Coping with the Death of a Pet

September 28, 2015 | strande

Death is no easy topic to address, and the death of a beloved pet is no different. While everyone's grief is different, and not all of the following books will be appropriate for all situations, here are some suggestions for books that deal with the death of a pet.

NONFICTION

Good-bye, Jeepers: what to expect when your pet dies by Nancy Loewen ; illustrated by Chris Lyles

Tear soup: a recipe for healing after loss by story by Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen ; illustrated by Taylor Bills

GENERAL FICTION

The bug cemetery by Frances Hill ; illustrated by Vera Rosenberry

The Goodbye Book by Parr, Todd

The beloved dearly by Doug Cooney

Lost and found: 3 by Shaun Tan

FISH

The berenstain bears lose a friend by Stan & Jan Berenstain, Mike Berenstain ; [edited by] Ellen Stamper

Good-bye, fish by Judith Koppens & Eline van Lindenhuizen

HAMSTER

The great hamster massacre by Katie Davies ; illustrated by Hannah Shaw

DOG

Sammy in the sky by Barbara Walsh ; paintings by Jamie Wyeth

Harry & Hopper by Margaret Wild ; Freya Blackwood

Sally goes to Heaven by written and illustrated by Stephen Huneck

The forever dog by Bill Cochran ; illustrated by Dan Andreasen

A dog like Jack by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan

Bone dog by Eric Rohmann

The blue house dog by written by Deborah Blumenthal ; illustrated by Adam Gustavson

Good-bye, Sheepie by Robert Burleigh ; illustrated by Peter Catalanotto

Dog Heaven by written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant

Goodbye to Goldie by Fran Manushkin ; illustrated by Tammie Lyon

Julia Gillian (and the dream of the dog) by Alison McGhee ; with pictures by Drazen Kozjan

Night of the howling hound by Sam Hay ; illustrated by Simon Cooper

CAT

Desser, the best ever cat by Maggie Smith

The tenth good thing about Barney by Judith Viorst ; illustrated by Erik Blegvad

Goodbye, Mog by Judith Kerr

Cat Heaven by written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant

FOR PARENTS