The following list of books, Web sites, and organizations may provide useful information for people who are going through a loss or discussing death with children.

Books for Adults*

A Broken Heart Still Beats: After Your Child Dies, by Anne McCracken and Mary Semel. Published by Hazelden, 2000.

After the Darkest Hour the Sun Will Shine Again: A Parent's Guide to Coping With the Loss of a Child, by Elizabeth Mehren and Harold Kushner. Published by Fireside, 1997.

Bereaved Children and Teens: A Support Guide for Parents and Professionals by Earl A. Grollman. Published by Beacon Press, 1996.

Beyond the Innocence of Childhood: Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Death and Bereavement. (Professional Practices in Adult Education and Human Resource) by David W. Adams and Eleanor J. Deveau. Published by Baywood Publishing Company, 1995.

Children's Conceptions of Death by Richard Lonetto. Published by Springer, 1980.

Children and Grief: When a Parent Dies by William J. Worden. Published by Guilford Press, 1996.

Explaining Death to Children by Earl Grollman. Published by Beacon Press,1987.

Gili’s Book: A Journey Into Bereavement for Parents and Counselors by Henya Kagan Klein. Published by Teachers College Press, 1998.

Grieving: How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies by Theresa A. Rando. Published by Lexington Books: 1995.

Guiding Your Child Through Grief by James P. and Mary Ann Emswiler. Published by Bantam, 2000.

Helping Children Cope With the Loss of a Loved One: A Guide for Grownups by William C. Kroen and Pamela Espeland. Published by Free Spirit Publishing, 1996.

Healing Children’s Grief: Surviving a Parent’s Death From Cancer by Grace Christ. Published by Oxford University Press, 2000.

Helping Children Cope With the Death of a Parent: A Guide for the First Year by Paddy Greenwall Lewis and Jessica G. Lippman. Published by Praeger Publishers, 2004.

How to Survive the Loss of a Child: Filling the Emptiness and Rebuilding Your Life by Catherine Sander. Published by Prima Lifestyles, 1994.

It’s Okay to Cry: A Parent’s Guide to Helping Children Through the Losses of Life (Workbook) by Norman Wright. Published by Waterbrook Press, 2004.

Never the Same: Coming to Terms With the Death of a Parent by Donna Schuuman. Published by St. Martin’s Press, 2003.

On Children and Death by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Published by Touchstone, 1997.

Relative Grief: Parents And Children, Sisters And Brothers, Husbands, Wives And Partners, Grandparents And Grandchildren talk about their experience of death and grief by Dorothy Rowe, Judy Merry, and Clare Jenkins. Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005.

Talking with Chidren About Loss: Words, Strategies, and Wisdom To Help Children Cope With Death, Divorce, and Other Difficult Times by Maria Trozzie. Published by Childhood Education, 2000.

The Bereaved Parent by Harriet Sarnoff Schiff. Published by Penguin, 1977.

The Bereaved Parents' Survival Guide by Juliet Cassuto Rothman. Published by Continuum International Publishing Group, 1997.

The Child and Family Facing Life-Threatening Illness: A Tribute to Eugenia Waechter by Tamar Krulik, Bonnie Holaday, and Ida S. Martinson. Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1987.

35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child, by the Dougy Center Staff. Published by The Dougy Center, 1999.

The Death of an Adult Child: A Book for and About Bereaved Parents (Death, Value and Meaning) by Jeanne Webster.Blank. Published by Baywood Publishing Company, Inc., 1997.

The Worst Loss: How Families Heal From the Death of a Child by Barbara D. Rosof. Published by Owl Books, 1995.

Unspoken Grief: Coping with Childhood Sibling Loss by Helen Rosen. Published by Lexington Books, 1990.

Understanding Children’s Experiences of Parental Bereavement by Jessica John Holland. Published by Kingsley Publishers, 2001.

What About the Kids? Understanding Their Needs in Funeral Planning and Services by The Dougy Center for Grieving Children. Published by the Dougy Center, 1999.

When a Parent Has Cancer: A Guide to Caring for Your Children by Wendy S. Harpham. Published by HarperCollins, 2004.

When Children Grieve: For Adults to Help Children Deal With Death, Divorce, Pet Loss, Moving, and Other Losses by John W James, Russell Friedman, and Dr. Leslie Landon Matthews. Published by HarperCollins Publishers, 2001.

When The Bough Breaks by Judith Andrews Bernstein. Published by McMeel Publishing, 1998.

Write From Your Heart: A Healing Grief Journal by Kathrine Peterson. Published by Garrison Oaks Publishing, 2001.

Books for Children*

A Candle for Grandpa: A Guide to the Jewish Funeral for Children and Parents by David Techner, Judith Hirt-Manheimer, and Joel Iskowitz. Published by Urg Press, 1993. Ages 4-8.

A Child’s Book About Burial and Cremation by Earl Grollman. Published by the Centering Corporation, 2001.

A Child’s Book About Death by Earl Grollman. Published by the Centering Corporation. 2001. Ages 6 and up.

A Pillow for My Mom by Clarissa Sgourous and Christine Ross. Published by Houghton Mifflin/Walter Lorraine Books, 1998. Ages 5-9.

A Quilt for Elizabeth by Bennette W Tiffault. Published by Centering Corporation, 1992. Ages 6-11.

After Charlotte’s Mom Died by Cornelia Spelman and Judith Friedman. Published by Albert Whitman & Co., 1996. Ages 5-7.

After the Funeral by Jane Loretta Winsch. Published by Paulist Press, 1995. Ages 4-8.

Always and Forever by Alan Durant and Debi Gliori. Published by Harcourt Children’s Books, 2004. Preschool-Grade 3.

Anna’s Corn by Barbara Santucci and Lloyd Bloom. Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2002. Ages 4-8.

Barklay and Eve: Sitting Shiva by Karen L Carney. Published by Dragonfly Publishing, 1997. Ages 4-8.

Bluebird Summer by Deborah Hopkinson and Bethanne Andersen. Published by Greenwillow, 2001. Ages 4-8.

Children and Grief: When A Parent Dies by William J. Worden. Published by Guilford Press, 1996.

Don’t Despair on Thursdays!: The Children’s Grief-Management Book (The Emotional Impact Series) by Adolph Moser and David Melton. Published by Landmark Editions, 1996.

Dusty Was My Friend: Coming to Terms With Loss by Andrea Fleck Clardy. Published by Human Sciences Press, 1985. Baby-preschool.

Goodbye Mousie by Robie H. Harris and Jan Omerod. Published by Margaret K. McElderry, 2001. Preschool-Grade 2.

Grandma’s Purple Flowers by Adjoa J. Burrowes. Published by Lee & Low Books, 2000. Ages 4-8.

Grandma’s Scrapbook by Josephine Nobisso and Maureen Hyde. Published by Gingerbread House, 2000 (Revised edition). Ages 4-8.

Grandpa Loved by Josephine Nobisso and Maureen Hyde. Published by Gingerbread House, 2000 (Revised edition).

Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies by Janis Silverman. Published by Fairview Press, 1999.

How It Feels When a Parent Dies by Jill Krementz. Published by Knopf, 1988. Ages 7-17.

I Miss You: A First Look At Death by Pa Thomas and Lesley Harker. Published by Barron’s Educational Series, 2001.

Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way To Explain Death To Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen. Published by Bantam, 1983. Ages: 6-11.

Losing Someone You Love: When a Brother or Sister Dies by Elizabeth Richter. Published by Putnam's Publishing Group, 1986. Grade 6 and up.

My Grieving Journey Book by Donna Shavatt and Eve Shavatt. Published by Paulist Press, 2002. Ages 4-8.

Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing With Loss (Elf-Help Books for Kids) by Michaelene Mundy and R. W. Alley. Published by Abbey Press, 1998.

Tear Soup by Pat Schweibert and Chuck DeKlyen. Published by Grief Watch, 2nd Revised Edition, 2001.

The Dying and Bereaved Teenager edited by John D. Morgan. Published by the Charles Press Publishers, 1990. Ages 12 and up.

The Empty Window by Eve Bunting. Published by Frederick Warne, 1980. Ages 7 and up.

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages by Leo Buscaglia. Published by Henry Holt & Co, 1982. Ages 4-8.

The Gift of a Memory: A Keepsake to Commemorate the Loss of a Loved One by Marianne Richmond. Published by Marianne Richmond Studios Inc. All ages.

The Saddest Time (An Albert Whitman Prairie Book) by Norma Simon and Jacqueline Rogers. Published by Albert Whitman & Company, reprinted 1992. Ages 4-8.

The Tenth Good Thing About Barnie by Judith Viorst. Published by MacMillan Publishing, 1987. Ages 5 and up.

Thumpy's Story: A Story of Love & Grief Shared by Thumpy the Bunny by Nancy C. Dodge. Published by Prairie Lark Press, 1985. Ages 6 and up.

Transitions Along the Way: A Guide to the Dying Process for Children and Young Adults by Stephanie Jonah. Published by Visions, 1999. Ages 9-12.

When Bad Things Happen: A guide to Help Kids Cope (Elf-Help Books for Kids) by Ted O’Neal and Robert W. Alley. Published by On-Caring Place, 2003.

When a Grandparent Dies: A Kid’s Own Remembering Workbook for Dealing with Shiva and the Year Beyond by Nechama Liss-Levenson and Karen Savary. Published by Jewish Lights Publishing, 1995. Ages 4-8.

When Your Grandparent Dies: A Child’s Guide to Good Grief (Elf-Help Books for Kids) by Victoria Ryan and Robert W. Alley. Published by Abbey Press, 2002. Ages 4-8.

On the Web*

Bereaved Families Online Support Center:
www.bereavedfamilies.net

GriefNet:
www.griefnet.org

National Cancer Institute Website: Loss, Grief, and Bereavement.
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/bereavement/patient

Self Help Magazine
www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/loss/index.shtml

Other Organizations*

Association for Death Education and Counseling
60 Revere Drive
Suite 500
Northbrook, IL 60062
Telephone: 1-847-509-0403
Fax: 1-847-480-9282
www.adec.org

Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation (CCCF)
P.O. Box 498
Kensington, MD 20895-0498
Telephone: 1-800-366-2223
www.candlelighters.org

Centering Corporation
7230 Maple Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68134
Telephone: 1-402-553-1200
www.centering.org

GriefNet
Rivendell Resources, Inc.
P.O. Box 3272
Ann Arbor, MI 48106-3272
1-734-761-1960
www.griefnet.org

Hospice Foundation of America
1621 Connecticut Avenue NW
Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20009
1-202-638-5419
1-800-854-3402
www.hospicefoundation.org

Mautner Project, The National Lesbian Health Organization
1707 L Street NW, Suite 230
Washington, D. C. 20036
1-202-332-5536
www.mautnerproject.org

National Caregivers Association
10400 Connecticut Avenue
Suite 500
Kensington, MD 20895-3944
1-800-896-3650
www.thefamilycaregiver.org

The Compassionate Friends
P.O. Box 3696
Oakbrook, IL 60522-3696
Telephone:1-877-969-0010
Fax; 1-630-990-0246
www.compasssionatefriends.org

The Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families
P.O. Box 86852
Portland, OR 97286
Telelphone: 1-503-775-5683
Tollfree: 1-866-775-5683
www.dougy.org

*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society

Last Medical Review: 08/08/2005
Last Revised: 07/09/2008