21 Children’s Books About Death: Gentle Stories for Kids Navigating Loss

Looking for children’s books about the death of a dog, cat, or loved one? This book list shares gentle, comforting stories to help young children process grief, pet loss, and the first experience of death with love and care.

image shows an adult comforting a child with the blog post title

As parents, one of the hardest things we’ll ever face is helping our children navigate grief. Whether it’s the death of a pet or the loss of a family member or beloved friend, explaining death to young children is incredibly difficult.

Books can be a powerful tool for sparking conversations, answering questions, and giving kids a sense of comfort when they’re experiencing loss for the first time. They can also help us as grown ups when we’re struggling to find the right words.

I experienced this firsthand after the death of our sweet kitty Osiris and how to navigate that conversation with my toddlers. I was grateful a second time for books to help me with their tough questions after one of my close friends became terminally ill and later passed away when my boys were older.

In this post, I’ve rounded up children’s books about the death of a pet, as well as books about death for kids in general that are appropriate for the loss of a loved one like a parent, grandparent or friend. I’ve split these into two sections to make it easier to find what you’re searching for.

These are gentle, supportive stories that parents, caregivers, and teachers can lean on when they don’t know where to start.

Note: Some links may be affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you use my links to purchase, at no extra added cost to you! I only recommend products that I personally love and believe in. Full disclaimer here.

children reading the book The Invisible String

Children’s Books About the Death of a Pet

For many kids, the death of a pet is their first experience with loss. Whether it’s a beloved dog, a little cat, or even a fish or hamster, saying goodbye to a living thing they’ve loved can feel overwhelming.

These children’s books provide a beautiful way to talk about grief, remembrance, and the love that never fades. You can also click here to find them all in my Amazon storefront for easy shopping, too.

The Rainbow Bridge: A Visit to Pet Paradise by Adrian Raeside: This touching story brings the idea of the “Rainbow Bridge” to life, showing what happens when beloved pets cross over into a place of warmth, peace, and joy. With humor and heart, it offers comfort to children (and adults) who have lost a furry friend, helping them imagine their pet happy and free in a beautiful Pet Paradise.

I’ll Be Your Friend Forever by Amulya Veldanda Vadali: A heartfelt story about love that doesn’t end, even when someone we love is no longer physically here. Told through the eyes of a young child, this book explores the ways we can keep a friend or family member’s memory alive — through stories, art, and acts of kindness. It’s a sweet, hopeful reminder that real friendship lasts forever.

Remembering Blue Fish (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, based on the PBS KIDS series): Perfect for preschoolers, this Daniel Tiger story tackles the loss of a pet in a thoughtful, age-appropriate way. A great tool for helping little ones understand grief and see that it’s OK to feel sad and miss someone. The episode is also another wonderful tool if you have toddlers and preschoolers!

When a Pet Dies by Fred Rogers: This classic from the beloved Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood host uses honest, compassionate language to help children navigate the loss of a pet. It gently acknowledges all the emotions that can come up — sadness, confusion, even anger — and encourages kids to talk openly about what they’re feeling. Simple, kind, and deeply reassuring.

I’ll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm: This tender story follows a little boy and his beloved dog, Elfie, through their years together and the sadness of saying goodbye. When Elfie dies, the boy remembers how he told her he loved her every single day — and that helps him heal. With beautiful watercolor illustrations, this timeless picture book captures both the joy of love and the comfort of lasting memories.

The Heaven of Animals by Nancy Tillman: From the author of On the Night You Were Born comes a gentle, poetic story about what happens to the animals we love when they pass on. Told with Tillman’s signature warmth and stunning illustrations, it paints a comforting picture of pets in a heaven where they’re happy, healthy, and waiting for us. A beautiful way to help children imagine peace and love beyond loss.

Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant: This classic book imagines what dog heaven might look like: fields to run in, treats galore, and endless love. The wonderful illustrations bring comfort to pet lovers of all ages and remind children that their beloved dogs are safe and happy.

Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant: The companion to Dog Heaven, this gentle story offers a vision of cat heaven full of cozy laps, sunbeams, and soft pillows. Perfect for a young girl or little boy grieving the loss of a little cat or big cat.

The Invisible Leash by Patrice Karst: From the author of The Invisible String, this tender book introduces the idea of an invisible leash that keeps us connected to our beloved pets even after they’ve passed the rainbow bridge. A beautiful story for children coping with pet loss.

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst: This book focuses on a little boy who loses his cat, Barney, and works to create a list of ten good things to remember him by. A memory box activity or gratitude list can be a great extension of this moving book.

Goodbye Mog by Judith Kerr: In this heartfelt tale, Mog the cat dies and continues to watch over her family members as they welcome a new puppy into their home. It’s a beautiful way to introduce the idea that love carries on, even after a pet dies.

Always Remember by Cece Meng and Jago: This picture book tells the story of an old sea turtle who dies but lives on in the memories of his friends. It’s a tender book that reminds young readers that the impact of a beloved pet or best friend doesn’t end when their life does.

Find all these books here

Image shows 3 children's books about death, loss and emotions

Children’s Books About Death of a Loved One

Beyond pets, children will sometimes face the loss of a family member, beloved friend, or even someone in their extended community. These children’s books are written with sensitivity, offering words and beautiful illustrations to help children process the true meaning of loss.

I personally own The Invisible String and Something Very Sad Happened, and highly recommend those in this section.

Below are some great choices for books for children and loss. You can also click here to find them all in my Amazon storefront for easy shopping, too.

The Invisible String by Patrice Karst: A modern classic, this story reminds kids that they are always connected to the people they love—even if they can’t see them. It’s an excellent book for talking about the death of a family member, best friend, or even when parents are separated.

Something Very Sad Happened: A Toddler’s Guide to Understanding Death by Bonnie Zucker, illustrated by Kim Fleming: This beautifully gentle book helps very young children understand death in simple, concrete language that feels comforting instead of scary. Written by a psychologist and parent, it offers age-appropriate explanations of what it means when someone dies and helps toddlers process grief with reassurance and love. A must-have for parents navigating a loss with little ones.

Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen: This wordless picture book is a beautiful way to explain that every living thing has a beginning, middle, and end. It’s one of the most highly recommended children’s books for children of all ages learning about death.

Always and Forever by Alan Durant, illustrated by Debi Gliori: When Fox dies, his animal friends struggle to cope. Through memories, they begin to smile again, realizing he will always be part of their lives. A tender book with a gentle message for young children.

The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr: Bright, simple illustrations give even the youngest kids tools to talk about death and grief. This picture book is a great option for young readers who need straightforward language and reassurance.

Cry, Heart, But Never Break by Glenn Ringtved: This moving book uses the story of four children meeting Death as a gentle character. It helps explain that life and death are intertwined, and grief is part of love. Perfect for older children who may want a deeper understanding.

The Memory Box: A Book About Grief by Joanna Rowland: This story follows a young girl who creates a memory box to remember her loved one. It’s interactive, practical, and offers a great way for kids to channel their feelings.

Annabelle & Aiden: What Happens When We Die? by J.R. Becker, illustrated by Max Rambaldi: Part of the Annabelle & Aiden science series, this thoughtful book approaches one of life’s hardest questions from a gentle, scientific point of view. Through comforting explanations and beautiful illustrations, it explores how everything in nature is connected — how our bodies and energy return to the Earth and help new life grow.

In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek: While not specifically about death, this picture book helps kids identify and name emotions, which is essential for children processing grief for the first time. Our family also owns this book, and it’s a wonderful option to add to your family library in general if you have children with big feelings.

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How to Use Books About Death with Kids

Books are more than just stories—they’re tools for healing. Here are some ideas for using these children’s books when your child is grieving:

Read together slowly. Pause to answer questions or talk about how the main character is feeling.
Create a memory box. Inspired by The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, gather photos, drawings, or small items that remind your child of their beloved pet or family member.
Draw or write about the rainbow bridge. Encourage your child to imagine their beloved friend in dog heaven or cat heaven, running free and happy.
Express gratitude. At the dinner table or bedtime, share one thing you loved most about the person or pet you lost.
Revisit often. A moving book can be read many times as your child processes their grief in different ways.

Other Book Recommendations for Kids:

Final Thoughts on Books for Kids Processing Grief

Helping children process grief is never easy. But with the right tools, like these children’s books about the death of a dog, children’s books about the death of a cat, and gentle books about death for kids, we can offer them language, comfort, and hope.

Loss is part of life, but so is love. And through stories, we can help our kids see that love never truly goes away.

If you found this list of book recommendations for kids helpful, use the image below to pin it on Pinterest to help other parents find this resource, too!