Books for Children on Death, Loss, and Grief

 

My middle is heavy as I write this post. Oh, how I wish we lived in a world where innocent children didn't have to know the hurting of losing a loved one! Sadly, the reality is that most children will experience a loss of a close relative or friend former in their youth. Topical children'southward books can offer great opportunities for conversing with your child virtually his/her feelings in a coincidental, not-intimidating manner.

I've compiled a listing of books I believe are beneficial for helping children cope with the loss of a loved one. Please note:  I am a Bible-believing Christian. My belief in God, Jesus, and Heaven obviously influence my choice in books that deal with such sensitive issues such as death and the afterlife. I have included a thorough synopsis of each book, so you should exist able to get a good indication of the book'southward content and the perspective from which it is written.

Heaven is for Real for Kidsas told by Colton Burpo

If your kid has e'er asked, "What is Heaven like?" then this is the book for you! I read the originalHeaven is for Real about 6 months ago and I constitute it to be and then comforting and encouraging in my organized religion. If y'all are unfamiliar with this book, information technology is the story of Colton Burpo–a three-twelvemonth quondam who claims he went to Heaven during his emergency appendectomy surgery. The details that he shares with his parents are incredibly accurate to the scriptures that talk about Heaven in the Bible. The picture book for children is filled with cute illustrations. It is written in first-person equally though Colton is sitting in the chair side by side to you, sharing details from a vacation. Every page also has an additional scripture reference that validates Colton'southward bulletin. I will definitely be buying this book to proceed in our habitation library because I feel that it paints a beautiful picture of Heaven that kids can empathise while also being extremely compatible with what we know about Sky from Scripture.

Samantha Jane's Missing Smilingby Julie Kaplow and Donna Pincus

This is the story of a young girl named Samantha Jane (Sammy Jane) who lost her smile after her dad died. She doesn't want to do anything that she used to do, considering everything brings dorsum memories of her dad and makes her want to cry. A wise neighbor, who has known Sammy Jane since she was a baby, encourages her past maxim, "Crying tin exist a very good way to wash some of your sad feelings out, and so there's more room for happy feelings to get in." This sugariness woman also helps Sammy Jane to realize that even though she can't see or experience her Daddy, that he volition e'er be a part of her life through the memories that she carries of him. Everywhere she looks effectually her, she tin see things that remind her of her dad. This volume as well addresses the guilt that children (and adults) can sometimes have if they smile, laugh, or accept fun later on their loved one has died and dismisses the thought that a child shouldn't talk about their loved 1 with other family members for fear of making them sorry. At that place is likewise a very helpful notation to parents at the end that provides lots of relevant data to help a child cope with the expiry of a loved 1 (written by two clinical Psychologists).

What is Heaven Like? by Beverly Lewis

2 siblings sit in a tree firm, missing their grandpa and reflecting on something he told them before he died:  "Don't be too distressing. We'll come across each other again someday." The 2 children want to find out more and ready out to observe what Heaven is like. They decide to ask everyone around them:  the postal service carrier, a teacher, the librarian, the water ice cream truck man, the dentist, a zookeeper, and a neighbor. Finally, the piffling boy goes to his mom and tells her about his interviews. She helps clarify some things and encourages him to talk to both her and their father. Later, the children'due south Grandma answers an important question:  "How do I know if I will go to heaven when I die?" This is the only book of the v I read that tackles this tough question. Here is a quote directly from the book:

"God's merely son, the Lord Jesus, came to our earth as a tiny infant. Then, when Jesus grew to exist a man–when it was just the correct time–He died to take away our sins…God wants the states to love Him back, but the choice is ours. We tin either obey Him or go our own way. If you lot believe in Jesus–and trust Him to forgive your sins–you can exist sure you lot are going to Heaven."

Although I recollect in that location were some liberties taken that aren't necessarily truthful in scripture (getting to eat whatever you lot desire and do whatever y'all want, for example), overall this book paints a comforting picture of Heaven in a way that a child can understand.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

 This volume is appropriate in any state of affairs where a child is separated from a loved ane (death, a deployment, schoolhouse separation, children being shuttled back and forth to divorced parents, etc.). The premise of this book is, "People who love each other are always connected by a very special String made of love." The cord can reach anyone, anywhere…even loved ones in Heaven! The Cord can't go away, even when you're angry or upset. I actually enjoyed this book and think it can be used in a variety of different situations. It is short and interesting plenty to capture the attention of children.

Someone I Love Diedby Christine Harder Tangvald

This is a book I recently picked up at our local Christian bookstore. One thing I really like almost this book is it can be personalized. There are places for a child to draw pictures of how they are feeling, what they look similar they are sad, etc. also as places to fill in the blanks of the name of the person who died and other data as well. This book goes into a lot of detail about expiry, including details about how the soul continues to live but the body is similar an empty business firm. It was explained extremely well (and is Biblically-based), but it might be a book all-time read to the child past someone who isn't super-close to the deceased as I would imagine it to be quite difficult to read without getting totally choked upwardly. This book besides talks near Heaven and how Jesus opens the door to Heaven when we have him as our Savior. It doesn't go into keen particular about Heaven, saying:

"We don't know exactly where Sky is or what it is like. But we don't have to know, becauseGod knows. Simply we practise know Heaven is wonderful. It is not a sad or scary identify to be. It is a happy identify, a fun place, a terrific identify. In fact, Sky is ameliorate than the very best place you lot can retrieve of."

The following books were recommended by readers. I accept not personally read them, but y'all can read the comments to encounter how they have helped hurting families:

::Tear Soup:  A Recipe for Healing after Loss

::Someday Heaven

::Someone Came Earlier Y'all (for talking to children who have older siblings who were stillborn or died equally infants)

::Heaven for Kids

Has your family dealt with the loss of a loved 1? What books did you lot discover comforting to share with your kid(ren)???

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Source: https://www.icanteachmychild.com/5-childrens-books-that-deal-with-death-loss-and-grief/