Books & Resources: A Guide to Helpful Literature
for Grieving Children (6-12)

This aged child can understand death can happen to anyone and may be able to grasp the permanence of death. Yet, these children may still have magical thinking that their loved one will walk back through their door. Picture books are often available to help children remember their loved ones.

Children ages 10-12 are categorized as pre-adolescents. They have a universal understanding that death is final and permanent. They may begin to question what happens to their loved ones when they die. Pre-adolescents may wonder what happens when they die. This age group is more likely to read fictional chapter books that tell a story about the life and death of a character.

This is one of the main reasons I chose to write a book about a young girl who lost a loved one (her Dad), and this story is written from her point of view. It describes how this character (Joy) progressed through the erratic and emotional journey of loss, grief, anger, acceptance, and finally embraced joy once again. I believe children need hope. Our faith provides hope that helps us through loss. Our memories help us keep that loved one close to our heart forever.

  • You'll Find Me by Amanda Rawson Hill

    This poetic and lyrical book describes that a child’s loved one can be found in their memories of sights, sounds, and feelings.

  • The Memory Box by Joanna Rowland

    This book addresses a child’s fear of forgetting a loved one by creating a box of tangible memories. Other Amazon selections include books: When Someone Dies, Never that Far, and When Someone You Love Has Died.

  • The Bridge to Terabitia by Katherine Paterson

    Katherine Paterson weaves a powerful story about friendship between Jess and Leslie. The narrative breaks our heart when a tragedy occurs, resulting in a devastating loss of a friend. We feel badly for the friend left behind. We experience their grief and recovery.

  • Joy Overcame Sorrow by Jerry Woodbridge

    Joy and her best friend, Bella, are on their first solo ride to the park—just two kids enjoying a carefree afternoon. But on their way home, everything changes. Joy gets the worst news imaginable: her dad has died in a car accident. Will life ever be the same? How is a kid supposed to keep going after losing her dad?