Recommended Reads: Children's Books on Grief & Loss

Buckley and his Mama live in a cozy cabin by the ocean. He loves to carve boats out of the driftwood he finds on the beach nearby, and send them out to sea. If they don't come back, he knows they've found their way to his papa, whom he misses very much.

Henry and Bea have always been inseparable...until one day Henry suddenly stops talking to Bea. He won't chat with her in class, and he won't sit with her at lunch. Bea can tell something's going on, and she's determined to find out what it is. Then their teacher announces that the class is taking a field trip to a farm, and Bea hopes that this might be her chance to reconnect with Henry. When Henry finds an old cat collar at the farm and starts to cry, he finally reveals his secret to Bea: his cat Buddy died last week. And even though it's hard for them both, Bea knows that she'll be there for Henry, as his best friend, no matter what.

The author of the Blue Kangaroo books offers this tender story that deals with the death of a pet in a heartfelt and reassuring way for younger children.

One young girl reflects on a year with her beloved grandpa. She remembers the parks they explored in the springtime and the old toys they fixed up in the summer. She remembers the handmade gifts they exchanged in the fall and the stories Grandpa told by the fire each winter. But this year, the girl must say goodbye to Grandpa. In the face of her grief, she is determined to find a way to honor him by recording her memories in the notebook he made for her.

Sally Goes to Heaven is a wonderful, joyous book to help provide gentle insight into the natural cycle of life of a pet, or to share with young children who have recently experienced the loss of a beloved animal. In this book, Sally passes away and goes to heaven, where she lives happily and helps her family on Earth find a new pet.

Specifically written to address children's fear of being apart from the ones they love. Whether we are separated 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.

Aunt Mattie has died. But before she went, she got to say good-bye to Lottie. Then she got to follow a light to a bustling gate. (A gate that sounded a lot like a busy airport!) And there she found a crew of friends who were waiting to take off with her on a new journey. Will Lottie and Herbie be able to overcome their sadness? They will, with time, and by taking a journey of their own; a journey filled with a little heartache, a lot of happiness, and a batch of Aunt Mattie's favorite peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches. (With bananas, of course!)

From bestselling author Todd Parr, a poignant and reassuring story about loss. Through the lens of a pet fish who has lost his companion, Todd Parr tells a moving and wholly accessible story about saying goodbye. Touching upon the host of emotions children experience, Todd reminds readers that it's okay not to know all the answers, and that someone will always be there to support them. An invaluable resource for life's toughest moments.

How many shades of blue are there? There's the soft blue of a baby's cherished blanket, the ocean blue of a romp in the waves, the chilly blue of a cold winter's walk in the snow, and the true blue of the bond that exists between children and animals.

Whether children are experiencing grief and loss for the first time or simply curious, it can be difficult to know how to talk to them about death. Using questions posed in a child's voice and answers that start simply and become more in-depth, this book allows adults to guide the conversation to a natural and reassuring conclusion. Additional questions at the back of the book allow for further discussion.

Explaining death to a child is one of the most difficult tasks a parent or other relative can face. The Grieving Child offers practical, compassionate advice for helping a child and teens cope with the death of a parent or other loved one.

Teaching children how to deal with death can be a difficult process, but it can be made easier by following certain guidelines. In Parenting a Grieving Child, author Mary DeTurris Poust offers practical advice for parents helping children through the grieving process, whether it's the loss of a parent, the death of a sibling, even the death of a pet. Stories from real parents enhance the information and offer hope for healing.