Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton’s mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. Link to Purchase Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-GarciaĬlayton feels most alive when he’s with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen-he can’t wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. Necessary, beautiful, and ultimately reassuring, Death Is Stupid helps make death a little less scary-for kids and adults. It takes him some time, but when he starts sharing cherished memories of his grandma and working in her garden, he starts to feel just a little bit better. Caught in the swirl of anger, confusion, and fear that accompanies grief and mourning, he doesn't just think death is unfair-he thinks death is stupid. You do not, one little boy thinks after his grandma passes away. When someone we love dies, adults often say things like, She's in a better place now, or I know how you feel. Link to Purchase Death is Stupid by Anastasia Higgenbotham

Having lost her mother to cancer, author/illustrator Jackie Schuld uses her illustrations to remind us to be kind to others and patient with ourselves as we find our way through the mess of grief. Through humorous animal illustrations, the book explores how grief is different for everyone and can change without warning. Grief is a Mess is an illustrated book for grieving children and adults who need a healthy dose of understanding, comfort, and laughter. Make sure to also check out our recommended books for grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, friend, grandparent, and anticipatory grief. The following books have been chosen as the top choices for children aged 7-12. Books can be an important tool for understanding emotions and sparking conversation. Kids and adults face the same jumble of confusing emotions. Adjusting to loss in a long process and is unique to each and every person. It is made up of many different emotions - ranging from sadness to anger to guilt and everything in between. Grief is the natural, normal and necessary response to loss.

Am I Like My Daddy? by Marcy Blesy