Anyone know of any books to help children deal with the death of a pet?

[winestein]

My DS is 3.5 and it is likely that his lifelong companion, my dear, dear dog, will have to be put to sleep soon.

I want to try and find a book that helps young children deal with a pet dying. Is there such a thing? Does anyone know of anything suitable?

What about Alfie and the Birthday Surprise - all about Alfie and Annie Rose's neighbour losing his cat (ie it dies) and he's given a new kitten. It's by Shirley Hughes too, so good for Dogger fans too. I am not so sure about Dogger for loss of a beloved pet as Alfie gets him back and I fear your dog won't come back once he's gone... Then there's Badger's Parting Gift, and one about a fox and lots of other animals by Debi Gliori.

Good grief. He did so well. Sterling stuff and all that. Two and a bit years later, writing under a different alias, my dog finally died - today.... and not one book could have prepared us for the loss we all feel. Bugger :(

Badger's Parting Gift is very good. But also the book that won the Kate Greenaway Prize 2010 is about a dog that dies - Harry and Hopper - www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Hopper-Margaret-Wild/dp/1407111396/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284388002&sr=8-1

It's a very gentle book that doesn't bowl you over with what happens - it takes a few readings.