Judith Viorst: The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
http://www.amazon.com/Tenth-Good-Thing-About-Barney/dp/0689712030
This is about a boy whose cat dies and he is terribly upset and sad. His mom urges him to come up with 10 good things about his cat to tell at the funeral.
Joeri and Piet Breebaart: When I Die, Will I Get Better?
http://www.amazon.com/When-Die-Will-Get-Better/dp/0872263754
This is an amazing book dictated by a 5-1/2-year-old boy to his father. The father did all the illustrations with Joeri’s guidance. The process took four weeks to complete and describes the death of his 2-1/2-year-old brother to meningitis only a few months before the story was conceived.
Sharon Greenlee: When Someone Dies
A simple, poetic look at what we can do with the feelings that arise out of loss and grief. I love the last page:
“All those experiences we shared lovingly on earth are gracefully woven, over time, into a wonderful cape of comfort that fits all who loved the one who went away.”
Joseph Anthony/Cris Arbo: In a Nutshell
http://www.amazon.com/Nutshell-Sharing-Nature-Children-Books/dp/188322098X/ref=pd_rhf_ee_p_t_4
and “The Dandelion Seed”
These books are 2 beautifully illustrated metaphorical looks at life/death cycles in the natural world that I found very comforting when surrounded by young people dying a few years ago.
Lastly a workbook,
Marge Heegaard, to be illustrated by children: When Someone Very Special Dies
May those children including my daughter coming to terms with loss of a dear friend from their school this week benefit from what we learned on our own grief journey.
