Books about life and death - any suggestions

[brendarenda]

Does anyone know of any books that be an appropriate way to help a 5 yo and a 7 yo prepare for the loss of their terminally ill grandfather? Most of the books I've seen are about the aftermath (ie dealing with death and funerals) and it's the bit before that I'm looking for. Thanks in advance.

"Goodbye Mog!" or "I'll love you For Ever" both cover the circle of life and death really well. Buy extra tissues.

It's not about people at all, but mine found The Lonely Tree helped when my uncle, who they saw a lot of, died. You don't need to say it is about anything happening in real life - but at 5 my DS1 suggested it reminded him of how he felt.

I meant to add - these would work as a good starting point for a discussion on the subject, without being too "in your face". I am sorry to hear about their Grandad .

I've just read a wonderful picture book called 'My Grandpa' by Marta Altes.

It doesn't deal with death but it does deal with why Grandpa does certain things (I think it alludes to him having Altzeimers.) You could use it as a spring board to discuss why their grandfather is having his treatment, has to sleep more etc.

Thank you. I'll check these out. I'd forgotten about Goodbye Mog - we've read that before and it would be a really good one for now. I was too busy trying to think of 'grandad' books - when actually books about pets and trees, etc would be much better.

This is the other one I mentioned I am welling up just looking at the Amazon reviews.

Grandpa by John Burningham, Badger's Parting Gifts (utterly lovely book about how people live on in those they leave behind), The Heart in the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers.

Do they know already? My boys love my mum, who was diagnosed with cancer initially in 2010, but was treated relatively successfully twice - this time, the diagnosis is that she will die in the next year or two. She was told while we were staying there, and initially understood that her prognosis was 6 to 9 months (hopefully now it may be a bit longer). DS1 (5) picked up what was happening from a conversation between dp and my mum.

While I'm interested in this thread and would love to find books which would help them (or me), I think that at 5 and 7, it might be useful to talk about how grandfather's illness will affect him, and plans for what might happen - is he likely to go into hospital/hospice care?

Artichoke Hearts is a beautiful book about a 12 year old girl whose grandmother is going into a hospice at the beginning of the book, but it's probably too old for your sons, I will mention it in case it's useful to others....

'Badgers Parting Gifts' Lovely.