like to experience the death of a loved one, outlines the stages of grief and mourning, and describes ways to honor or remember someone who died." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Stein, Sarah Bonnett. About Dying: An Open Family Book for Parents and Children Together. "Stein seeks to help families deal with death through separate texts for grownups and children." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Steiner, Jorg. Illus. by Jorg Muller. Rabbit Island. (Harcourt, 1978)
Tejima, Keizaburo. Swan Sky. (Philomel, 1988)
Temes, Roberta. The Empty Place: A Child's Guide Through Grief. "A boy describes the feelings of loss, fear and guilt felt by himself and his friend Betsy after each of them experiences the loss of a sibling." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Thomas, Jane Resh. Illus. by Marcia Sewell. Saying Goodbye to Grandma. (Ticknor, 1988)
Turner, Barbara J. A Little Bit of Rob. (Whitman) "After Rob's death, his parents and younger sister finally take their boat out crabbing again in an effort to get their lives back to normal." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana. "good for a child"
Twonsend, Maryann, and Ronnie Stern. Pop's Secret. (Harper, 1980)
Varley. Susan. Badger's Parting Gifts. (Lothrop, 1984) " is a gentle tale for small children about coping with death of a grandparent (or grandfather type figure)"
Velthuijs, Max. Frog and the Birdsong. "After carefully burying a dead blackbird, Frog and his friends realize that though life ends it is still wonderful to be alive." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Vigna, Judith. Saying Goodbye to Daddy. "Frightened, lonely, and angry after her father is killed in a car accident, Clare is helped through the grieving process by her mother and grandfather"-- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Viorst, Judith. Illus. by Erik Blegvad. Tenth Good Thing about Barney. (Atheneum, l971, l975, 1998) "about the death of a pet but also about remembering loved ones who've died." "for young children" " In an attempt to overcome his grief, a boy tries to think of the ten best things about his dead cat."-- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Wallace-Brodeur, Ruth. Goodbye, Mitch. "A young boy describes how he feels when the family cat dies." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Weitzman, Elizabeth. Let's Talk About When a Parent Dies. "Provides advice on surviving the death of a parent and suggests what feelings and behavior to expect from others." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Wild, Margaret. Illustrated by Ron Brooks. Old Pig. (Dial, 1996)
Wild, Margaret. Toby. "When Toby the dog gets old and sick and finally dies, the children who love him express their love in different ways." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Wild, Margaret. Illustrated by: Vivas, Julie. Very Best of Friends (1990). ALAN 1991 "After the death of his beloved owner, a cat named William wins the heart of his grieving mistress and shows her what a good friend a cat can be. (P)"
Wilhelm, Hans. I'll Always Love You. (Crown, 1985) "gentle book about the death of pets"
Wittman, Sally. A Special Trade. (Harper and Row, 1978)
Zalben, Jane Breskin. Pearl's Marigolds for Grandpa. "A young lamb copes with the death of her grandfather by remembering all the things she loved about him. Includes information about funeral customs of various religions." -- from a booklist at the Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Zolotow, Charlotte. My Grandson Lew. (Harper and Row, 1972, 1974, 1985)
Zolotow, Charlotte. Illus. by James Ransom. The Old Dog. (Harpercrest, Revised Edition 1995) "gentle book about the death of pets"

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