A shelter for sadness by Anne Booth & David Litchfield.

A shelter for sadness by Anne Booth & David Litchfield. Templar Publishing 2021.  

A small boy creates a shelter for his sadness, a safe space where Sadness is welcome, where it can curl up small, or be as big as it can be, where it can be noisy or quiet, or anything in between. The boy can visit the shelter whenever he needs to, every day, sometimes every hour, and the two of them will cry and talk or just sit, saying nothing. And the boy knows that one day Sadness may come out of the shelter, and together they will look out at the world, and see how beautiful it is. 

A picture book exploring the place of sadness in a life, letting sadness have a place - showing that sadness is legitimate and normal. 

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy.

The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackesy. 

Ebury Press 2019. 

A reminder of the most important things in life. A book of hope for uncertain times. Enter the world of Charlie's four unlikely friends, discover their story and their most poignant life lessons. Charlie's first book includes his most-loved illustrations and new ones too. The conversations of the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse have been shared thousands of times online, recreated in school art classes, hung on hospital walls and turned into tattoos. 

Ostensibly a story of friendship, many of the lessons / observances are applicable to living through grief.

It reminded me of Jonathan Livingstone Seagull, but even more poignant and powerful.

Why do I feel so sad?: a grief book for children by Tracy Lambert, LPC & Elena Napoli.

Why do I feel so sad?: a grief book for children 

by Tracy Lambert, LPC & Elena Napoli.  Rockridge Press 2020.

Simple and direct text helps explain grief and the various reasons someone may be grieving. The text does not limit grief to a death, but brings in different situations.

Pie in the sky by Remy Lai.

Pie in the sky by Remy Lai. Walker Books Australia 2019.  

A story that encompasses so much, but is not over full, just like life. Life is not a one issue thing, which this story bears out.

There is the struggle to settle in a new country, with another language. There is annoying little brother. There are bullies, who are not the stereotypical bully-boys, but just normal kids. 

Then, there's the grief and guilt over his father's death two years earlier.

A powerhouse of a novel. 

Clare's goodbye by Libby Gleeson & Anna Pignataro.

Clare's goodbye by Libby Gleeson & Anna Pignataro.  Little Hare 2017. 

Everyone has their own ways of dealing with change and farewells, which is gently shown in this story of three siblings moving and saying goodbye to their home.  

Although not about death, change and moving house creates its own measure of grief. 

The boy and the gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer & Cindy Derby.

The boy and the gorilla by Jackie Azúa Kramer & Cindy Derby. Walker Books 2020. 


Simple prose and gentle watercolour illustrations share lessons about grief and death. 

Unlike many picture books, this carefully, yet straightforwardly, answers questions about death and grief. What is death? When will I feel better? 

It is also a story of finding comfort in memories and family, in shared experiences. 

Maia and what matters by Tine Mortier, Kaatje Vermeire & David Colmer.

Maia and what matters by Tine Mortier, Kaatje Vermeire & David Colmer. Book Island 2013. 


Maia and her grandmother have a special relationship. After Grandma has a stroke, only Maia seems to understand her - but only after Maia has recovered from her grief and anger over the changes to her playmate.

Then, Grandpa dies. And it is up to Maia to help Grandma say her goodbyes. 

Fox: a circle of life story by Isabel Thomas & Daniel Egnéus

Fox: a circle of life story by Isabel Thomas & Daniel Egnéus. Bloomsbury Children's Books
2020.

Woven through this story of Fox is an explanation of the life cycle, of decomposition, of the food chain. 

Its structure would appeal to those who need a story, and also those who prefer facts.