Children's Books > Issues > Grief

Have you ever wondered why a butterfly lives for only a few weeks? Or why a tree lives for hundreds of year? You may have been sad when someone in your family, or a favourite pet became sick and died.There is a beginning and an ending to everything that is alive. In between is a lifetime. Dying is a much a part of living as being born.

The tale of a dependable, reliable and helpful badger who realises that his old age will soon lead to death. His friends learn to come to terms with his death in an enchanting tale. With full colour illustrations throughout. Ages 3 to 7 years

One day three children start a business called Funerals Ltd, to help all the poor dead animals in the world. One does the digging, one writes the poems, and the other — the littlest — cries. Translated from the Swedish, this is another delightful title from Gecko Press, which sources the best of Europe’s picturebooks and publishes them for the New Zealand market.

Dill the dog knows his time is up so he packs his case and tells Lily, his owner, that he's off 'up there'. 'Can I come too?' asks Lily. 'Er... not yet,' replies Dill. While he is waiting for the angels to collect him, Dill explains to Lily what he thinks heaven is like: hundreds of lampposts to pee against, lots of whiffy things to smell and bones everywhere - with meat on them! But Lily completely disagrees, she thinks heaven is quite different. Luckily, they agree to disagree just in time for a fond, and very poignant, last go... read more

Death of a loved one is one of the most stressful events in adult life. For children, whose understanding of death is limited and who may not have the skills to cope with extreme emotion, death can be overwhelming. Why Did You Die? offers exercises that help children understand death better; cope with sadness, anger, and fear; and develop self-care skills. Using an art therapy approach this book gives kids creative avenues to express their feelings and to heal from their loss. It starts with an informative section for parents o... read more

In this poetic and moving tale, we watch a year in the life of one whânau (family) through the eyes of a little girl. A poetic and moving tale by Tim Tipene, with evocative illustrations by Huhana Smith. HONOUR BOOK AWARD WINNER IN NEW ZEALAND POST BOOK AWARDS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS

Tom's father has died but with help and love from his family, he learns how to be happy again. Honour Award winner in the 1996 AIM Children's Book Awards.

This book was the WINNER in the Picture Book Category, New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2010.
Everyone loved Old Hu-Hu. But nobody loved him quite as much as little Hu-Hu-Tu. Old Hu-Hu is a thoughtful tale of young Hu-Hu-Tu's search for understanding of what has happened to his beloved Old Hu-Hu, who flew all the way to the moon (or so they said), then fell down dead. Sensitively written, this is a beautiful story of death and the celebration of life, with powerful, evocative illustrations by Rachel Driscoll. Story... read more

For children, the passing away of a loved one can be especially perplexing and troublesome. Here to offer advice and reassurance are the wise dinosaurs from the Dino Life Guides for Families, providing answers to some of the most-often-asked questions. For ages 4 to 8.

One morning the bear was crying. His friend, the little bird, was dead. When the little bird dies, the bear is inconsolable. Full of grief, he locks himself in his house and ventures out again only when the smell of young spring grass blows through his window. He meets a wildcat and finally feels understood. As the cat plays on her violin, the bear remembers all the beauty that he has experienced with the little bird. Now he can bury his friend, because he knows he'll always have his memories.

Today Riley's family is celebrating Jasper's Day. Everything they do will be in honor of Jasper -- sort of like a birthday. But it isn't Jasper's birthday. The old dog's cancer has gotten really bad. Riley knows they can't let him suffer any longer, but letting go will be the hardest thing he's ever had to do. Marjorie Blain Parker's tender story is filled with smiles, tears and the joy of special memories, and Janet Wilson's gentle pastels capture the depth of love shared by a boy and his dog. Together, they speak of acceptance, r... read more

A moving illustrated verse novel about a girl dealing with isolation at school, and with her grandma’s illness at home. At school, Pearl feels as though she is in a group of one. Her teacher wants her to write poems that rhyme but Pearl’s poems don’t. At home, however, Pearl feels safe and loved, but her grandmother is slowly fading, and so are Mum and Pearl. When her grandmother eventually passes away, Pearl wants life to go back to the way it was and refuses to talk at the funeral. But she finds the courage to... read more

Ruby and Katie treasure the time they spend with their sister Hine. This is Ruby's story of Hine's life and death, and of a family of diverse cultures coming to terms with their grief.Selected as New Zealand's entry for the 2003 UNESCO Prize for Children's Literature in the Service of Tolerance.

When Jack meets Old Man Death coming towards his cottage, he realises at once what's up. "You're not taking my old mother!" he cries, and hits out at Death with his fists. With each punch, Death gets smaller and smaller, until Jack is able to squeeze him inside a hazelnut shell. But, then the trouble begins.

Kate was the best dog ever. Kate was Aleta's dog. Kate has died. And Aleta's never experienced death before. This is a sensitive, beautifully written book designed to help young people cope with their grief over the death of a pet. It is filled with both poignancy and humor - a combination that really 'hooks' readers of all ages. It deals specifically with the loss of a dog, but acknowledges that grief can accompany the loss of any pet. It takes seriously the emotional depth of grief. Ages 8 to 13 years

When her mother dies suddenly, Emma is heartbroken and alone - she can't even bring herself to care for Nautilus, the horse they loved so much. But every day Nautilus becomes more timid, neglected and wild . . . How can Emma help Nautilus when she has lost so much? And will she find the courage to ride again? A beautiful story of hope, healing and horses by the award-winning Jane Tanner.

Winner of the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis, awarded to authors of children?s and teenage literature for outstanding works.Why doesn?t Berra have a grandfather? How can he get one? There are plenty of old men who would do as a grandfather at the retirement home, Ulf suggests. They go there together to find one ? ideally one who eats pig?s trotters, invites you to tea and can teach you to whistle. A classic in many countries, this is a humorous and sensitive story about a friendship between two boys and an old man. This classic tal... read more

This glowing picture book, by turns playful and poignant, portrays the tender relationship between a grandfather and granddaughter as they appreciate nature together over the years. They take their first walk in the woods when the little girl is barely old enough to toddle; their last when Grandfather can only shuffle along. Each walk brings a new discovery-a sneaky snake, flashing fireflies, teardrops on a spiderweb-and sometimes a lesson about saying good-bye. One day the girl walks alone, stronger because she learned from her gr... read more

Who really knows what goes on behind closed cat-flaps? The cat's out of the bag when Sophie and Nick discover their pet, Fred, has been leading a double life. By day he's the laziest cat in the world - but by night he's a singing superstar. . .

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