 Bereavement: Child
Books Read By Parent
Pet Loss And
Children: Establishing A Healthy Foundation (2005)
By Cheri Barton Rossdge. Explaining the concept of death to a child is a very difficult,
confusing, and uncomfortable experience for a parent, educator, or therapist, and it is a
topic that is often first introduced by the loss of a pet - sometimes a child's earliest
exposure to loss and grief. There is an undeniably special bond that develops between
people and their pets, especially between animals and young children, and while the death
of a pet can be devastating to an adult, children are often deeply affected by such a
loss. Without readily available outlets for their feelings, the trauma of pet loss can
remain with a child for life, and without help many adults feel inadequate and not up to
the task. The aim of this book is to provide therapists, counselors, educators, parents,
social workers, veterinarians, and physicians with resources to help children cope with
the loss of a pet.
Coping
with Sorrow and the Loss of Your Pet (2004)
By Moira Anderson. Pet loss hurts! But now
there's a caring, practical resource to help you heal. Learn how to work through your
grief, how to help the rest of your family cope, and how to move on to new, loving
relationships with new pets when the time is right. Answers such questions as: Why do I
hurt so much? Will these feelings ever get better? What can I do to ease the pain? What
should I tell my children? Should I get another pet right away? When is the right time to
euthanize a pet? Where should I bury my pet? My pet ran away; how can I find it? Where can
I get more help?
Talking with Children about Loss (1999)
Through captivating stories and thoughtful
analysis, Maria Trozzi explains how to handle the difficult job of talking with children
and adolescents about loss, with discussions about: How children perceive and interpret
events such as death, disability, and divorce; Guiding children through the four tasks of
mourning; Helping children face funerals, wakes, and memorial services; Children's fears
and fantasies: how they express them, and how to address them; Age-appropriate responses
to children's questions and concerns; and, What to do when children won't talk about loss,
and when to seek professional help. Foreword by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.
Good-bye
My Friend: Grieving the Death of a Pet (1991)
By Mary & Herb
Montgomery. Like a comforting hug from someone who understands, Good-bye My Friend is a
sympathetic explanation of grief and how to cope with the loss of a pet. Includes the
stages of grief, grieving in your own way, the angry feelings, outlets for grief, how long
will the grieving last, will I see my pet again, helping children deal with pet loss, and
more.
Pet Loss: A
Thoughtful Guide for Adults & Children
This book was written by Herbert Nieburg,
Arlene Fischer & Martin Kosins and published by Harper Perennial Library in 1996. This
book urges people who have suffered the loss of a pet to express their grief. It
reveals the many emotions and responses that both adults and children can display when a
beloved animal dies. The authors, therapists who do grief counseling, then explain how to
cope with the situation. There is also a very sensitive and helpful discussion of
euthanasia.
When Your Pet
Dies: A Guide to Mourning, Remembering and Healing (2004)
By Alan D. Wolfelt, PH. D. Affirming a pet owner's struggle with grief when his or her pet
dies, this book helps mourners understand why their feelings are so strong and helps them
overcome the loss. Included are practical suggestions for mourning and ideas for
remembering and memorializing one's pet. Among the issues covered are understanding the
many emotions experienced after the death of a pet; understanding why grief for pets is
unique; pet funerals and burial or cremation; celebrating and remembering the life of
one's pet; coping with feelings about euthanasia; helping children understand the death of
their pet; and things to keep in mind before getting another pet.
Pet Loss: A
Spiritual Guide (2002)
By Julia A. Harris, a pet bereavement counselor. Readers will learn
the psychological facts about the human and animal bond and how to deal with the
initial shock of their loss, as well as the anger, guilt, and sadness they may
feel. Extremely practical, Pet Loss also offers the gift of understanding for
those who may feel they are alone in their sorrow. This insightful and helpful
book will help anyone.
Absent Friend: Coping with the
Loss of a Treasured Pet (1992)
By Laura & Martyn Lee. Looks at the
unique bond that can develop between owners and their pets. Authors examine why we form
such an attachment to our pets, and how to cope when that relationship is severed. Covers
all aspects of pet loss, including man and his animals; a sudden death; love hurts; what
to tell the children; do pets grieve? and the final resting place.
Preparing for
the Loss of Your Pet: Saying Goodbye with Love, Dignity, and Peace of Mind
This book was written by Myrna M. Milani and
published by Prima Publishing in November 1998. It guides pet owners, and their
families, through the grieving and healing process. Written by an animal behavior expert
and veterinarian, this book provides practical answers and gentle reassurance to families
facing the death of a pet. And, it explores, in depth, our psychological relationship with
our pets and gives encouraging methods for helping the whole family prepare, cope, and
heal.
Saying Good-Bye to the Pet You
Love (2002)
By Lorri Greene & Jacquelyn Landis. Helps you understand the very special human-animal
bond, which in turn can help you deal with your loss. You will find solid psychological
bereavement techniques here that will support you in your grieving process and help you
find your own path to recovery. Includes chapters on coping skills for easing a child
through pet loss, and for those who accidentally kill, or witnessed the death of their
pets. The special needs of the guardians of working animals are also addressed, as are
self-help resources for the elderly.
Loving and
Losing a Pet: A Psychologist and a Veterinarian Share Their Wisdom
This book was written by Drs. Michael Stern
and Susan Cropper and published by Jason Aronson in 1998. From 'Pets: A Love Story' to 'To
Have, To Nurture, To Protect,' and finally to 'When the Barking Stops,' this book welcomes
parents into the world of people-pet relationships and makes them feel at home in it. It
shows them how to introduce a pet into the family and what's needed for consistent care
and wise decision-making. And, in a helpful way, it explores the pains & stresses of
aging, illness and death, for pets and people.
The
Art Of Healing Childhood Grief: A School-based Expressive Arts
Program Promoting Social And Emotional Literacy (2004)
Written by Dr. Anne Black and Penelope Simpson, this school-based
expressive arts program was developed to help grieving children understand and
feel their losses. Eight group sessions use art, movement, sound, imagery
journeys, writing, ritual, and relaxation exercises to help children experience
safe and creative ways to express their grief. Extensive background and training
information is provided for facilitators, as well as handouts, bibliographies,
resources. This is a wonderful in-depth, comprehensive resource for school
personnel, therapists, and group leaders. Paperback, 361 pages.
Workbooks/Books Read By Child (alone or together with
parent)
The
Forever Dog (2007)
PreSchool to Grade 3—The deep friendship between a boy and his dog
is lovingly portrayed in warm prose and appealing art. Corky, who "seemed to be
built from other dogs' spare parts," and Mike are inseparable, and they plan to
be "best friends forever." Cochran gently leads readers through a difficult plot
in which Corky dies, and Mike, with the help of his mother, comes to accept that
the Forever Plan will have to work in a different way. In the satisfying
conclusion, he lets the memory of his dog "all the way into his heart. And it
felt warm inside." Andreasen's soft illustrations portray a heartwarming
relationship and capture the changing mood of the story from joy and
exhilaration to sadness and back again to a subdued happiness and understanding.
This book has much to offer to children, not only because they love pets but
also because of its sensitive treatment of loss.
Healing Your
Heart When Your Animal Friend is Gone: A Children's Pet Bereavement Workbook (2004)
Healing Your Heart When Your Animal Friend is Gone is a resource for children who have
lost a pet. It's a 32 page workbook designed to help children through their grieving
process, and open up communication with caring adults in their lives. The author, Kimberly
Cardeccia MA, LPC, NCC, is a licensed professional counselor who specializes in pet loss
and bereavement. Kimberly also runs a Pet Loss Support group. For more information visit
Joyful Spirit Counseling.
My Pet Died
(Let's Make a Book About It)
Written & illustrated by
child and family therapist, Rachel Biale for ages 4-8. Published 1997. This unique book
encourages the child, working with his/her parents or guardians, to work through a series
of activities related to their deceased companion animal. By doing this, the child is
writing and illustrating the book. There is even a spot on the cover where the
child’s name can be written as a co-author of the book. There are pages at the
book’s beginning and end to help adults assist their children grieve for their
deceased animal companion.
Saying Goodbye
Activity Book (Grades 3-4)
This book
was written by Jim and Joan Boulden and published by Boulden Publications in October 1992.
This award winning activity book on bereavement presents difficult concepts in a nurturing
way. The issues surrounding death are explored as Buddy presents them to children in a
gentle and caring manner. This is a non-threatening presentation of death and it includes
a healing discussion of emotional issues.
Goodbye Forever
Activity Book (Grades K-2)
This book was written by Jim and Joan
Boulden and published by Boulden Publications in May 1994. In this book, Buddy and his
dog, Ruffy, help children to understand the concept of death as a natural process. Issues
include how death is different from sleep, saying goodbye, burial, and accepting the
feelings of sadness, anger and guilt. There are many illustrations that invite coloring
and discussions.
When Your Pet
Dies (2001)
By Diane Pomerance. This is the only current
nonfiction illustrated book about recovery from pet loss written expressly for children
five to ten years old. It is also the only children's nonfiction book which offers grief
recovery tools as they pertain to pet loss. Written by a Grief Recovery Specialist and
illustrated by a 15-year old artist, it raises a child's awareness of his/her own
mortality and the ageless subject of the purposefulness of life and all living things. It
offers comfort, support and inspiration for adults as well as children and inspires its
readers to value and appreciate all forms of life and to respect animals as friends,
teachers and guides. It celebrates the unique bond and relationship many children have
with companion animals.
The Light of
Stars (2003)
Written by Phyllis Glowatsky and illustrated by Karen J. Stringer, for all ages.
The Light of Stars speaks to the rhythm of the sea, the cycle of birth, life and death,
and how the light of the spirit shines forever. A little girl and small white dog
wandering the beach discover the story of the starfish who are born from stars to play
upon the ocean. When the stars become tired and lonely for the sky, their light returns to
the heavens to shine upon earth. This comforting fable reassures and sustains both
children and adults in times of loss and grief.
Phyllis Glowatsky holds a masters degree in social work and, as a therapist, worked
extensively with children and families. Her father died when she was two years old. She
has always believed that he is with her. The Light of Stars was inspired by that belief
and the magic of long walks by the ocean with a small white dog, who lives with her on the
coast of South Carolina.
A Dog Like Jack
(Ages 3-8)
This book was written by Dyanne Disalvo-Ryan
and published by Holiday House in March 1999. This is a realistic picture book about
loving and losing a first pet, utilizing an unsentimental, honest approach. "Jack was
eight years old when our family adopted him from the animal shelter. That's fifty-six in
dog years," begins narrator Mike, pictured in a stroller. As the boy grows older, he
and Jack develop rituals, Saturday games of hide-and-seek in the park and the simple joy
of a shared ice cream cone ("I'd save the last licks for him," says Mike). They
even celebrate the same birthday. Inevitably, when Mike turns eight, Jack turns 91 and can
no longer partake of their annual traditions, yet the spreads continue to depict an
unbreakable bond between the pair. Jack dies in the final pages, and a swirling portrait
depicts mother, father and son in a sorrowful embrace that emits both sadness and comfort.
In succeeding pages even nature mourns: leafless trees with outspread limbs curve over
mother and son on a walk through the park ("Do people live longer than dogs?"
asks the boy). The narration never strikes a false note; even on the last spread, when
Mike spies a dog in the park, he harbors mixed emotions.
Jasper's Day
(2002)
This book was written by Marjorie Blain
Parker and illustrated by Janet Wilson. A tender story filled
with smiles, tears and the joy of special memories, Janet Wilson’s gentle pastels
truly capture the depth of love the tender bonds between parents and child and boy
and dog. With genuine sensitivity, Marjorie leads readers
through an elderly, beloved Golden's final day. In pain from incurable cancer, Jasper's
family has agreed to make his last day a happy one by feeding him a special breakfast,
taking him to his favorite park, and then visiting Grandmother and her dog. The entire
family is later involved in Jasper's burial and a special ceremony in their backyard. The
book closes with Riley's memorializing his beloved friend by constructing a book of his
life.
Seeing Zach
This book was written by Bebe Kemper and
published by Purple Chickie Press in August 1999. This book shows how hard it can be to
lose a family pet. When Timmy's Golden Retriever, Zach, dies, his grandmother helps him to
understand the continuity of love and goodness. In dialog with "Gram," Timmy
discovers an important truth: we never really lose the pets (or persons) we love as long
as we remember and celebrate the qualities that made us love them -- unconditional love,
loyalty, gentleness, caring.
Remembering
Pets: A Book for Children Who Have Lost a Pet (2001)
By Gina Dalpra-Berman and illustrated by Barbara Hoss-Schneider. For ages 4-8. Have you
been looking for a way to comfort a child after the loss of a pet? Remembering Pets is a
helpful book for a child affected by a pet that has been lost, given away, or has died. A
young child remembers the family pet and recalls common memories and feelings the reader
can share. This light-hearted rhyme will open a dialogue between reader and child, while
embracing the happy memories of pet ownership.
I'll Always Love
You (1999)
Written by Hans Wilhelm for 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.
A Special Place
for Charlee: A Child's Companion Through Pet Loss
This book was written by Debby Morehead,
illustrated by Karen Cannon, and published by Partners in Publishing, LLC in 1996. This is
a tender, touching story of a young boy named Mark and his best friend, a dog named Charlee. When Charlee has heart failure and needs to be euthanized, the entire family is
sad and lonely. They set aside a special time to sit together in the backyard and remember
Charlee. They make a scrapbook to collect their memories, and plant a flowering bush near
her favorite backyard spot. But, Mark's sadness continues until finally, time and an
understanding neighbor, help to heal his pain.
When a Pet Dies
(Fred Rogers First Experiences)
This book was written by Fred Rogers,
illustrated by Jim Judkis, and re-issued by Paper Star in 1998. This book explores the
feelings of frustration, sadness and loneliness that a youngster may feel when a pet dies.
It uses a pictorial formal, and is great for very young children.
The Accident
This book was written by Carol and Donald
Carrick and published by Houghton Mifflin Company in 1981. In this story, Christopher's
dog Bodger is hit by a truck and killed. He then must deal with his own feelings of
depression and guilt. This book honestly looks at grief, which sadly has no tidy answers.
Murphy and Kate
This book was written by Ellen Howard,
illustrated by Mark Graham, and published by Simon & Schuster in 1995. Kate and Golden
Retriever Murphy have been inseparable companions since babyhood. Now at age 14, Murphy
dies and poor Kate thinks she can never be happy again. She does finally find happiness,
not in forgetting Murphy, but in remembering him.
Toby
This book was written by Margaret Wild,
illustrated by Noela Young, and published by Ticknor & Fields in 1994. It is a
true-life story of a Golden Retriever who is 14, sick, going blind & deaf, and
sometimes smells bad. Ben and his older brother don't understand their 12-year-old sister
Sara's anger at her ill and aging dog. But, she is just afraid of losing her old friend.
When the vet says that Toby must be put to sleep, they find that Sara really does love her
pet.
Jim's Dog
Muffins: Welcome to First Grade
This
book was written by Miriam Cohen and illustrated by Lillian Hoban, and published by
Picture Yearling in July 1996. In this book, Jim's first-grade classmates feel sad when
they hear that his dog, Muffins, has been killed. His friends try to help him feel better,
but Jim won't talk or listen to anyone. Then Jim's friend Paul has an idea. Will Paul's
plan help Jim cry and laugh about the times he shared with Muffins? You'll have to get
this book to find out for sure!
Dog
Heaven (1995)
This book was written by Cynthia Rylant. If you have ever been lucky enough to have a
special dog in your life, then you know there is a place called Dog Heaven. "When
dogs go to Heaven, they don't need wings because G-d knows that dogs love running best ...
There are children, of course. Angel Children. G-d knows that dogs love children more than
anything else in the world, so He fills Dog Heaven with plenty of them ... Every angel who
passes by has a biscuit for a dog. And, of course, all G-d's dogs sit when the angels say
'sit' as all become good dogs in Dog Heaven."
For
Every Dog An Angel
(1997)
Written by Christine Davis. For Every Dog An
angel is a light, magical little book that honors the timeless connection between people
and their canine companions. Written from the heart after the unexpected loss of her
"forever dog" Martha, this charming book will bring comfort to anyone who has
ever had to say goodbye to their best four-legged friend. For Every Dog An Angel is also a
heart-felt way to welcome a new puppy or to celebrate a much-loved doggie friend.
All God's
Creatures Go To Heaven
(Ages 4-8)
Written by Amy Nolfo-Wheeler and illustrated by N. A. Noel. Published in October 1996. The
angel paintings of artist Nancy Noel beautifully portray Amy Nolfo-Wheeler's story of
Jacob, a child angel on a journey of discovery. This keepsake book, in heavenly color,
features a glow-in-the-dark cover. An inspiring message of hope and joy for children and
other youthful spirits.
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