Bereavement care books and websites

Books

• Adults

  • Cacciatore, Joanne. (2017). Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief. MA. Wisdom Publications.
  • Devine, Megan. (2017). It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand. CO: Sounds True
  • Kessler, David. (2019). Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief. Scribner
  • Lewis, C.S. (2015). A Grief Observed. HarperOne
  • Westberg, Granger. (2018). Good Grief. MN: Fortress Press
  • Wolfelt, Alan. (2021). Understanding Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart. Companion Press.

• Caregivers/professionals

  • Channing L Bete Co. Helping your Child Grieve
  • Davies, Bettie. (1998). Shadows in the Sun: The experiences of sibling bereavement in childhood. Routledge.
  • The Dougy Center. 35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child
  • Emswiler, Mary Ann. Guiding your Child through Grief
  • Fitzgerald, Helen. (1992). The Grieving Child: A Parent’s Guide. Touchstone
  • Fitzgerald, Helen. The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends
  • Grollman, Earl. (1996). Bereaved Children and Teens: A Support Guide for Parents and Professionals. Beacon Press.
  • Hilden, Joanne, Lindsey, Karen, & Tobin, Daniel. (2002). Shelter from the Storm: Caring for a Child with a Life-Threatening Condition. Perseus Publishing
  • Huntley, Theresa. Helping Children Grieve When Someone They Love Dies
  • Lowenstein, Liana. (2006). Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children. Champion Press.
  • McCue, Kathleen. How to Help Children Through a Parent’s Serious Illness
  • Nussbaum, Kathy. (1998). Preparing the Children Information & Ideas for families facing Terminal Illness & Death. Gifts of Hope Trust
  • O’Toole, Donna. Helping Children Grieve and Grow 
  • Rosof, Barbara D. (1995). The Worst Loss: How Families Heal from the Death of a Child. Holt Paperbacks.
  • Schaefer, Dan & Lyons, Christine. (2010). How Do We Tell the Children? A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children Cope When Someone Dies, Third Edition by
  • Smith, Harold Ivan & Johnson, Joy. What Does That Mean? A Dictionary of Death, Dying and Grief Terms for Grieving Children and Those Who Love Them.
  • Wakenshaw, Martha. Caring for Your Grieving Child.
  • Wolfelt, Alan. (2012). Companioning the Grieving Child: A Soulful Guide for Caregivers. Companion Press.
  • Wolfelt, Alan. (2001). Healing a Child's Grieving Heart:  100 Practical Ideas for Families, Friends, and Caregivers. Companion Press.

• Preschool

  • Bergren, Lisa (2008). God Gave Us Heaven. Waterbrook Press.
  • Blackburn, Lynn (1990). I know I Made It Happen. NE: Centering Corporation.
  • Brallier, Jess (2009). Tess’s Tree. HarperCollins.
  • Harris, Robert H. (2001). Goodbye, Mousie. NY: Simon & Schuster. *Also available in Spanish
  • Mellonie, B. & Ingpen, R. (1983). Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Death. NY:  Bantam. 
  • McLauglin, Kirsten (2000). The Memory Box. NE: Centering Corporation.
  • Mills, Joyce C. (1993). Gentle Willow. NY: Magination Press.
  • Mundy, Linus (2012). Being Sad When Someone Dies: A Book about Grief. Abbey Press.
  • Mundy, Michaelene (2006). Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-Grief Workbook. Abbey Press.
  • Mundy, Michaelene (2009). What Happens When Someone Dies?: A Child’s Guide to Death and Funerals. Abbey Press.
  • Olivieri, Laura (2007). Where Are You? A Child’s Book About Loss.
  • Palmer, Pat (1994). I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand. CA: Impact Publishers.
  • Rivett, Rachel (2013). Are You Sad, Little Bear. Lion Hudson.
  • Shriver, Maria (2007). What’s Heaven. Golden Books Adult Publishing.
  • Silverman, Janice (1999). Help Me Say Goodbye. MN: Fairview Press.
  • Stickney, Doris (1997). Waterbugs and Dragonflies. PA: Pilgram Press.
  • Varley, S. (1984). Badger’s Parting Gifts. NY: Wm. Morrow & Company.
  • Wilhem, Hans (1988). I’ll Always Love You. NY: Crown Publishers.

• School age

  • Brown, Laurie & Marc (1996). When Dinosaurs Die. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
  • Bunting, Eve (2004). Rudi’s Pond. HMH Books for Young Readers.
  • Clifton, Lucille (1988). Everett Andersons Goodbye. NY: Henry Holt.
  • Greenlee, Sharon (1992). When Someone Dies. Peachtree Publishers.      
  • Hanson, Warren (1997). The Next Place. Waldman House. 
  • Heegard, Marge (1990). Coping with Death and Grief. MN: Lerner.
  • Holmes, Margaret (1999). Molly’s Mom Died. NE: Centering Corporation.
  • Karst, Patrice (2000). The Invisible String. Devorss & Co.
  • Layne, Alesia (2011). Dream Clouds. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
  • MacGregor, Cynthia (1999). Why Do People Die? Lyle Stuart.
  • Moser, Adolph (1995). Don’t Despair on Thursdays. KS: Landmark Editions.
  • Pastor, Melanie Joy (2006). Wishes for One More Day. Flashlight Press.
  • Penn, Audrey (2009). Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories. Tanglewood Press.
  • Simon, Norma (1986). The Saddest Time. Albert Whitman & Company. 
  • Tangvald, Christine Harder (2012). Someone I Love Died. David C. Cook. 
  • Temes, Roberta (1992). The Empty Place. New Horizon Press.

• Teens

  • Blume, Judy (1981). Tiger Eyes. NY: Brabury Press.
  • Buchanan Smith, Doris (1973). A Taste of Black Berries. NY: Harper Collins.
  • Dower, Laura (2001). I Will Remember You. NY: Scholastic Paperbacks.
  • Fitzgerald, Helen (2000). The Grieving Teen: A Guide for Teenagers and Their Friends. Touchstone
  • Gootman, Marilyn (1994). When A Friend Dies. MN: Spirit Publishing.
  • Grollman, Earl (1993). Straight Talk about Death to Teenagers. MA: Beacon Press.
  • Hipp, Earl (1995). Help for the Hard Times. Hazeldon Info & Ed Series.
  • O’Toole, Donna (1995). Facing Change: Falling Apart and Coming Together Again in the Teen Years. Compassion Books.
  • Wheeler, Jenny Lee (2010). Weird is Normal When Teenagers Grieve. Quality Of Life Publishing Co.
  • Wolfelt, Alan (2001). Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens. Companion Press. * Also look for Healing Your Grieving Heart for Teens Journal 

• Additional children's books

  • Buckley, Colleen. Grandma Kathy has Cancer
  • Carney, Karen. Everything Changes, but Love Endures: Explaining Hospice to Children 
  • Carney, Karen. Honoring Our Loved Ones: Going to a Funeral
  • Carney, Karen. Our Special Garden: Understanding Cremation
  • Carney, Karen. What is Cancer Anyway?: Explaining Cancer to Children of All Ages
  • Copeland, Kathe Martin. Mama’s Going to Heaven Soon
  • Heegaard, Marge. When Someone has a Very Serious Illness: Children can learn to cope with loss and change
  • Hemery, Kathleen Maresh. The Healing Tree
  • Holmes, Margaret M. A Terrible Thing Happened
  • Johnson, Marvin & Johnson, Joy. Where’s Jess: For Children who have a Brother or Sister Die
  • Munoz-Kiehne, Marisol & Pitzer, Susanna. Since My Brother Died
  • Peterkin, Allan & Middendorf, Francis. What About Me?: When Brothers and Sisters Get Sick
  • Pillo, Cary. Gentle Willow: A Story for Children about Dying
  • Puttock, Simon & Bartlett, Alison. A Story for Hippo
  • Scrivani, Mark & Aitken, Susan. I Heard Your Daddy/Mommy Died
  • Sherkin-Langer, Ferne. When Mommy is Sick
  • Sims, Alicia. Am I Still a Sister
  • Thomas, Pat. I Miss You: A first look at death

• Workbooks, activities and journals

  • Boulden, Jim (1992). Saying Goodbye.
  • Drescher, Joan (1996). The Moon Balloon: A Journey of Hope and Discovery for Children and Families. 
  • Eldon, Kathy (2007). Angel Catcher: A Journal of Loss and Remembrance.
  • Heegaard, Marge (2002). Beyond the Rainbow.
  • Heegard, Marge (1996). When Someone Very Special Dies. Woodland Press.
  • Salloum, Alison (1998). Reactions. NE: Centering Corporation. 
  • Silverman, Janis (1999). Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies.
  • Traisman, Enid (1992). Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins. NE: Centering Corporation.
  • Wish, Winstons (2001). Muddles Puddles & Sunshine. Hawthorn Press.
  • Wolfelt, Alan (1996). How I Feel: A Coloring Book for Grieving Children. 

Spanish resources

• Adults

  • Cuando alguien muy especial muere: Los ninos apprender a enfrenar la adverisded by Marge Eaton Heegaard
  • Sopa de Lagrimas: Una Receta Para Sanar Despues de una Perdida (Tear Soup) (Spanish Edition) by Pat Schwiebert

• Children

  • Since My Brother Died: Desde que Murio Mi Hermano   by Marisol Munoz-Kiehne
  • Katie's Premature Brother / El Hermano Prematuro de Katie (English and Spanish Edition) by Elizabeth Hawkins-Walsh
  • No Tendremos Un Neuvo Bebé: Para niños y niñas cuyo hermanito o hermanita murió antes de nacer by Marilyn Gryte
  • El Cuento de Thumpy - Un Cuento que Comparte Amor y Pena por Thumpy, el Conejito by Nancy C Dodge

Online resources

• Websites

  • The Learning Community - Helpful trauma resources for parents and caregivers. 
  • Baby Steps - Helpful tips for professionals, caregivers, and children. 
  • Solace House - Great listing of grief websites.    
  • Bereaved Parents USA - A nationwide organization dedicated to helping parents and families who have lost children in life.
  • Center for loss - Link to books and articles on grief by counselor and educator Alan Wolfelt, PhD
  • Centering - Non-profit organization dedicated to providing education and resources for the bereaved.
  • Compassionate Friends - Self-help organization for families who have experienced the loss of a child of any age
  • Dougy - Provides helpful activities and support for families to share personal loss.
  • Center for loss and Life Transition - Forum for grieving parents; has list of literature, memorial sites, and useful links.
  • Groww Grief - Grief recovery online for all bereaved.
  • Grieving Child - The National Center for Grieving Children and Families- useful information and recommended readings.
  • Griefshare - GriefShare: Grief Recovery Support Groups-GriefShare features resources to assist and encourage people grieving the death of a friend or family member and includes database of more than 12-00 listings of GriefShare support groups.
  • One Bright Star - One Bright Star-A non-profit organization offering financial and counseling support for families who have experienced the death of a child.
  • Guide to Mental Health and Wellness - Information about grief; Includes explanations about differences between grief, trauma, and depression.
  • Grief Resources - Connects the bereaved and their caregivers to bereavement support resources.
  • Web Healing - A helpful and informative website concerning the grief process and its manifestations.
  • Care Notes  - CareNotes for Children and Teens