Recommendations of book for child worried about dying?

[Itsallyellow22]

As per title. DC (9), who isn't genrrally an anxious child, keeps saying they don't want to die. They're not ill and no family are, or any deaths in the family. Seems to be just a general worry.

Can anyone recommend any books that might help? I've googled but seem to find lots of books about bereavement.

Following as my DD4 has been asking about death a lot recently.

I’d like to know too, this is me since lockdown 😳🫣

Sorry no suggestions but also interested in any responses as my 9yr old has also been saying similar. Worrying about them dying. Not us parents or GP but themselves. Also no deaths or illnesses in family. Perhaps it’s an age thing OP? I hope your DC is ok.

do you want books with a religious point of view? Or books that have an old person dying at the end of a long & happy life? or something else?

bit young but 'Goodbye Mog' might have some of the right ideas.

Not sure of any books that would help but I remember becoming very scared of death when I became aware of mortality and impermanence (aged about 6). I think it’s a sign of them developing normally so at least that’s something.

I hope the poor little things feel better soon. Maybe you can search YouTube for a kid friendly video about death?

A boy at college gave me a copy of this when my dog died in 2003!

These look good. I haven’t been able to listen to them as DP asleep next to me. I hope they help a bit.

Try this: www.amazon.co.uk/Lifetimes-Bryan-Mellonie/dp/0553344021

Lifetimes: The beautiful way to explain death to children.

Might be too young for them but 'Badger's Parting Gifts' is a lovely book about someone passing away and what they leave behind. I find it hard to read though - it makes me cry!!!

Granddad's Island is a lovely book about death. My mum gave it to us when my dh's grandfather died of covid and we read it a lot with the kids. I don't know if it would reassure a child worried about death though, it's very sad.

I do think it's a normal phase in their development when they start to learn about death. Pretty sure mine have had similar worries, I remember having to talk about death quite a lot but it generally passed after a few days/weeks of questions.

My kid had anxiety about death when he realised that his own illness was potentially life ending (he is fine now). Spoke to his team, they got psychologist to pop past, she recommended this book.

She said it's not unusual when kids realise their mortality. this book really sorted him out.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I will go through them tomorrow. Reassured it's a normal stage/phase.

parietal I'm not really sure what I'm after (sorry thats unhelpfully vague!). Definitely not religious, but something somehow reassuring? As in yes it's perhaps a scary thing, you're not alone in worrying about it, but it's an inevitable part of life and hopefully a long way off, so don't dwell on it 😄

www.booktrust.org.uk/book/s/slogs-dad/

This a touching and sensitive story suitable for age 9-12 dealing with the theme of death and loss.

It might be worth having a word with your GP in case your child develops anxiety related to a fear of death. For what it’s worth I think it’s normal for many of us to develop a sense of our own mortality at a young age. Perhaps someone known to your child has passed away recently or they are thinking about news events. You could talk to them about your own take on death - focusing on enjoying life (if that makes any sense) and lots of reassurance. Xx