Navigating Grief and Loss with Children’s Picture Books
By Hannah Atchison, children’s librarian, Manhattan Public Library
All of us experience grief. We grieve people we have lost to time, unkind words and death. We grieve experiences and opportunities. This deep feeling is hard to navigate for each of us. It can be especially hard for children. Children need ways to process and understand what is going on in their bodies and those around them while grieving. Grown-ups often need tools to help their children navigate grief. Manhattan Public Library has a selection of picture books that are excellent grief resources for children and grown-ups. Here are a few of the titles I recently found.
Sarah Howden’s “The Tunnel” is about the metaphorical tunnel you pass through during the emotional process of grief and the struggle to reconnect with those you love.
“There Was a Hole” by Adam Lehrhaupt explains how grief sometimes feels like a hole inside us. You may not be able to make the hollow go away forever, but there are things you can do to help patch it.
“Balloons for Papa” by Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia introduces Arthur and his papa who visit his mother in the hospital daily. They pass by the balloons in the park every time they visit. Arthur and the balloons help bring a little bit of color to the gray world he and his father pass through.
In “Sitting Shiva” by Erin Silver, a young girl experiences this Jewish tradition of mourning and learns about the importance of community during the grieving process.
“Calling the Wind: A Story of Healing and Hope” by Trudy Ludwig is about a Japanese family who channel their grief by making paper cranes together.
Jillian Roberts has written several books about teaching difficult topics to children. “On the News: Our First Talk about Tragedy” defines tragedy and talks about a few difficult things children might see on television.
“When the Wind Came” by Jan Andrews is about the struggle of pushing through a metaphorical wind and how to find joy and hope despite the damage the wind causes.
“Death is Stupid” by Anastasia Higgenbotham validates negative feelings that come with death, and the unique opportunities death affords for celebration and connection. Higgenbotham has authored other teaching books for kids- all written with the same honest approach and intent.
In “The Grief Rock: A Book to Understand Grief and Love” by Natasha Daniels, grief is a rock that is heavy and doesn’t make sense. The reader learns that the rock is just filled with leftover love.
The superhero “Cape” by Kevin Johnson enters as a child’s shield of avoidance. The cape becomes a connection and comfort after the child stops ignoring their pain.
Oliver Jeffers’ “The Heart and the Bottle” introduces a girl who finds something that makes her heart sad. She protects her heart by putting it in a bottle she carries, but it grows heavier over time. The girl becomes less excited and connected to the world around her. Luckily, she meets someone full of the joy she once had who can help her take her heart back out of the bottle.
The darker months are approaching. This is a time when sometimes the light doesn’t quite reach us and we are reminded of those we said goodbye to. Remember to look for comfort wherever you can. One of my favorite places is in a good book. For more books like these or other books to bring you comfort, don’t forget to check your public library. We are here to help you find what you need.
Manhattan Public Library is a cornerstone of free and equal access to a world of ideas and information for the Manhattan, Kansas, community. Manhattan Public Library serves more than 75,000 people in the Riley County area through curated book and other media collections, knowledgeable staff, relevant programming for all ages, and meeting space. Learn more at mhklibrary.org.
By Hannah Atchison, children’s librarian, Manhattan Public Library