10+ Best Bereavement Books for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Navigating the tender topic of loss with young children can be incredibly challenging. If you're searching for gentle ways to help a 5-year-old understand and cope with grief, bereavement books can be a soothing balm. Our curated selection of bereavement books for 5-year-olds is crafted to offer comfort and understanding through simple, heartfelt stories. Keep reading to explore various lists of bereavement books that can help guide little ones through tough times.

Fun Bereavement Books for 5-Year-Olds

• The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: This book addresses the feelings associated with saying goodbye through the story of a fish who has lost its companion.
  • Why we recommend this book: Todd Parr uses simple illustrations and text to explain loss in a way that is comprehensible and comforting to young children.
  • Perfect for: Young readers experiencing loss for the first time.

• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: This story explores the idea that we are all connected to the people we love through an invisible string, even if they are far away or have passed on.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a gentle and reassuring way to cope with separation and loss, emphasizing the enduring connection with loved ones.
  • Perfect for: Children who need reassurance about maintaining bonds with those they’ve lost.

• I Miss You: A First Look at Death by Pat Thomas, illustrated by Leslie Harker
  • Genre(s): Non-fiction, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book helps children understand what death means and how to cope with the emotions of losing someone.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a straightforward, informative approach that helps demystify death and grief for young readers.
  • Perfect for: Kids looking for clear explanations about death and bereavement.

• Where Are You? A Child’s Book About Loss by Laura Olivieri
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Self-help
  • Synopsis: A young boy seeks understanding and comfort after losing his father, exploring various emotions from sadness to curiosity about where his dad has gone.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a sensitive exploration of grief through a child’s eyes, helping young readers articulate and understand their feelings.
  • Perfect for: Young children grappling with the loss of a parent or close relative.

• Always and Forever by Alan Durant, illustrated by Debi Gliori
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: This story follows a group of forest animals as they deal with the death of their friend, learning how to remember and honor their loved one.
  • Why we recommend this book: It addresses the healing process of remembering and celebrating the lives of those we've lost.
  • Perfect for: Children needing comfort and understanding in the aftermath of a death.

Educational Bereavement Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children by Doris Stickney, illustrated by Robyn Henderson Nordstrom
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Religious
  • Synopsis: Using the analogy of a water bug's metamorphosis into a dragonfly, this book explains death in a way that is accessible to young children.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding of life cycles, acceptance of loss, religious perspectives on death
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a comforting, spiritual explanation for death that helps children grasp the concept of someone being gone but still present in another form.
  • Perfect for: Young children needing a gentle introduction to the concept of death and bereavement through a spiritual lens.

• Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie, illustrated by Robert Ingpen
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Non-fiction
  • Synopsis: This book explains the life cycle of living things in simple terms, emphasizing that death is a natural part of life.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding of nature's cycles, emotional resilience, coping with loss
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a clear and thoughtful explanation of the life and death cycle in a way that is reassuring and not frightening.
  • Perfect for: Children who are curious about the natural world and need to understand death as a part of life.

• When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book does not shy away from the tough questions about death, providing clear answers that are appropriate for young minds.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Critical thinking about life events, emotional processing, vocabulary related to bereavement
  • Why we recommend this book: It tackles the subject of death without euphemism, helping children to understand and accept it as a part of life.
  • Perfect for: Children who need straightforward answers to their questions about death and bereavement.

• Goodbye Mousie by Robie H. Harris, illustrated by Jan Ormerod
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: A boy wakes up to find his pet mouse has died, and the book follows his journey of understanding and accepting the death.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional recognition and expression, understanding of pet loss, coping strategies
  • Why we recommend this book: It addresses the process of grief through the tangible example of a pet's death, making it relatable and understandable for young children.
  • Perfect for: Children dealing with the death of a pet or experiencing loss for the first time.

Challenging Bereavement Books for 5-Year-Olds

• The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: A girl, curious and full of wonder, places her heart in a bottle to protect it from the pain of her grandfather's death, only to realize that she can't experience life fully without feeling.
  • Why this book is challenging: The metaphorical use of the heart in a bottle to represent coping with grief introduces abstract thinking, which is advanced for young readers.
  • Why we recommend this book: It creatively explores emotions and grief, encouraging children to understand and express their feelings rather than bottling them up.
  • Perfect for: Children who are trying to navigate their emotions after a significant loss.

• The Scar by Charlotte Moundlic, illustrated by Olivier Tallec
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: After his mother's death, a young boy experiences intense emotions and physical symptoms of grief, learning how to cope with the help of his grandmother.
  • Why this book is challenging: It deals with the physical manifestations of grief, a complex concept that intertwines emotional and physical health.
  • Why we recommend this book: It provides a poignant look at the harsh realities of loss and the healing power of family support.
  • Perfect for: Advanced young readers facing the physical and emotional challenges of bereavement.

• The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Erik Blegvad
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: A boy tries to come up with ten good things to say at his cat Barney's funeral, but finds comfort in understanding more about life and death.
  • Why this book is challenging: The concept of creating a list of positive memories as a coping mechanism introduces reflective thinking and emotional processing, which are sophisticated for young children.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches children to celebrate life and find comfort in memories, helping them deal with loss positively.
  • Perfect for: Young readers learning to cope with the death of a pet or loved one through reflection and remembrance.

• Michael Rosen's Sad Book by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Quentin Blake
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Memoir
  • Synopsis: Based on the author's own experiences, this book explores the depths of sadness that Rosen felt after the death of his son Eddie.
  • Why this book is challenging: It confronts heavy themes like depression and existential grief, presented through a deeply personal narrative.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a raw, honest look at grief that validates the feelings of sadness and helps children understand that they are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by loss.
  • Perfect for: Children and even adults who are dealing with profound grief and need a book that doesn't shy away from the depth of those emotions.

• Missing Mommy: A Book About Bereavement by Rebecca Cobb
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Children’s Fiction
  • Synopsis: A young child grapples with the death of their mother, exploring the confusion and sadness that come with such a loss.
  • Why this book is challenging: It directly addresses the death of a parent, a concept that is emotionally complex and difficult for young children to understand.
  • Why we recommend this book: It offers a sensitive and honest portrayal of grief from a child's perspective, helping young readers feel seen and supported.
  • Perfect for: Young children who have lost a parent and are trying to make sense of their new reality.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Reading can be a comforting and enlightening way to help young children process their feelings, especially during tough times like dealing with bereavement. Here are some simple exercises that can help 5-year-olds develop good reading habits while exploring bereavement books. These activities are designed to be engaging and supportive, aiding them in understanding and expressing their emotions.

• Read Together Daily
  • What it is: Set aside a specific time each day to read bereavement books together.
  • How it helps: Creates a routine and provides regular comfort through consistent bonding time.
  • Tips: Choose a quiet and cozy spot for reading sessions to make this a special part of the day.

• Picture Talk
  • What it is: Discuss the pictures in the book before and after reading the story.
  • How it helps: Helps children connect visual elements to the words, enhancing comprehension and emotional connection.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions about the pictures, such as "What do you think he’s feeling?"

• Story Role-Play
  • What it is: Act out parts of the story with toys or through dress-up.
  • How it helps: Encourages deeper engagement with the story and helps children express feelings.
  • Tips: Let your child choose which characters to play, and switch roles often.

• Draw the Story
  • What it is: After reading, have the child draw scenes or characters from the book.
  • How it helps: Allows children to express their understanding and emotions related to the story creatively.
  • Tips: Provide a variety of art supplies and encourage your child to explain their drawings.

• Story Recall
  • What it is: Ask your child to recount the story in their own words after reading.
  • How it helps: Enhances memory and understanding of the narrative and themes.
  • Tips: Prompt with questions about specific parts if they get stuck.

• Emotion Matching
  • What it is: Discuss various emotions characters might be feeling and connect them to real-life situations.
  • How it helps: Aids in emotional literacy and empathy by linking book scenarios with personal experiences.
  • Tips: Use facial expressions and tone of voice to illustrate different emotions during the discussion.

These exercises not only make reading more interactive but also help children process their emotions through the stories they read. By incorporating these activities into your reading routine, you'll provide valuable support to a young child dealing with loss, all while fostering a love for reading.