The Best Picture Books to Help a Child Understand Death

recommended by Karen Kennedy, mother of two

Talking about death with young children is difficult.  Here are three picture books on the subject that strike just the right note.

Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs

illustrated by Tomie dePaola

Amazon readers say:

"Excellent child self-help book."
"Mostly a book about love."
"A sensitive and loving story dealing with death."
"It was sweet and sad at the same time."

32 page paperback |$6.99 |19 reviews

 
 

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney

by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Erik Blegvad

Amazon readers say:

"Touching and comforting."
"An educational tool for the coping skills dealing with loss."
"Perfect gift for anyone, any age who has lost a pet."
"A book about death from the point of view of a little boy."

32 page paperback |$5.99 |29 reviews

 
 

Tough Boris

by Mem Fox, illustrated by Kathryn Brown

A perfectly-told wordless story that shows the tender side of a very tough pirate.

32 page paperback |$7.00 |17 reviews

This book also appears on The Best Picture Books about Pirates!
 

Know any books we should add to the list above? .

 
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