Childrens Books - Death of a Pet
by Gina Dalpra-Berman (Author), Barbara Hoss-Schneider (Illustrator) Gina Dalpra-Berman's vivid children's picturebook, Remembering Pets, is written specifically for young people who have lost a treasured animal companion. It is about remembering the joys shared with a favorite bird, dog, cat, turtle, or other creature that bestowed unconditional love upon its owner. Remembering Pets tells a young person that it is OK to grieve for the loss of a beloved animal, and to embrace the joys of a new pet. Highly recommended for any child who has outlived his or her cherished animal friend.
For Every Dog an Angel (Hardcover)
by Christine Davis
I've purchased three copies of this book so far and am thinking about having a couple on hand for the occasion when someone has lost a beloved pet. It expresses beautiful sentiment and provides much needed comfort and hope. It's very appropriate for a family with children, but also is nice for adults, too. I highly recommend.
I'll Always Love You (Paperback)
by Hans Wilhelm
"This is a story about Elfie-the best dog in the world..." (more) PreSchool-Grade 2 In this gentle, moving story, Elfie, a dachshund, and her special boy progress happily through life together. When she is young, Elfie is full of pep and pranks; but as her master grows taller and taller, Elfie grows fatter and slower. One morning Elfie does not wake up. The family grieves and buries her, and the boy refuses a new puppy. He is not yet ready for another pet; but when he is, he will tell that one, as he told Elsie every night, "I'll always love you." The watercolor illustrations, tender and warm in color and mood and cozily rounded in form, suit the simple text perfectly. Elsie's gradual change from a lively mischief-maker to a portly old dog is treated with a sweet humor. Viorst's The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (Atheneum, 1971) and Cohen's Jim's Dog Muffins (Greenwillow, 1984) also treat the loss of a beloved pet with great understanding, but anyone who has or ever had an old dog in the family will be especially touched by this book. Pat Pearl, First Presbyterian Church Library, Martinsville, Va.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
For Every Cat an Angel (Hardcover)
by Christine Davis
For Every Cat An Angel celebrates the timeless connection between people and their "forever cats." From the moment a kitten is born, the book tells us, a guardian angel watches over it, loving the kitten no matter which path it chooses in life.
Some cats are adopted into loving families and the angel is happy knowing her cat will always be loved and cared for. But sometimes the angel knows someone very special is waiting for her cat, so she sends the cat through the stars until it arrives at the place it is meant to be - at the home of its forever person, where it will become a forever cat. Once a forever person and a forever cat find each other, nothing can ever separate them.
Filled with colorful illustrations, For Every Cat An Angel will delight cat lovers young and old and bring comfort to anyone who has had to say goodbye to their beloved cat companion.
When a Pet Dies (Paperback)
by Fred Rogers
"A pet can be a very important part of your life..."
In this useful book from the First Experience series, the affable star of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood helps children share feelings of the loss of a pet while offering reassurance that grieving is a natural, healing thing to do. A sensitive and sensible first book about death. -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Filled with warmth and reassurance,...When a Pet Dies assures youngsters that no matter how badly they feel when they lose a pet, in time their hurt will ease, and they will be able to remember with fondness the happiness they shared. -- Booklist Fred Rogers and Jim Judkis live in Pittsburgh, PA.
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (Paperback)
by Judith Viorst (Author), Erik Blegvad (Illustrator)
My cat Barney died this Friday. I was very sad. My mother said we could have a funeral for him, and I should think of ten good things about Barney so I could tell them...
But the small boy who loved Barney can only think of nine. Later, while talking with his father, he discovers the tenth -- and begins to understand.
by Leo Buscaglia
"Spring had passed. So had Summer..." Originally published in the fall of 1982, the wonderfully wise and strikingly simple story of a leaf named Freddie has become one of the most popular books of our times. How Freddie and his companion leaves change with the passing seasons, finally falling to the ground with a winters snow, is an inspiring allegory illustrating the delicate balance between life and death.After offering solace for a generation of adults and children alike, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf arrives in a classic edition with a beautiful new package that will appeal to todays readers at a time when stories of comfort and inspiration have become more important than ever.
When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death (Dino Life Guides for Families) (Paperback)
by Laurie Krasny Brown (Author), Marc Brown (Illustrator)
"Every single living being has a beginning, a time to be alive, and then an ending, or death..."
Ages 5-8. Unlike many books on death for little ones, this one doesn't tell a story. Instead, it addresses children's fears and curiosity head-on, and in a largely secular fashion, by answering some very basic questions: "Why does someone die?" "What does dead mean?" "What comes after death?" Other questions deal with emotions, and there's a section about death customs (the weakest part of the book). The forthright approach makes the subject seem less mysterious and provides kids with plenty to think about and discuss with their parents. It's the brightly colored artwork, however, that will really enable children to relax with the concept. The pictures are filled with homey clutter and familiar detail, and the activities of the appealingly quirky characters (who resemble dinosaurs in only the broadest way) add a strong, comforting sense of what can only be called normalcy.
Lifetimes (Paperback)
by Bryan Mellonie (Author)
I have a fairly extensive collection of books about death and grieving for "my" children, which we have used for the loss of family, friends and pets. But this is the only book I regularly give copies of to families. The "de-personalized" way it talks about death, the universality of its text combined with soft drawings and repetition are very soothing. This is NOT a book about emotions or stages of death. (If you are looking for one of those Everett Anderson's Goodbye is a positive place to start.)
This is a book about the rhythm of life and death for all creatures, for everything that is born. One of the best parts of the book is its emphasis on what a lifetime is, and how it is framed by birth and death, and that inbetween those "markers" is what is important. It explains that different creatures have different life spans, and that this aspect of nature is neither fair nor unfair. It simply is.
I do not restrict this book to times when a child is grieving,
I include it in our regular reading rotation, so that the children see death as a normal part of life experiences. Death is so emotionally charged, especially for the grown ups, that having a calm book is especially worthwhile. When a child is actually grieving balancing the more "intense" books with this soothing one, does wonders.
