Books About Grief/Loss
Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs
Title: Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs
Author: Tomie dePaola
Illustrator: Tomie dePaola
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 1973
Reading level: Grade 2-3
Interest level: PreK-2
Summary: A young boy named Tommy shows his love and care for an elderly relative. Tommy helps his grandmother care for his great grandmother, who is 94-years-old. When his great-grandmother dies, Tommy learns about what that means.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Learning how to deal with a death in the family.
Topic: Grief/Loss
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
Ida, Always
Title: Ida, Always
Author: Caron Levis
Illustrator: Charles Santoso
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2016
Reading level: Grade 4
Interest level: K-3
Summary: Two polar bears, Gus and Ida, live in a big park in the middle of the city. Ida becomes sick with an illness that cannot be healed. Even after Ida dies, Gus realizes he’ll always be with him.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Make the most of the time you have left with your sick loved ones. Help each other face difficult times.
Topic: Grief/Loss
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
The Heart and the Bottle
Title: The Heart and the Bottle
Author: Oliver Jeffers
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2010
Reading level: Grade 3
Interest level: K-3
Summary: A young girl loses her father, who happens to be her only parent. She decides to put her heart in a bottle and hang it around her neck to keep it safe. As she gets older, it gets in the way and it's more difficult for her.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: It’s okay to take time to grieve from a loss.
Topic: Grief/Loss
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
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The Invisible String
Title: The Invisible String
Author: Patrice Karst
Illustrator: Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2018
Reading level: Grade 2-3
Interest level: PreK-3
Summary: One night in bed, the twins Liza and Jeremy were scared and cried to their mother. Their mother told them that we all have an invisible string. She told them that she's always with them, even though the string is invisible, they can feel it with their heart. She explains that it can reach anywhere, even heaven.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: No one is ever alone, even when their loved one is not physically present. Can't always be with a loved one, they're always in each other's hearts.
Topic: Loss
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
I Will Always Love You
Title: I Will Always Love You
Author: Melissa Lyons
Illustrator: Mary Cindrich
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2017
Reading level: Grade 1-3
Interest level: Grade 1-3
Summary: A young boy and a girl lose a loved one. It's about hope and a sense of knowing that our loved ones could be somewhere happy and free.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: Advice to how to move forward in life. Live your life with more meaning and more joy.
Topic: Grief/Loss
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
The Memory Box
Title: The Memory Box
Author: Joanna Rowland
Illustrator: Thea Baker
Genre: Fiction
Copyright: 2017
Reading level: Grade 1-2
Interest level: PreK-2
Summary: A young girl is sad about someone special to her passing away. She creates a memory box to keep written memories to help with her grieving process. She thought she would forget about them but realized they would always be with her.
Picture book: Yes
Moral of the story/lesson/theme: People we've lost will always be with us.
Topic: Grief/Loss
Is it a good read aloud? Yes
