Books About Loss And Grief

The Best Loss And Grief Books for Kids

Looking for excellent children's books about loss and grief? 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.

The Shortlist

Our 10 Favorite Books About Loss And Grief

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.

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

4.2/5 Goodreads · 28,720 ratings

$15.50Save 5%

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.

Sale price

$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%

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

$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%

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 · 125,735 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

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?

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 · 381 ratings

$7.99Save 5%

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 · 3,360 ratings

$5.99Save 4%

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.

Sale price

$858

Chapter Book · Ages 10–14 · 1997

The Seven Songs

By T. A. Barron · Book #2 in the Merlin series

Merlin faces a deadly quest to save his mother from rising evil.

306 pages· 79,249 words· Est. 9 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 10,962 ratings

$8.99Save 5%

Summary: Merlin returns to Fincayra, where a new evil threatens his mother. Joined by Rhia, he must brave the Seven Songs of Wizardry, a path that has claimed many wizards. As danger looms, Merlin's greatest challenge is to see with his heart, not just his eyes. Will he unlock the secret in time to save his mother and the enchanted isle?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 1990

Tehanu

By Ursula K. Le Guin · Book #4 in the The Earthsea Cycle series

A wizard and a priestess must aid a scarred child with a mysterious fate.

270 pages· 69,164 words· Est. 9.5 hour read

4.1/5 Goodreads · 61,822 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Summary: In Earthsea's fourth tale, Tenar, a former priestess, and Ged, a wizard stripped of his powers, reunite. Their peaceful lives are disrupted by a scarred child with an enigmatic destiny. As they confront new challenges, the trio's intertwined fates unfold, raising questions of power, healing, and the unknown paths ahead. Can they uncover the child's true purpose before it's too late?

Sale price

$1248

Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2011

Like the Willow Tree

By Lois Lowry · Dear America series

Orphaned by the flu, Lydia faces a new life in a strict Shaker community.

224 pages· 34,893 words· Est. 5 hour read

3.9/5 Goodreads · 2,881 ratings

$12.99Save 4%

Summary: In 1918, Lydia Pierce, orphaned by the Spanish flu, is thrust into the strict Shaker community of Sabbathday Lake. Separated from her brother, she must navigate a world of unfamiliar customs and isolation. Can Lydia find joy and belonging in a place where men and women live apart? Her journey of resilience and adaptation unfolds as she learns to embrace a life she never imagined. Will Lydia's courageous spirit help her bridge the gap between her past and this new, challenging existence?

Sale price

$1139

Chapter Book · Ages 13–+ · 2019

Verify

By Joelle Charbonneau · Book #1 in the Verify series

In a world without lies, Meri uncovers dangerous truths that could change everything.

336 pages· 90,408 words· Est. 8.5 hour read

3.5/5 Goodreads · 3,052 ratings

$11.99Save 5%

Summary: Meri Beckley lives in a seemingly perfect world, but her mother's death raises unsettling questions. As she delves into her mother's past, Meri discovers a hidden reality the government wants to keep buried. Faced with a choice between accepting the official narrative or risking everything to reveal the truth, Meri must navigate a world where words hold immense power and danger lurks in every revelation. Will she dare to challenge the status quo, or will the truth remain hidden forever?

The Bookroo Book Club