It can be difficult for children to process concepts and emotions such as illness, death, grief, and loss—and it is very normal for them to react in a variety of different ways. In June of 2019, we wrote a blog called “3 Simple Ways to Help Children Cope with the Loss of a Loved One” to help you best support young children through this process.

Today, we want to expand on this by recommending some books that can help along the way.

Books are a great resource for helping children cope with and understand their emotions in an age-appropriate way. They can also help caregivers, parents, or friends connect with the child, helping them feel safe and secure—especially important when recovering from a loss of any kind.

Here are 4 books we recommend:

📖 Where Do They Go? by Julia Alvarez

This lyrical children’s picture book is written in the form of a poem that explores the emotions associated with death. The poem includes thoughtful questions such as:

• “When somebody dies, where do they go?”

• “Do they wink back at me when I wish on a star?”

Alvarez wrote the book while grieving her own relatives, asking herself these same questions.
🗣️ A Spanish-language edition is also available: ¿Dónde va a parar?

📖 The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr

Told from the perspective of a pet fish who loses his companion, this book guides children through the process of saying goodbye.

While not specific to death, it explores:

• Grief

• Sadness

• Letting go

• Finding comfort without needing all the answers

The book’s simplicity and colorful illustrations make a difficult topic more accessible and emotionally reassuring.

📖 Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman

Nancy Tillman’s books are known for one central message: you are loved. This book explores the idea that:

• Unconditional love connects parents and children—no matter the distance

• Even when separated, love remains present

Though it does not mention death directly, this story can be especially comforting to children who have lost a parent or caregiver.

📖 The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

Originally written to address the author’s son’s separation anxiety, this book introduces a gentle concept:

We are all connected by an invisible string of love.

During a scary storm, a mother tells her children about the invisible string that connects people even when they’re apart. The book answers questions like:

• “How far does it reach?”

• “Does it ever go away?”

It’s a beautiful and versatile resource for exploring loneliness, loss, and grief with children—perfect for parents, teachers, or therapists.

All children process grief in different ways. If you’d like some additional advice or resources, please reach out to our team. We’re here to help support you and your family in any way we can.