Helping Little Hearts Heal: Children's Books on Grief

For children, understanding and processing grief can be especially challenging. These selected books are great tools to start the conversation and help young hearts navigate loss, whether through metaphors of connection or direct, compassionate explanations about death and grieving.

You may be able to use the Libby APP to borrow an e-book or audiobook from your local library for free.

• The Invisible String, by Patrice Karst: A best-selling picture book for kids 3-7, telling a simple yet touching story: even when you are physically separated from your loved one, you are still connected with them by an invisible string. Parents, educators, therapists, and social workers alike have declared The Invisible String the perfect tool for coping with all kinds of separation anxiety, loss, and grief.

• A Kids Book About Death, by Taryn Schuelke: Made for kids 5-9, this book dives right into the weighty topic that most adults prefer to avoid thinking or talking about: death. It explains the practical aspects and gracefully navigates the nuances of emotion and community that surround something we all experience.

• The Grief Rock, by Natasha Daniels: Sometimes grief can feel like a heavy weight you are carrying around. It can be difficult to explain how you feel or know how you will cope with carrying the grief rock around. Perfect for kids 3-12, this gentle story explores how grief is filled with all the love we have for someone important in our lives.

• What Does Grief Feel Like?, by Korie Leigh: Gentle and reassuring, What Does Grief Feel Like? shares the many ways people can grieve when a loved one dies and validates children’s unique grief experiences. Open-ended questions throughout the book invite children 3-8 to share what they are thinking, feeling, and going through.

• Why do things die?, by Katie Daynes: A beautiful and gentle look at the circle of life, using Christine Pym's gorgeous animal characters to explore the emotions and facts around death, with questions such as Is it ok to talk about dying? What happens when someone dies? Can I shout and cry and hide away? and How can I stop feeling sad? For age 3+.

About Us:

Project 4031 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that offers no-cost services to terminally ill children and adults to strengthen their end-of-life stories. We provide assistance by helping struggling families meet basic needs through financial support and fulfilling last dreams. Our goal is to provide a better quality of life and allow someone to end life well. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Project 4031 has been serving the North Texas community since 2011.