Recommended Readings

Content from the Dougy Center, Portland, Oregon ; our mentor.

Ages 3 to 5

  • Brown, Laurie & Marc (1996) When Dinosaurs Die. Boston: Little, Brown and Company
  • Brown, M. The Dead Bird. NY: Young Scotts Books
  • Buscaglia, Leo (1982). The Fall of Freddie the Leaf. NJ: Slack, Charles B.
  • Coutant, H. First Snow NY: Alfred Knopf
  • Dickerson, Julie (1995). Grandpa’s Berries. PA: Cherubic Press
  • Fox, Mern (1989). Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge. CA: Kane/Miller Book Publishers
  • Goldman, Linda (1998) Bart Speaks Out. CA: Manson Western
  • Goldstein, R. & J. (1982). Where’s Jess? NE: Centering Corporation
  • Gryte, Marilyn (1988). No New Baby. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Hanks, Bernice (1996). Green Mittens from Grandma. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Harris, A. (1965). Why Did He Die? MN: Lerner Publications.
  • Harris, Robert H. (2001). Goodbye, Mousie. NY: Simon & Schuster
  • Joslin, Mary & Little, Claire (1999). The Goodbye Boat. MI: William B. Eerdmans
  • Kohen, Cindy, Heiney, John & Gordon, Michael (1997).Daddy’s Promise. MI: Promise Pub
  • LeShan, Eda. Learning to Say Goodbye. NY: MacMillian
  • Madenski, Melissa (1991). Some of the Pieces. NY: Little Brown and Company
  • Mellonie, B & Ingpen, R. (1983). Lifetimes: A beautiful way to explain death. NY: Bantam
  • McLaughlin, Kristen (2000). The Memory Box. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Miles, Miska (1985). Annie and the Old One. NY: Little Brown and Company
  • Mills, Joyce C. (1993). Gentle Willow. NY: Magination Press
  • Morning, Barbara (1996). Grandfather’s Shirt. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Mundy, Michelene. Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good Grief Guidebook. Abbey Press
  • O’Toole, Donna R (1989). Aarvy Aardvark Finds Hope. NC: Compassion Books
  • Palmer, Pat (1994). I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand. CA: Impact Publishers
  • Scrivani, Mark (1996). I Heard Your Mommy/Daddy Died. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Silverman, Janice (1999). Help Me Say Goodbye. MN: Fairview Press
  • Sims, Alecia M. (1993). Am I Still A Sister? NM: Big A and Company
  • Stein, S. (1974). About Dying. NY: Walker and Company
  • Stickney, Doris (1997). Waterbugs and Dragonflies. PA: Pilgram Press
  • Varley, S. (1984). Badger’s Parting Gifts. NY: Wm. Morrow & Company
  • Voist, J. (1987). The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. NY: Atheneum
  • Warburg, S. Growing Time. NY: Houghton Mifflin Company
  • Wilhelm, Hans (1988). I’ll Always Love You. NY: Crown Publishers

Ages 6 to 12

  • Brown, Laurie & Marc (1996). When Dinosaurs Die. Boston: Little, Brown and Company
  • Buscaglia, Leo (1982). The Fall of Freddie the Leaf. NJ: Slack, Charles B.
  • Campbell, James (1992). Secret Places. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Clifton, Lucille (1988). Everett Andersons Goodbye. NY: Henry Holt
  • Coerr, E & Young, E. (1993). Sadako. NY: Putnam
  • Constans, Gabriel (1996). Just A Heartbeat Away. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Czech, Jan (2000). The Guardian Angel. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Dickerson, Julie (1995). Grandpa’s Berries. PA: Cherubic Press
  • DiPaolo, Tomie (2000). Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs. Australia: Penguin Putnam
  • Evarts, Michelle (1999). Butterfly Bush. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Goble, Paul (1993). Beyond the Ridge. NY: Aladdin
  • Goldman, Linda (1998). Bart Speaks Out. CA: Manson Western
  • Goldstein, R. & J. (1982). Where’s Jess? NE: Centering Corporation
  • Green-Alexander, Alesia (1999). Sunflowers and Rainbows for Tia. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Gryte, Marilyn (1988). No New Baby. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Hanks, Bernice (1996). Green Mittens from Grandma. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Harris, Robert H. (2001). Goodbye, Mousie. NY: Simon & Schuster
  • Hemery, Kathleen (1998). The Brightest Star. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Hipp, Earl (1995). Help for the Hard Times. Hazeldon Info & Ed Series
  • Hodge, John (1999). Finding Grandpa Everywhere. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Holmes, Margaret (1999). Molly’s Mom Died. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Kohen, Cindy, Heiney, John & Gordon, Michael (1997). Daddy’s Promise. MI: Promise Publications
  • Landolf, Helen (2000). Getting Used to Candy. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Liss Levinson, Nechama (1999). When A Grandparent Dies. VT: Jewish Lights Press
  • Lowden, Stephanie (1993). Emily’s Sadhappy Season. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Madenski, Melissa (1991). Some of the Pieces. NY: Little Brown and Company
  • Marshall, Bridgett (1997). Animal Crackers. NE: Centering Corporation
  • McLaughlin, Kristen (2000). The Memory Box. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Miles, Miska (1985). Annie and the Old One. NY: Little Brown and Company
  • Mills, Joyce C. (1993). Gentle Willow. NY: Magination Press
  • Morning, Barbara (1996). Grandfather’s Shirt. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Moser, Adolf (1995). Don’t Despair on Thursdays. KS: Landmark Editions
  • Oliver, Sam (2005). A Fish Named Ed. Jones Harvest Publishing
  • O’Toole, Donna R (1989). Aarvy Aardvark Finds Hope. NC: Compassion Books
  • Palmer, Pat (1994). I Wish I Could Hold Your Hand. CA: Impact Publishers
  • Scrivani, Mark (1996). I Heard Your Mommy/Daddy Died. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Silverman, Janice (1999). Help Me Say Goodbye. MN: Fairview Press
  • Sims, Alecia M. (1993). Am I Still A Sister? NM: Big A and Company
  • Stickney, Doris (1997). Waterbugs and Dragonflies. PA: Pilgram Press
  • Stillwell, Elaine (1995). Sweet Memories. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Tiffault, Benette (1992). A Quilt for Elizabeth. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Wilhelm, Hans (1988). I’ll Always Love You. NY: Crown Publishers
  • Ages 12 through 18
  • Arrick, Fran (1980). Tunnel Vision. NY: Brabury Press
  • Blume, Judy (1981). Tiger Eyes. NY: Brabury Press
  • Buchanan Smith, Doris (1973). A Taste of Black Berries. NY: Harper Collins
  • Buck, Pearl S. (1986). The Big Wave. Publisher: Turtleback Books
  • Buscaglia, Leo (1982). The Fall of Freddie the Leaf. NJ: Slack, Charles B.
  • Coerr, Eleanor (1997). Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell
  • Dower, Laura (2001). I Will Remember You. NY: Scholastic Paperbacks
  • Gootman, Marilyn (1994). When A Friend Dies. MN: Spirit Publishing
  • Gravelle, Karen & Haskins, Charles (1989). Teenagers Face to Face With Bereavement. NJ: Messner
  • Green, Constance C. (1976). Beat the Turtle Drum. NY: Dell Publishing
  • Grollman, Earl (1993). Straight Talk About Death To Teenagers. MA: Beacon Press
  • Grollman, Earl (1999). Living When a Young Friend Commits Suicide. MA: Beacon Press
  • Kilf, June Cezra (1990). Teenagers Talk About Grief. MI: Baker Books
  • Krementz, Jill (1981). How It Feels When A Parent Dies. NY: Alfred Knopf
  • Lazar, Linda (1999). In My World. NE: Centering Corporation
  • LeShan, Eda. Learning to Say Goodbye. NY: MacMillian
  • Levang, Elizabeth & IIse, Sherokee. Remembering With Love: Messages of Hope for the First Year
  • of Grieving and Beyond. MN: Fairview Press
  • Mahon, K.L. Just One Tear. NY: Harper Collins
  • O”Toole, Donna (1995). Facing Change: Falling Apart and Coming Together Again in the Teen
  • Years. Publisher: Compassion Books
  • Park, Barbara (1995). Mick Harte Was Here. NY: Scholastic Press
  • Paterson, Katherine (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. NY: Avon
  • Richter, Elizabeth (1986). Losing Someone You Love. NY: Putnam Sons
  • Salloum, Alison (1998). Reactions. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Scrivani, Mark (1991). When Death Walks In. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Smith, Doris (1973). A Taste of Blackberries. Publisher: Turtleback Books
  • Traisman, Enid (1992). Fire In My Heart, Ice in My Veins. NE: Centering Corporation
  • Walton, Charlie. When there are No Words: Finding you way to cope with loss. GA:
  • Pathfinder Publisher
  • Welshons, John (2003). Awakening From Grief: Finding the way back to joy. HI:
  • Inner Ocean Publishing
  • Varley, Susan (1998). Badger’s Parting Gifts. Publisher: Magi Publications

Adults

  • Buscaglia, Leo (1982). The Fall of Freddie the Leaf. NJ: Slack, Charles B.
  • Emsweiler, Mary Ann (2000). Guiding Your Child Through Grief. NY: Bantam
  • Grollman, Earl. Talking About Death. Boston: Beacon Press
  • Huntley, Theresa (1991). Helping Children Grieve: When Someone They Love Dies. MI:
  • Augsburg Fortress
  • James, J. W. (1998). The Grief Handbook. NY: Harper Trade
  • Rubel, Barbara (2000). But I Didn’t Say Goodbye. NJ: Griefwork Center
  • Silverman, Janice (1999). Help Me Say Goodbye. MN: Fairview Press
  • Stillwell, Elaine. A Forever Angel. (Instructions on making angel decorations & cookies.)
  • Stittser, Gerald (1998). A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Suffering. MI:
  • Zondervan Publishing
  • Walton, Charlie. When there are No Words: Finding you way to cope with loss. GA:
  • Pathfinder Publisher
  • Welshons, John (2003). Awakening From Grief: Finding the way back to joy. HI:
  • Inner Ocean Publishing

(Children’s books about grief and loss may touch the heart of a grieving adult.)