When grieving the anticipated death of a significant person, kids & families may become overwhelmed by the waves of complex emotions that accompany grief. It is often hard to find spaces to feel validated or fully understood in their grief experience. This is where the power of books and storytelling comes in - to provide comfort, compassion, and connection. As a caregiver or support professional books can also become a transformative tool for collective healing & hope.

After combing through several grief support books, the Eluna Resource Center has pulled together this list of literature to support youth who are experiencing anticipatory grief.  We encourage you to visit your local library to take a peek and check out the books that feel like the best fit. 

Make sure to also check out our recommended books for grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, friend, and grandparent. 

Anticipatory Grief Books: 

Age 2 - 5

• Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie**
• Where Do They Go?  by Julia Alvarez 
• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst**

Ages 5 - 7

• Gentle Willow by Joyce C. Mills
• My Best Friend Teddy by Denise Gordon
• Our Baby is Loved: A story for children whose parents or loved ones are expecting a baby with a life-threatening medical condition by Abigail Gellene-Beaudoi
• When Hope Changes: A story for children whose loved one is dying or has a terminal illness by Abigail Gellene-Beaudoi
• Cinnamon Roll Sunday: A Child's Story of Anticipatory Grief by Jenni Allen**
• Fox and the Feather / El Zorro y la Pluma by Kendall Lanning**

Ages 7 - 12

• Flamingo Dream by Donna Jo Napoli
• Mommy Has Cancer: What I Learned about Cancer, and How I Helped My Mommy by Corey Stevenson**

Teens & Young Adults

• My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks by Marc Silver and Maya Silver**
• 37 Things I love (in no particular order) by Kekla Magoon**
• Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir by Tyler Feder**
• Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner**

Please let us know if you have any favorites that we are missing. Email Sarah 

**Eluna is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and a percentage of your purchase will generate a commission to directly support The Eluna Resource Center.