There are many beautiful picture books that help explain death to very young children. But what about older children? In this blog, we recommend ten titles that are suitable for a range of ages up to young adult.
Books are presented in ascending age order. Suggestions are made here for the reading age of each book, but they are just a guide. We suggest you take a look yourself and make sure the material is right for your child.
For recommendations of books about death for younger children, read our blog on ten books about death for young children.
We’ve shared links to a fellow B Corp, Bookshop.org. Poppy’s does not benefit from these links. Alternative suppliers are available.
Age: 5-8 years
This final book in the wonderful ‘Anna Hibiscus’ series is for slightly younger readers. Anna Hibiscus lives in urban West Africa with her large, noisy multi-generational family, including her twin baby brothers (called Double and Trouble), a host of aunties and uncles and her much-loved grandparents.
When her grandfather gets ill, Anna is scared. So she hides in the garden, instead of spending time with him, and misses her chance to say goodbye.
This book deals gently with the guilt and sadness that can come when someone dies, and helps children to recognise and accept the emotions they might be feeling themselves.
Buy You’re Amazing, Anna Hibiscus! on Bookshop.org
Reading age: 9 and up
Max’s mum has died, and his dad works non-stop in a series of not-quite-legal jobs to keep the family afloat. This leaves twelve-year-old Max trying to look after his younger sisters and to be ‘the man of the house’.
Max tries to do the right thing, but it never works out the way he planned. It’s hard for him to ask for help. It takes a near-disastrous mountain-top encounter for Max to face his fears and allow himself to properly grieve.
Buy Max Kowalski Didn’t Mean It on Bookshop.org
Age: 10 years and up
Sam and his friend Felix both have leukaemia. They know that they are only likely to live for a few months. As the two boys try to work out what this means for them, they collect facts about death, discuss the big questions of life and plan the things they want to do before it's too late. In the course of the book, Sam goes to his friend’s funeral and talks about what he wants for his own.
Without ever being preachy or sentimental, this is an age-appropriate book about how to live and love in the face of death.
Buy Ways To Live Forever on Bookshop.org
Age: 9-12 years
Above all, this book is really, really funny. Sparked by the death of his gran, Freddie Yates and his two best mates set out on a madcap adventure to find Freddie’s long-lost biological dad. On their way, they end up entering an onion-eating contest, dressing up as superheroes and fleeing a criminal gang.
But it’s not all laughs. Freddie has to come to terms with several losses and there’s a clear message that he does so with love and support from his friends and his family.
Buy The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yateson Bookshop.org
Age: 9 years and up
Tamarind never knew her mum, who died when Tamarind was very young. As this book begins, she travels to India to meet her mum’s family for the first time. Tamarind is desperate to learn more about her mum from them. But, at first, no one will talk about her.
This story, which is interwoven with magic and mythology, shows how healing can come when honesty and openness replace secrets.
Buy Tamarind and the Star of Ishta on Bookshop.org
Age: 9 years and up
This illustrated story tells the story of imaginative twelve-year-old Sadé. When her mum dies, she creates a fantastical imaginary world to escape into, accompanied by her purple-winged bird friend, Nix. But eventually, shadow beasts turn up in her imagination and force Sadé to confront what’s going on in the real world.
Buy Sadé and her Shadow Beasts on Bookshop.org
Age: 10-12 years
This educational book, written by historian and museum curator Sarah Chavez, demystifies death both by helping grieving children understand what happens when we die, and celebrating traditions around the world that honour the dead. Practical and colourful, We Need To Talk About Death can help children to navigate death with a little curiosity.
Buy We Need To Talk About Death at Bookshop.org
Ages: 10-14 years
This vibrant book takes us on a journey through history through the eyes of Jesse, who has recently come out as non-binary. As an exploration of LGBTQ+ history, The Fights That Make Us also explores themes of death and loss through this lens, and empowers readers to explore what it means to stand up for what you believe in.
Buy The Fights That Make Us on Bookshop.org
Age: young adults
As the blurb says, “Welcome to the club that no one ever wants to join but so many of us end up needing. We’re so sorry that you’re here.” This engaging read uses words, illustrations and even graphs to educate readers about grief, death and the many ways it can touch our lives. Brilliant at helping young adults to understand that they’re not alone, and that there’s nothing weird or wrong with the ways they are processing their grief.
Buy Welcome to the Grief Club at Bookshop.org
BONUS: Mum’s Jumper by Jayde Perkin
Age: 5 and up
Proof that sometimes, simplicity is best: though this beautifully illustrated picture book is appropriate for younger children, people of all ages have drawn comfort from its pages.
As the blurb says, “memories are like a jumper that you can cuddle and wear”. This touching book is a resource that all the family could engage with together in the face of a loss.
Buy Mum's Jumper on Bookshop.org
Looking for books for younger children? Check out our list of ten books about death for young children, or find some recommendations for adults from Poppy's team in our blog about books to help you explore death, dying and the end of life.
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