Reassuring 4 year old about death

[PetitFilou1]

My 4 year old ds has suddenly got a bit obsessed with death and is very sad that everyone dies. He also thinks that he is going to die although noted that my Grandpa is not dead yet (he is in his eighties). He is worried that ds2 (due in August) is going to die and take the playmobil bin lorry I've said ds2 might get him with him!

Does anyone know of any books that explain death gently to a 4 year old? I'm not religious so don't do the going to heaven bit but I'd like to make this less scary for him.

Goodbye Mogg is fantastic - it's about Mogg the cat dying and doesn't mention god at all - though it does have her flying up into the sun at the end

Children don't truly understand the concept of death until they are about 6 years old, if I recall correctly. Until then they see it as temporary and reversible. Not that that really helps you with your original question though, sorry!

Waterbugs and Dragonflies is brilliant - you might have to get it from a 'religious' type book shop, but the story itself (about the waterbugs climbing up the waterlily stem, becoming dragonflies and then realising they can't get back under water to tell their mates all about it)is not religious and although there is a prayer in the back you can leave it out. We got it for our 3 1/2 year old a couple of months ago when her great nan died (she was pretty sprightly and we saw a lot of her so it was quite a shock even tho' she was 89)and it's helped massively. Good Luck!