Books About Grief And Loss

The Best Grief And Loss Books for Kids

Looking for our other guide?

Explore our editor-reviewed guide to Books About Loss, featuring 15 favorites and recommendations by age.

Looking for excellent children's books about grief and loss? This collection brings together Bookroo's highest-rated and most useful picks in one place.

Start with our editorial favorites, then browse recommendations organized by reading stage to find the right book for your reader.

#2 in Series

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Grief And Loss

Sale price

$1139

Chapter Book · Ages 12–18 · 2018

Five Feet Apart

By Rachael Lippincott

Two teens fall in love but must stay apart to survive. Can love bridge the distance between them?

304 pages· 61,382 words· Est. 5.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 264,930 ratings

$11.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Stella and Will, both battling cystic fibrosis, must keep a safe distance to protect their fragile health. Stella's life depends on a lung transplant, while Will dreams of freedom beyond hospital walls. As their connection deepens, the mandated six feet apart feels like a cruel barrier. Can they risk everything for a chance at love, or will the distance keep them safe but heartbroken? Discover if five feet apart is worth the risk in this poignant tale of love and survival.

Sale price

$1473

Chapter Book · Ages 11–15 · 2005

Once

By Morris Gleitzman · Book #1 in the Once Series series

A boy's storytelling may be his only hope in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Sydney Taylor Book Honor (2011)

160 pages· 30,815 words· Est. 3 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 28,799 ratings

$15.50Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: In 1942 Poland, young Felix escapes an orphanage, determined to find his parents. As a Jewish boy, danger lurks at every turn. Armed only with his storytelling gift, can Felix outwit the Nazis and reunite with his family? His journey is fraught with peril, but hope and imagination might just be his salvation. Discover Felix's gripping tale of survival and courage in a world where every moment counts.

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$1597

Picture Book · Ages 4–8 · 2019

Ojiichan's Gift

By Chieri Uegaki, Genevieve Simms (Illustrator)

A girl must preserve her grandfather's stone garden as he moves away.

32 pages· 868 words· Est. 7 min read-aloud

4.2/5 Goodreads · 505 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Mayumi cherishes summers in Japan, tending a unique stone garden with her grandfather. But when he can no longer care for it, she faces the challenge of keeping their cherished memories alive. Can Mayumi find a way to honor their bond and the garden's legacy? This touching tale explores family ties, change, and the enduring power of love.

Sale price

$1597

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2022

Just Right Jillian

By Nicole D. Collier

A shy girl must find her voice to win a school competition and honor a promise.

224 pages· 42,258 words· Est. 6 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 786 ratings

$16.99Save 6%

Hardcover

Summary: Jillian, a quiet fifth grader, faces her biggest challenge yet: speaking up. After losing a classroom contest due to her silence, she vows to win the school's academic competition. With only a month to fulfill a promise to her grandmother, Jillian must overcome her fears and reveal her true self. Can she break free from her shell and prove her worth? This heartfelt journey explores family, friendship, and the courage to stand out.

Sale price

$674

Chapter Book · Ages 6–9 · 2020

Mindy Kim and the Lunar New Year Parade

By Lyla Lee, Dung Ho (Illustrator) · Book #2 in the Mindy Kim series

A young girl navigates her first Lunar New Year without her mother, finding comfort and new traditions with her father and friends.

96 pages· 9,628 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.3/5 Goodreads · 467 ratings

$6.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Mindy Kim faces her first Lunar New Year without her mom. Determined to keep traditions alive, she attempts to make her favorite rice cake soup. But when things go awry, Mindy must rely on her family and friends to rediscover the joy of the holiday. Can she blend old traditions with new ones and find happiness in the celebration?

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2006

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

By Kate DiCamillo, Bagram Ibatoulline (Illustrator)

A lost china rabbit embarks on a journey of love and loss.

Boston Globe–Horn Book Award (2006)

240 pages· 17,113 words· Est. 2 hour read

4.4/5 Goodreads · 126,154 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Edward Tulane, a china rabbit, is adored by Abilene until he is lost. His journey takes him from ocean depths to city streets, teaching him about love, loss, and the power of an open heart. Will Edward find his way back to love, or remain lost forever?

Graphic Nov.

Sale price

$2374

Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 2012

Cardboard

By Doug TenNapel · Book #1 in the Cardboard series

A cardboard man comes to life, but a bully's creations threaten chaos.

288 pages· 8,674 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.2/5 Goodreads · 14,723 ratings

$24.99Save 5%

Library Binding

Summary: Cam receives a cardboard box for his birthday, a gift that seems disappointing until it transforms into a living man. But when Marcus, the neighborhood bully, gets hold of the magical cardboard, he creates sinister creatures that spiral out of control. As these creations multiply, Cam must confront the chaos and find a way to stop the impending disaster. Can he reclaim the magic and restore peace, or will Marcus's army of cardboard monsters overrun them all?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 11–14

Cruzita and the Mariacheros

A young girl must choose between her pop star dreams and saving her family's bakery.

248 pages· 51,184 words· Est. 5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 191 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: Cruzita dreams of stardom, but her summer plans are derailed by family obligations at a struggling bakery. With her great-uncle gone, she juggles baking mishaps and mariachi lessons, despite not knowing Spanish or how to play her great-grandpa's violin. As she immerses herself in the music, Cruzita discovers unexpected paths to fame and legacy. Will she find a way to honor her family's past while chasing her dreams?

Sale price

$759

Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 1992

Three Young Pilgrims

By Cheryl Harness

Three young Pilgrims face a harsh new world, relying on unexpected allies to survive and celebrate their first harvest.

40 pages· 1,782 words· Est. 15 min read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 383 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

Paperback

Summary: Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary Allerton step off the Mayflower into a world harsher than they imagined. As winter threatens their Plymouth colony, survival hinges on the aid of Samoset and Squanto. Will they endure the cold and see the fruits of their labor? Experience the trials and triumphs of these young Pilgrims as they navigate the challenges of the New World, culminating in the joy of the first Thanksgiving feast. Discover how history comes alive through their eyes in a tale of resilience and hope.

I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919

Sale price

$574

Chapter Book · Ages 8–11 · 2019

I Survived The Great Molasses Flood, 1919

By Lauren Tarshis · Book #19 in the I Survived series

A young girl struggles to survive after a massive molasses tank explodes in her neighborhood, causing widespread destruction and chaos.

144 pages· 10,784 words· Est. 1.5 hour read

4.0/5 Goodreads · 3,372 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

Paperback

Summary: In 1919 Boston, a massive molasses tank explodes, unleashing a deadly wave through the North End. Young immigrant Carmen, who moved from Italy with her father, must navigate this sticky disaster to survive. As the molasses engulfs their neighborhood, Carmen faces a life-or-death struggle, questioning where she will find the strength to endure. Will she and her father’s dreams of a new life in America be washed away, or can she overcome the odds? Dive into this gripping tale of resilience and survival against a bizarre and deadly catastrophe.

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