The overwhelming aloneness of unshared grief, and the importance of someone who reaches out, who understands.
Bernadette and Rodney have a wonderful relationship, and Bernadette's grief at his death is poignantly shown.
Showing posts with label pet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pet. Show all posts
Rodney was a tortoise written by Nan Forler, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang.
Samsara dog by Helen Manos; illustrated by Julie Vivas.
A story of reincarnation, with Samsara Dog returning in many lives until it learns the lesson of love.
Beautifully told, and beautifully illustrated, this is a treasure.
Although not specifically about death, but it does happen, this would make a wonderful starting point for a discussion about reincarnation.
An ordinary day by Elana K. Arnold and Elizabet Vuković.
An ordinary day by Elana K. Arnold; illustrated by Elizabet Vuković. Beach Lane Books 2020.
A beautiful and gentle demonstration of the circle of life, of beginnings and endings, and how normal - how ordinary, yet extraordinary, each experience is.
In one house, a much loved dog is farewelled; next door, a new baby is welcomed.
Meanwhile, life continues outside.
Alfie and the birthday surprise by Shirley Hughes.
Alfie and the birthday surprise by Shirley Hughes. Bodley
Head 1997.
The story of the importance and friendship/ companionship
found in pets. And how a cat can effect a community.
It also shows how wonderful it is to be part of a community/
neighbourhood.
When the neighbour's old cat dies, the street combine to
comfort Mr MacNally with a surprise birthday, including a new kitten.
Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger.
Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Roaring Brook Press 2018.
So simple and yet so powerful. Sparse words tell the story
of a young boy and his dog.
It is so sparse, much explanation may be needed, as
you could miss the fact the dog dies.
The three Lucys by Hayan Charara & Sara Kahn.
The three Lucys by Hayan Charara, illustrated by Sara Kahn.
Lee & Low Books 2016.
Based on true events, this is the story of pets left behind
while the family are away for a weekend, but their home - Beirut - is bombed,
thus extending their time away.
On their return, one of the cats fails to return. The
narrator finds comfort in the rebuilding of his city, and in his memories of
his cat, Lucy Lucy.
The rough patch by Brian Lies.
The rough patch by Brian Lies. Greenwillow Books 2018.
Both literal and metaphorical anger express Evan's grief
after the death of his (unnamed) dog.
Healing comes through time and friends, reestablishing
routine, and a new puppy.
Goodbye to Goldie by Fran Manushkin & Tammie Lyon.
Goodbye to Goldie by Fran Manushkin, illustrated by Tammie
Lyon. Picture Window Books 2010.
Part of the Katie Woo series.
A simple, beginning chapter book, which still manages to
show how sharing happy memories can help with the grieving process after a death.
My old pal, Oscar by Amy Hest & Amy Bates
My old pal, Oscar by Amy Hest, illustrated by Amy Bates.
Abrams Books for Young Readers 2016.
The first person narrator tries to tell a stray puppy that
they don’t need a dog – Oscar is all the dog they’ll ever need. But, Oscar
isn’t here – and the puppy needs a home, and a name, and reassurance during the
storm.
As the narrator comes to realise they may end up with a new
puppy, the illustrations change to warmer hues.
A quiet and gentle story of memories and new beginnings, as
the narrator tells the puppy all about Oscar.
Bone dog by Eric Rohmann.
Bone dog by Eric Rohmann. Roaring Brook Press 2011.
Bonds of friendship and love cannot be broken, even after
death, as Gus discovers when his dead dog, Ella, returns to save him from
skeletons on a Halloween night.
Reassuring, in a creepy, Halloween way.
Molly's memory jar by Norma Spaulding & Jacqui Grantford.
Molly's memory jar by Norma Spaulding, illustrated by Jacqui
Grantford. New Frontier Publishing 2010.
Lucy’s father helps her find a way to remember and rejoice
in her memories of her dog, Molly, by creating a memory jar.
This may be a useful tool for grieving children and families.
Sammy in the sky by Barbara Walsh, paintings by Jamie Wyeth.
Sammy in the sky by Barbara Walsh, paintings by Jamie Wyeth.
Candlewick Press 2011.
Beautifully illustrated, this story deals with the realities
of death and grief – and children’s questions – in an approachable and
age-appropriate way.
Missing Jack by Rebecca Elliott.
Missing Jack by Rebecca Elliott. Lion Children’s 2015.
A lovely story about a pet cat growing old, and the eventual
adoption of a new cat. Simple, sparse text highlights the emotion of the narrator.
The invisible leash by Patrice Karst, illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff.
The invisible leash by Patrice Karst, illustrated
by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff. Little, Brown and Company 2019.
A comforting picture book about finding solace after the
death of a pet.
The message may not work for all children, as it is quite
twee and cutesy.
Tulip and Lupin forever by Mireille Levert, translated by Elisa Amado
Tulip, the watering fairy, grieves the death of her dog bee, Lupin. She sets out on an adventure, as she is too sad to stay at home, with the absence of Lupin. Returning home, she finds a puppy dog bee, whom she calls Lupino.
Lovely and slightly surreal.
Tim’s goodbye by Steven Salerno
Tim’s goodbye by Steven Salerno. Farrar Straus Giroux 2018.Sad after the death of her pet turtle, Margot’s friends gather for a farewell ceremony, and Tim is sent into the sky – with balloons (an ecological no-no).
I’m sure this fills a need for some, but there are better books for this age group around.
All the dear little animals by Ulf Nilsson
Ah, the obsessions of childhood. For these children, it is burying all the dead animals they can lay their hands on – including roadkill. They hold beautiful funerals and, as they are doing so, the older children explain death to Puttie, the little brother (whose fears and concerns are sometimes brushed aside by his very organising older sister, Esther). Cute and uncomplicated, this would make a good text to explain what death is, before it becomes an issue.
A stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker
A wordless picture book which enables you to project your own story onto it. A young family holiday without their beloved dog, Sascha, whose burial is at the start of the story. On vacation, the girl finds a stone, which has travelled through space and time, to provide comfort to her.
Dog heaven and Cat heaven by Cythnia Rylant
Dog heaven by Cynthia Rylant. The Blue Sky Press 1995.
Cat heaven by Cynthia Rylant. The Blue Sky Press 1997.
Neither book deals with death, nor grief, but both are lovingly reassuring for anyone who has lost a pet.
Up in heaven by Emma Chichester Clark
A comforting story of an old, much-loved, dog and her afterlife – and the lives of the human family she left behind. Daisy is old and wakes up in heaven. She looks down on Arthur, and finds ways to comfort him.
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