Explaining death to children is a difficult task. These helpful children’s books about grief can assist you in talking to children about the death of their Grandma.
Books to help explain the death of a Grandparent.
When grief hits a family, children often become the focus – how to talk to them about death, how to recognize if they are grieving ‘normally’, how to create open communication and dialogue. etc. When we ask adults what they need in their grief often their first response is what they need for their children. Often reading a story can help kids know they are not alone and normalize what they are experiencing. It can offer a safe way to open a dialogue with children about death and grief, in groups, as a family or one-on-one. Here are some books about grief to share with your children.
Children Also Grieve: Talking About Death and Healing
Henry, the family dog, tell this story comparing the feelings of each different grandchild when their grandfather passes away. Each child handles the death in their own way, noting that everyone has their own grieving process. In addition to this story, there is a section of useful vocabulary to help children express their feelings about bereavement, a bibliography of other useful resources for both children and adults, and a section that will help adults to understand and aid children throughout the grief process.
Grandma’s Gloves
Grandma is always on her knees in the dirt, with her gardening gloves on, talking to her roses and laughing with the birds-of-paradise. Her home brims with plants and blossoms, and on hot days, she waters her granddaughter, her “most special flower of all,” with the garden hose. But a day comes when Grandma is no longer there to care for the little girl, who feels sad and small and alone until she remembers all that her grandmother taught her —and all that she now has to teach. Full of light and life and the solace of green growing things, this moving and beautifully illustrated picture book explores a timeless bond with warmth and joy.
Always Remember
After Old Turtle swims his last swim and breathes his last breath, and the waves gently take him away, his friends lovingly remember how he impacted each and every one of them. As the sea animals think back on how much better Old Turtle made their lives and their world, they realize that he is not truly gone, because his memory and legacy will last forever.
The Copper Tree
This book is unique and has a wonderful message. The Copper Tree deals with death in a very beautiful way. Through sympathy and empathy children are equipped to deal with their own experience and learn to be empathetic towards other children who have suffered deep loss.
The Invisible String
This story is not really about death. It’s about the invisible string that connects each of us to the people that we love. It connects us when we are at work or school, when one of us travels to a faraway place, and when one of us dies and goes to heaven. Our hearts are always connected.
Till We Meet Again
Till We Meet Again is a story about death & grieving for children. This book provides comfort to families when they experience the loss of a loved one. The book is meant to help a grieving child remember and share their special memories with those around them and to help them grow to see how they can honor and cherish their loved ones through their own actions. Much love and hope are poured into this book to help young children deal with loss and provide hope that someday we will all meet again.
When Someone Very Special Dies
A practical format for allowing children to understand the concept of death and develop coping skills for life. This book includes spaces for drawing and recording feelings and thoughts. It’s a book to revisit over and over, each time providing additional help, comfort, and understanding.
I Miss You
When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. This book helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one’s death. The story lines are simple and direct–easily accessible to younger children. There are full-color illustrations on every page.
Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children
Lifetimes . . . a very special, very important book for you and your child. The book that explains that every living thing has a lifecycle, is born, lives and dies. But all living thing have their own special Lifetimes. This is not a religious book, but one that shows death as a normal part of life.
When Your Grandparent Dies: A Child’s Guide to Good Grief
Explaining what happens from a child’s viewpoint, the elves depict the difficult days before, after, and beyond a grandparent’s death. They explore the meaning of death and heaven, as well as how to stay close in spirit with a grandparent who has died. Includes questions for discussion.
Where Are You: A Child’s Book About Loss
“Where Are You” is a kind and supportive text with beautiful illustrations designed to help children of all ages cope with the loss of a loved one. It is created with love and care so that even the youngest readers will find comfort during this stressful and difficult time.
What Happened When Grandma Died?
In What Happened When Grandma Died, author Peggy Barker presents life and death in terms a child can understand easily. She addresses sensitively the contradictions a young child faces upon hearing a deceased relative is “in heaven with Jesus” and then seeing the body in the funeral setting. Scripture verses help the child understand the experience and reinforce the joyful hope of heaven.
Take time to explain the death of a Grandparent to your child. A good book can help you find the words.
There are other ways to help your child cope with losing their Grandma. Read more here.
Have you read a book that has helped you explain losing a Grandparent to your children? Please let us know in the comments below. We are always looking for additional recommendations!
Thank you.