Ida, always by Caron Levis, illustrated by Charles Santoso. Atheneum, 2016.
Ida and Gus are polar bears in New York City’s Central Park Zoo. They spend almost all of their time together, but Ida gets old and sick. Gus and the keepers look after Ida to the best of their ability, but Ida slowly succumbs. Gus misses Ida, and tries to keep her memory alive by doing the things she loved. Through these things, Gus knows that Ida is with him, always.
Grandma's gloves by Cecil Castellucci, illustrated by Julia Denos. Walker, 2010.
A young girl loves spending time with her grandmother – particularly gardening. However, dementia sets in – and, soon, her grandmother dies. Although the girl knows the realities of death, it doesn’t stop her missing her grandmother – and the things they did together. Although she is promised keepsakes, what she wants is to share her grandmother’s love of gardening – and to pass her inherited wisdom on, to her mother.
Duck, death and the tulip by Wolf Erlbruch, translated by Catherine Chidgey. Gecko Press, 2008.
Duck sort-of befriends Death, while Death waits for something to happen to Duck – a cold, fox, something. Until, it does. Quite matter-of-fact, in a weird way – particularly Death’s musings on life and death.
Missing mummy by Rebecca Cobb. Macmillan 2011.
Told in the first person by a young child struggling to understand the death of their mother. Emotions are simply told and explained, and the realities of death are dealt with, as is the importance of sharing stories and memories, and supporting each other. A simple story, with impact.
