Books about Death for Children

[squidette]

We were in the Library today and my youngest was choosing his usual array. One of the books he chose was called Always and Forever by Alan Durant.

I read this to him tonight - the most gentle and moving story about a death of an animal and how his friends grieve for him. As an atheist and a humanist, it was wonderful to share a story that talked about the rich and powerful emotions of those that are left and how they both miss him and then celebrate his life as well as find humour in their memories.

It was great to find a children's book that reflected my own thoughts - when people live on in others hearts and minds, there is no requirement for another 'place'.

And if you do believe in something beyond, the book leaves room for your own explanations too

Has anyone else come across gentle books about death that have been helpful at talking about this?

there's a lovely wee story called "waterbugs and Dragonflies" that you can probably read online which is available in booklet form and explains death to children but (I think) from a christian perspective so probably not what you'd be after!

i'm not sure how i'd feel about ds picking such a book up in the library... i can imagine if i started reading it at nighttime we'd get a thousand questions!

I have read on MN before that Goodbye Mog is supposed to be good for this subject.

No Matter What is lovely for wee small ones - a kangaroo who says will you love me no matter what, even after I'm dead and gone (paraphrasing here but you get the idea!)

Michael Rosen's Sad Book is incredibly good - not just death but sadness

www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Rosens-Sad-Book-Rosen/dp/074 4598982/ref=sr11/026-7509724-1354822?ie=UTF8&s=books&a mp;qid=1181589731&sr=8-1

Great recommendations - its really nice to hear what others found to be helpful.

tassis - i dont check his books at the Library (he is 5), he just knows that he can choose from the big picture book boxes and the 1st reader stickers. Its become important that he chooses books he likes (pictures on cover!) as well as ones i do (content - i'm a Dr Seuss fan so my children will be too! ) So having said that, the story unfolded and i felt a bit eeeeeek, but actually it was really nice and we did have some questions, but that was ok.

I also like the idea of the Sad Book. Thank you everyone.

I would say that the Sad Book is very, er, sad - made me sniff a bit.

I'll Always Love You gets me every time! It is very sad, but very lovely!

Hi, this is a reading suggestion for you rather than your son - I've just started reading a really inspiring book called "parenting beyond belief" which is a collection of essays about ways of raising children who are freethinkers (i.e. in the humanist/atheist tradition of rationality), including on the subject of talking to children about death www.parentingbeyondbelief.com/

The Copper Tree is a sensitively written book about death for children. Its about love and legacy and helps children understand that it's natural to be sad when someone dies but it also endorses the powerful effects of memory as a means of healing.