50 Books about Grief and Loss

Compiled by Merri V. Lindgren
© 2012 Cooperative Children's Book Center

Originally developed in 2003 as part of a 12-month series in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Cooperative Children's Book Center, this bibliography was updated in 2011.

Click on underlined book titles to see the CCBC review of the book, and/or the cover image.
Complete list of CCBC bibliographies

Loss of a Sibling or Friend

Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls. Viking, 2009. 288 pages. Ages 13 and older

Chayil, Eishes. Hush. Walker & Company, 2010. 359 pages. Ages 14 and older

Clarke, Judith. Starry Nights. U.S. edition: Front Street, 2003. 148 pages. Ages 10 - 14

Coman, Carolyn. Many Stones. Front Street, 2000. 158 pages. Ages 14 - 18

Forrester, Sandra. Leo and the Lesser Lion. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. 298 pages. Ages 10 - 13

Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira-Kira. Atheneum, 2004. 244 pages. Ages 10-14

LaFleur, Suzanne. Love, Aubrey. Wendy Lamb Books / Random House, 2009. 262 pages. Ages 9 - 13

Neri, G.. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. Illustrated by Randy DuBurke. Lee & Low, 2010. 94 pages. Ages 12 and older

Shreve, Susan. Blister. Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic Press, 2001. 153 pages. Ages 9 - 13

Stork, Francisco X.. The Last Summer of the Death Warriors. Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, Inc., 2010. 344 pages. Ages 14 and older

Wallace-Brodeur, Ruth. Blue Eyes Better. Dutton, 2002. 106 pages. Ages 10 - 14

Woods, Brenda. Emako Blue. Putnam, 2004. 124 pages. Ages 14-17

Zetta, Elliott. Bird. Illustrated by Shadra Strickland. Lee & Low, 2008. 40 pages. Ages 8-12

Loss of a Parent

Almond, David . The Savage. Illustrated by Dave McKean. Candlewick Press, 2008. 79 pages. Ages 11-15

Cochrane, Mick. The Girl Who Threw Butterflies. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. 177 pages. Ages 12 - 15

Crowley, Cath. A Little Wanting Song. U.S. edition: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. 272 pages. Ages 13 and older

Hest, Amy. Remembering Mrs. Rossi. Illustrated by Heather Maione. Candlewick Press, 2007. 185 pages. Ages 8-10

Kornblatt, Marc. Understanding Buddy. Margaret K. McElderry, 2001. 113 pages. Ages 9 - 12

Leiner, Katherine. Mama Does the Mambo. Illustrated by Edel Rodriguez. Hyperion, 2001. 32 pages. Ages 5 - 8

Silberberg, Alan. Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze. Aladdin, 2010. 275 pages. Ages 10 - 13

Watson, Renée. What Momma Left Me. Bloomsbury, 2010. 240 pages. Ages 10 - 14

Woodson, Jacqueline. Miracle's Boys. Putnam, 2000. 133 pages. Age 12 and older

Woodson, Jacqueline. Locomotion. Putnam, 2003. 128 pages. Ages 9 - 12

Loss of a Grandparent

Boyden, Linda. The Blue Roses. Illustrated by Amy Córdova. Lee & Low, 2002. 32 pages. Ages 5 - 8

Henkes, Kevin. Sun & Spoon. Greenwillow, 1997. 135 pages. Ages 9 - 12

Jukes, Mavis. Blackberries in the Dark. Illustrated by Thomas B. Allen. Alfred A. Knopf, 2002. 48 pages. Ages 5 - 11

Medina, Tony. DeShawn Days. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Lee & Low, 2001. Ages 6 - 11

Loss of a Pet

Cochran, Bill. The Forever Dog. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. HarperCollins, 2007. 32 pages. Ages 4-8

Creech, Sharon. Love That Dog: A Novel. Joanna Cotler Books / HarperCollins, 2001. 84 pages. Ages 8 - 12

Harris, Robie H.. Goodbye Mousie. Illustrated by Jan Ormerod. Margaret K. McElderry, 2001. 24 pages. Ages 3 - 6

Hughes, Shirley. Alfie and the Birthday Surprise. U.S. edition: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1998. Ages 3 - 6

Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Grandmother Bryant's Pocket. Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Houghton Mifflin, 1996. 48 pages. Ages 5 - 7

Parker, Marjorie Blain. Jasper's Day. Illustrated by Janet Wilson. Kids Can Press, 2002. 32 pages. Ages 4 - 8

Zolotow, Charlotte. The Old Dog. Illustrated by James Ransome. HarperCollins, 1995. 32 pages. Ages 3 - 8

Other Kinds of Loss

Deedy, Carmen Agra and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah . 14 Cows for America. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Peachtree, 2009. 36 pages. Ages 8 - 13

Durant, Alan. Always and Forever. Illustrated by Debi Gliori. U.S. edition: Harcourt, 2004. 24 pages. Ages 3 - 6

Edwards, Michelle . Stinky Stern Forever. Harcourt, 2005. 49 pages. Ages 6-8

Howe, James, editor. The Color of Absence: Twelve Stories about Loss and Hope. Atheneum, 2001. 238 pages. Ages 12 - 16

Hutchinson, Shaun David. The Deathday Letter. Simon Pulse, 2010. 240 pages. Ages 14 and older

Kuklin, Susan. After a Suicide: Young People Speak Up. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1994. 121 pages. Ages 11 - 18

Nelson, Marilyn. A Wreath for Emmett Till. Illustrated by Philippe Lardy. Houghton Mifflin, 2005. 40 pages. Age 14 and older

Raschka, Chris. The Purple Balloon. Schwartz & Wade, 2007. 24 pages. Age 5 and older

Rosen, Michael. Michael Rosen's Sad Book . Illustrated by Quentin Blake. Candlewick Press, 2005. 32 pages. Ages 6-15

Soto, Gary. The Afterlife. Harcourt, 2003. Age 13 and older

Willems, Mo. City Dog, Country Frog. Illustrated by Jon J Muth. Hyperion, 2010. 56 pages. Ages 3-7

Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. U.S. edition: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. 552 pages. Age 15 and older

This list may be reproduced and distributed by educational and/or nonprofit organizations so long as credit is given to the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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	Awards & Best-of-the-Year Lists CCBC Bibliographies & Booklists Charlotte Zolotow Award CCBC Online Presentations CCBC Podcasts CCBC Specialized Information CCBC - Net 50 Books about Grief and Loss Compiled by Merri V. Lindgren © 2012 Cooperative Children's Book Center Originally developed in 2003 as part of a 12-month series in recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Cooperative Children's Book Center, this bibliography was updated in 2011. Click on underlined book titles to see the CCBC review of the book, and/or the cover image. Complete list of CCBC bibliographies Loss of a Sibling or Friend Anderson, Laurie Halse. Wintergirls. Viking, 2009. 288 pages. Ages 13 and older Chayil, Eishes. Hush. Walker & Company, 2010. 359 pages. Ages 14 and older Clarke, Judith. Starry Nights. U.S. edition: Front Street, 2003. 148 pages. Ages 10 - 14 Coman, Carolyn. Many Stones. Front Street, 2000. 158 pages. Ages 14 - 18 Forrester, Sandra. Leo and the Lesser Lion. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. 298 pages. Ages 10 - 13 Kadohata, Cynthia. Kira-Kira. Atheneum, 2004. 244 pages. Ages 10-14 LaFleur, Suzanne. Love, Aubrey. Wendy Lamb Books / Random House, 2009. 262 pages. Ages 9 - 13 Neri, G.. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. Illustrated by Randy DuBurke. Lee & Low, 2010. 94 pages. Ages 12 and older Shreve, Susan. Blister. Arthur A. Levine/Scholastic Press, 2001. 153 pages. Ages 9 - 13 Stork, Francisco X.. The Last Summer of the Death Warriors. Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, Inc., 2010. 344 pages. Ages 14 and older Wallace-Brodeur, Ruth. Blue Eyes Better. Dutton, 2002. 106 pages. Ages 10 - 14 Woods, Brenda. Emako Blue. Putnam, 2004. 124 pages. Ages 14-17 Zetta, Elliott. Bird. Illustrated by Shadra Strickland. Lee & Low, 2008. 40 pages. Ages 8-12 Loss of a Parent Almond, David . The Savage. Illustrated by Dave McKean. Candlewick Press, 2008. 79 pages. Ages 11-15 Cochrane, Mick. The Girl Who Threw Butterflies. Alfred A. Knopf, 2009. 177 pages. Ages 12 - 15 Crowley, Cath. A Little Wanting Song. U.S. edition: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. 272 pages. Ages 13 and older Hest, Amy. Remembering Mrs. Rossi. Illustrated by Heather Maione. Candlewick Press, 2007. 185 pages. Ages 8-10 Kornblatt, Marc. Understanding Buddy. Margaret K. McElderry, 2001. 113 pages. Ages 9 - 12 Leiner, Katherine. Mama Does the Mambo. Illustrated by Edel Rodriguez. Hyperion, 2001. 32 pages. Ages 5 - 8 Silberberg, Alan. Milo: Sticky Notes and Brain Freeze. Aladdin, 2010. 275 pages. Ages 10 - 13 Watson, Renée. What Momma Left Me. Bloomsbury, 2010. 240 pages. Ages 10 - 14 Woodson, Jacqueline. Miracle's Boys. Putnam, 2000. 133 pages. Age 12 and older Woodson, Jacqueline. Locomotion. Putnam, 2003. 128 pages. Ages 9 - 12 Loss of a Grandparent Boyden, Linda. The Blue Roses. Illustrated by Amy Córdova. Lee & Low, 2002. 32 pages. Ages 5 - 8 Henkes, Kevin. Sun & Spoon. Greenwillow, 1997. 135 pages. Ages 9 - 12 Jukes, Mavis. Blackberries in the Dark. Illustrated by Thomas B. Allen. Alfred A. Knopf, 2002. 48 pages. Ages 5 - 11 Medina, Tony. DeShawn Days. Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. Lee & Low, 2001. Ages 6 - 11 Loss of a Pet Cochran, Bill. The Forever Dog. Illustrated by Dan Andreasen. HarperCollins, 2007. 32 pages. Ages 4-8 Creech, Sharon. Love That Dog: A Novel. Joanna Cotler Books / HarperCollins, 2001. 84 pages. Ages 8 - 12 Harris, Robie H.. Goodbye Mousie. Illustrated by Jan Ormerod. Margaret K. McElderry, 2001. 24 pages. Ages 3 - 6 Hughes, Shirley. Alfie and the Birthday Surprise. U.S. edition: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard, 1998. Ages 3 - 6 Martin, Jacqueline Briggs. Grandmother Bryant's Pocket. Illustrated by Petra Mathers. Houghton Mifflin, 1996. 48 pages. Ages 5 - 7 Parker, Marjorie Blain. Jasper's Day. Illustrated by Janet Wilson. Kids Can Press, 2002. 32 pages. Ages 4 - 8 Zolotow, Charlotte. The Old Dog. Illustrated by James Ransome. HarperCollins, 1995. 32 pages. Ages 3 - 8 Other Kinds of Loss Deedy, Carmen Agra and Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah . 14 Cows for America. Illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez. Peachtree, 2009. 36 pages. Ages 8 - 13 Durant, Alan. Always and Forever. Illustrated by Debi Gliori. U.S. edition: Harcourt, 2004. 24 pages. Ages 3 - 6 Edwards, Michelle . Stinky Stern Forever. Harcourt, 2005. 49 pages. Ages 6-8 Howe, James, editor. The Color of Absence: Twelve Stories about Loss and Hope. Atheneum, 2001. 238 pages. Ages 12 - 16 Hutchinson, Shaun David. The Deathday Letter. Simon Pulse, 2010. 240 pages. Ages 14 and older Kuklin, Susan. After a Suicide: Young People Speak Up. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1994. 121 pages. Ages 11 - 18 Nelson, Marilyn. A Wreath for Emmett Till. Illustrated by Philippe Lardy. Houghton Mifflin, 2005. 40 pages. Age 14 and older Raschka, Chris. The Purple Balloon. Schwartz & Wade, 2007. 24 pages. Age 5 and older Rosen, Michael. Michael Rosen's Sad Book . Illustrated by Quentin Blake. Candlewick Press, 2005. 32 pages. Ages 6-15 Soto, Gary. The Afterlife. Harcourt, 2003. Age 13 and older Willems, Mo. City Dog, Country Frog. Illustrated by Jon J Muth. Hyperion, 2010. 56 pages. Ages 3-7 Zusak, Markus. The Book Thief. U.S. edition: Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. 552 pages. Age 15 and older This list may be reproduced and distributed by educational and/or nonprofit organizations so long as credit is given to the Cooperative Children's Book Center, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison.