Books for Tough Times: Loss of a Pet

A young girl and her spunky dog, Lulu, are faithful companions from the very start. As Lulu ages and slows down, they are unable to do all the things they love to do together.When the time comes to say goodbye to Lulu, the caring little girl doesn't know how. She must come to terms with Lulu's death, and learn how to honor a loved one while moving on with her life.

An older dog is adopted by a family, which must cope with its failing health and death.

A beautifully illustrated story about elderly cats, young cats, and helping children overcome the death of a pet. Jack is the best cat ever but he is getting old, and Toby will miss his furry best friend terribly when he’s gone. Then Toby meets a crazy cat called Humphrey. In this charming book Elliott addresses the difficult subject of a child's first experience of the death of a pet with warmth, sensitivity, and well placed humor.

When a child learns that his pet mouse has died, at first he can't believe it. "Mousie is NOT dead!" he insists. "He's just...very...very sleepy this morning." But it takes time to understand that Mousie IS dead and he's not coming back. With the help of his family, the child finds out that it's perfectly okay to feel angry and sad when his pet mouse dies.

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. The book includes a removable magnetic photo frame that readers can use to hold a picture of their own beloved pet.

Mog was tired. She was dead tired...Mog thought, 'I want to sleep for ever.' And so she did. But a little bit of her stayed awake to see what would happen next.

When a pet dies, it can feel like you lost your best friend. What do you do? Whether you had a guinea pig, dog, cat, or fish, this story can help you through the tough times.

Young Victor is very sad when his beloved cat, Charlie, dies. But he agrees to give another cat a chance in this touching story about grief and healing.

Today Riley's family is celebrating Jasper's Day. Everything they do will be in honor of Jasper -- sort of like a birthday. But it isn't Jasper's birthday. The old dog's cancer has gotten really bad. Riley knows they can't let him suffer any longer, but letting go will be the hardest thing he's ever had to do. Marjorie Blain Parker's tender story is filled with smiles, tears and the joy of special memories, and Janet Wilson's gentle pastels capture the depth of love shared by a boy and his dog.

Her shining artwork illustrates a world of peace for cats in Heaven, where no tree is too tall for exploring, where there is no lack of angels' laps for sleeping. If your child wonders where his or her kitty goes after a happy life on Earth, they can rest assured that all cats "know where the angel cats fly. They'll run past the stars and the moon and the sun . . . to curl up with God in the sky."

Dog Heaven not only comforts but also brings a tear to anyone who is devoted to a pet. From expansive fields where dogs can run and run to delicious biscuits no dog can resist, Rylant paints a warm and affectionate picture of the ideal place God would, of course, create for man's best friend. The first picture book illustrated by the author, Dog Heaven is enhanced by Rylant's bright, bold paintings that perfectly capture an afterlife sure to bring solace to anyone who is grieving.

The loss of a pet is heartbreaking. But in the heaven of animals, the love you have for your animal friends lives on. National bestselling author Nancy Tillman's message of comfort will help readers of all ages through the process of grieving and healing.

In this gentle, moving story, Elfie, a dachshund, and her special boy progress happily through life together. One morning Elfie does not wake up. The family grieves and buries her.

The death of a pet is often a child's first experience of loss. This book helps with the grieving process and is a vital guide to this important developmental phase in a child's life.

A child’s bond with a beloved animal is a powerful one. The loss of a pet due to illness or trauma can be a troubling time in a child’s life. "When You Have to Say Goodbye: Loving and Letting Go of Your Pet” gently describes the why’s surrounding end-of-life issues with animals and details valuable ways for children to move through this experience in a positive fashion.

Discusses what happens when a pet dies, explores ways to remember a pet, and provides strategies for coping with grief.

Young readers are given strategies that will help them through one of life's most troublesome moments, as well as the knowledge that they are not alone.

This new title in Barron's A First Look At series encourages kids of preschool through early school age to understand and overcome problems that might trouble them in social and family relationships. Written by an experienced psychotherapist and counselor on a level that is always understandable to younger children, this book seeks to promote positive interactions among children, parents, and teachers. Thoughtful text is supplemented with child-friendly color illustrations on every page. A two-page How to Use This Book section for parents and teachers appears at the back of each book. In I Miss My Pet, younger children who lose a beloved puppy, kitten, or other pet are introduced to the idea of death. They are encouraged to understand that sadness is a first important step in the process of emotional healing, after the death of a loved one.

This is a moving meditation on coping with the loss of the animals that have enriched our lives.

Pet Loss offers unique advice for owners faced with an animal's passing, from the difficult decision to put a pet to sleep to dealing with a veterinarian or making funeral or cremation arrangements. Other questions answered in this book include: Do animals go off by themselves to die? How can children be helped with their grief over the death of a family pet? When an animal has to be put to sleep, what is the best method? How and when should one take in a new pet? How much can a vet be expected to do?

The Loss of a Pet helps the newly bereaved pet owner deal with the grief, pain, and confusion that come with the death of a pet. The book is filled with the kind of information most needed at a time of sorrow and deals with each stage of the bereavement process and how to understand that phase and make it less agonizing.

Pets are often felt to be "one of the family" and a companion for children when they are growing up - an individual who is loved in life and greatly missed in death. When a pet dies, it can have a huge impact on children, and it is important that parents are equipped to understand and support their children. JoAnn Tuzeo-Jarolmen explains that children grieve for a dead or missing pet as they would for a family member, and gives guidelines on how to identify signs of grief in children.

Mister Rogers helps children share feelings of the loss of a pet while offering reassurance that grieving is a natural, healing thing to do.'A sensitive and sensible first book about death. Filled with warmth and reassurance,...When a Pet Dies assures youngsters that no matter how badly they feel when they lose a pet, in time their hurt will ease, and they will be able to remember with fondness the happiness they shared.'

Buster isn't fluffy or pretty like other cats, he's a crazy orange cat with attitude. And Mr. Larsen is the exact right person for him. Every morning Buster and Mr. Larsen sit on their porch in the sun, and every morning Josh sees them when he walks to school. When Mr. Larsen goes to the hospital and Buster goes missing, Josh and his family look for that crazy cat everywhere. But if Buster turns up, Rainbow Street Animal Shelter will have to help him find another home. That's when Josh and his family realize that sometimes life can choose a pet for you.

Things couldn't get any worse for poor Polly. It's her ninth birthday, and she's stricken with the chicken pox and quarantined for a week. Why did she have to get the chicken pox now instead of next week? Of course her birthday party has to be canceled. Will things turn around for Polly or will this really be her worst birthday ever?