I will never forget the day my son’s parakeet died in his hands. My son was eight and while I thought that I had prepared him for such a situation, watching the tears flow down his face made me realize I had not done a very good job. Sadly, pets die and children do not often understand what it all means. In fact, many times kids will associate the death of a pet with that of a parent. Therefore, I wanted to provide some excellent resources specifically for children age three to twelve on dealing with the death of a pet.
– The Tenth Good Thing about Barney – This classic book focuses on a little boy who has lost his beloved pet cat named Barney. The storyline is that the mother recommends the boy remember the good things, not the bad. The story is touching but also helpful for the real situation.
– Lifetimes – The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children – This book teaches children about the lifecycle in nature, showing that for everything living, there is a beginning and an end. Filled with beautiful illustrations, this book is ideal for introducing the concept of death to smaller children.
– Toby – For kids between the ages of six and twelve, this book is the story of Toby, a boy and girl’s dog. While one child responds with anger, the other child chooses rejection. Throughout the book, children can learn how to handle the grieving process of losing a pet.
– Murphy and Kate – For 14 years, a little girl and her dog were inseparable. However, when Murphy finally dies from old age, the girl is devastated. However, throughout the story, Kate is taught to hold onto positive memories. The illustrations in this book are gorgeous and the book appropriate for children age seven to twelve.
– Dog Heaven – This book is special in that it provides comfort for children and adults that there is indeed a dog heaven. If you have a child struggling over the loss of a dog, this book would be very beneficial.
– Cat Heaven – Just like the Dog Heaven book, the story shows children that cats also have a special place where they go upon death. This place is full of toys, food, and everything that cats love so children do not have to worry about the cat’s safety, comfort, or love.
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