Titles
Calling the Wind by ISBN: 9780593426401Publication Date: 2022-10-04Inspired by the Wind Telephone in Japan, this poignant story explores the stages of grief, the healing power of hope, and the unbreakable family bonds that connect us all.
The Day War Came by ISBN: 9781536215939Publication Date: 2020-10-13A moving, poetic narrative and child-friendly illustrations follow the heartbreaking, ultimately hopeful journey of a little girl who is forced to become a refugee.
The Funeral by ISBN: 9781554989089Publication Date: 2018-04-03Norma and her parents are going to her great-uncle Frank's funeral, and Norma is more excited than sad. While not all questions can be answered, when the day is over Norma is certain of one thing -- Uncle Frank would have enjoyed his funeral.
A Garden of Creatures by ISBN: 9780735268814Publication Date: 2022-05-10Two bunnies and a cat live happily together in a beautiful garden. But when the big bunny passes away, the little bunny is unsure how to fill the void she left behind. A strange dream prompts her to begin asking questions: Why do the creatures we love have to die, and where do we go when we die? How come life works this way? With the wisdom of the cat to guide her, the little bunny learns that missing someone is a way of keeping them close. And together they discover that the big bunny is a part of everything around them -- the grass, the air, the leaves -- for the world is a garden of creatures. With its meditative text, endearing illustrations and life-affirming message, A Garden of Creatures reveals how the interconnectedness of nature and the sweetness of friendship can be a warm embrace even in the darkest times.
The Gift of Gerbert's Feathers by ISBN: 9781433830235Publication Date: 2020-02-04Gerbert the gosling is strong and brave and has fun times with his family and friends but knows that, one day soon, he won't be able to keep up with them anymore. As Gerbert prepares for his final migration, he finds a way to show his flock that he will always be with them.
I Am Not a Number by ISBN: 9781927583944Publication Date: 2016-10-04Based on the life of Jenny Kay Dupuis' own grandmother, I Am Not a Number brings a terrible part of Canada's history to light in a way that is accessible to children.
It's Not Very Complicated by ISBN: 9781478870319Publication Date: 2020-11-06A boy and his neighborhood friend Louise spend their days creating chalk-drawing worlds around their homes. When Louise asks the boy what he has in his head, the boy's imagination takes the reader on a fascinating journey. When he returns, he finds that Louise has moved. Unable to cry, he wonders what he has in his heart. The answer will surprise and delight readers.
The Next Place by ISBN: 0931674328Publication Date: 1997-09-01A classic, The Next Place brings gentle verse revealing a safe and welcome destination free from earthly hurts and filled with wonder and peace. A comforting message of hope and a gift of compassion for the bereaved.
Not in Room 204 by ISBN: 9780807557648Publication Date: 2007-01-01Will Regina find the courage to tell Mrs. Salvador her terrible secret? This helpful book provides a tool for adults to gently discuss sexual abuse with young children.
The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden by ISBN: 9781459821033Publication Date: 2019-09-17The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Gardenis inspired by the true story of the wind phone in Otsuchi, Japan, which was created by artist Itaru Sasaki. He built the phone booth so he could speak to his cousin who had passed, saying, "My thoughts couldn't be relayed over a regular phone line, I wanted them to be carried on the wind."
A Place Inside of Me by ISBN: 9780374307417Publication Date: 2020-07-21This picture book poem shows a Black child explores his shifting emotions throughout the year. There is a place inside of me a space deep down inside of me where all my feelings hide. Summertime is filled with joy--skateboarding and playing basketball--until his community is deeply wounded by a police shooting. As fall turns to winter and then spring, fear grows into anger, then pride and peace.
The Rabbit Listened by ISBN: 9780735229358Publication Date: 2018-02-20With its spare, poignant text and irresistibly sweet illustration, The Rabbit Listened is about how to comfort and heal the people in your life, by taking the time to carefully, lovingly, gently listen.
The Remember Balloons by ISBN: 9781481489157Publication Date: 2018-08-28James has a bunch of balloons, each of which holds a special memory, but as his grandfather ages and loses his own balloons, James discovers that he is gaining new ones.
Remembering Ethan by ISBN: 9781433831133Publication Date: 2020-04-01Ethan. Ethan. Ethan. Sarah misses her adored big brother with all her heart. She wants to celebrate all the fun times she and her parents spent with him. But ever since Ethan died, Mommy and Daddy won't mention him. Sarah can't even say his name without upsetting them. Why don't they want to remember Ethan?
A Shelter in Our Car by ISBN: 0892391898Publication Date: 2004-01-16Since she left Jamaica for America after her father died, Zettie lives in a car with her mother while they both go to school and plan for a real home.
Sitting Shiva by ISBN: 9781459827721Publication Date: 2022-05-17A little girl grieves the loss of her mother, but she can't grieve alone. When her friends and family arrive at her house to sit shiva, laden with cakes and stories, she refuses to come downstairs. But the laughter and memories gradually bring her into the fold, where she is comforted by her community.
Something Good by ISBN: 9780759557420Publication Date: 2021-10-19This kind of thing won't be tolerated at our school, the principal declares the day the "bad-something" is discovered written on a wall. The incident makes the kids nervous, giggly, and curious at first, but then they're worried, confused, sad and angry. Everyone is suspicious. Who did it, and why? They miss the days before the bad-something appeared, because everything--and everyone--feels different now. It takes a lot of talking, listening, looking, and creating something good together to find a way to heal.
Something Happened in Our Park by ISBN: 9781433835216Publication Date: 2021-05-01When Miles's cousin Keisha is injured in a shooting, he realizes people can work together to reduce the likelihood of violence in their community. With help from friends and family, Miles learns to use his imagination and creativity to help him cope with his fears.
Something Happened in Our Town by ISBN: 9781433828546Publication Date: 2018-05-01After discussing the police shooting of a local Black man with their families, Emma and Josh know how to treat a new student who looks and speaks differently than his classmates. Includes an extensive Note to Parents and Caregivers that provides general guidance about addressing racism with children, child-friendly vocabulary definitions, conversation guides, and a link to additional online resources for parents and teachers.
The Sour Cherry Tree by ISBN: 9781771474146Publication Date: 2021-10-15After her grandfather's death, a young girl wanders through his house. As she tours each room, the objects she discovers stir memories of her grandfather--her baba bozorg. His closet full of clothes reminds her of the mints he kept in his pockets. His favorite teacup conjures thoughts of the fig cookies he would offer her. The curtains in the living room bring up memories of hide-and-seek games and the special relationship that she and her baba bozorg shared, even though they spoke different languages.
The Tenth Good Thing about Barney by ISBN: 068970416XPublication Date: 1975-03-01In an attempt to overcome his grief, a boy tries to think of the ten best things about his dead cat.
A Terrible Thing Happened by ISBN: 1557986428Publication Date: 2000-02-15After Sherman sees something terrible happen, he becomes anxious and then angry, but when a counselor helps him talk about these emotions he feels better.
The Tunnel by ISBN: 9781771474276Publication Date: 2022-03-15After something bad happens, a boy feels sad and gray. Mom and Aunt Cheryl try to talk about it, but he feels like running away. So he picks up a shovel and starts digging a tunnel from his room, deep down and into the backyard. Out there, far from the lights of the house, it's dark enough that he could disappear. But the quiet distance also gives him the space he needs to see his family's love and start returning home.
Two White Rabbits by ISBN: 9781554987412Publication Date: 2015-10-06In this moving and timely story, a young child describes what it is like to be a migrant as she and her father travel north toward the US border.
Valentina and the Monster by ISBN: 1478870591Publication Date: 2021One morning, Valentina spots something strange: a monster selling cotton candy on her street. But Valentina isn't scared. This monster is friendly and has pink, fluffy fur--perfect for hugs. Valentina and Monster quickly become friends, but tragedy soon arrives. This story of loss and grief shows how to hold onto the love from others long after they are gone.
What's Heaven? by ISBN: 0307440435Publication Date: 1999-02-15After her great-grandmother's death, a young girl learns about heaven by asking her mother all kinds of questions.
You'll Find Me by ISBN: 9781433831263Publication Date: 2020-09-22Absence becomes remembrance in this picture book that offers tender ways to pay tribute throughout daily life to a loved one who is not around. Be it friends, family, pets, or others, memories can carry us beyond the precious moments we have together to keep the ones we love in mind always.
Maybe a Whale by ISBN: 9781773066646Publication Date: 2023-08-01After Grandpa dies, a girl and her mother take the trip he had planned for her, kayaking along the Pacific west coast to look for the whales that he loved. The trip will do them good, Mom says, but the girl isn't sure. How can that be true when Grandpa isn't there? And how will they find a whale in all that water, anyway? There is so much to see as they paddle through white-tipped waves and calm coves. All the while, the girl watches for whales. Finally, in the dark of night, they hear humpbacks in the bay. In this story, mom and daughter find the space to grieve and reconnect with each other in the wild beauty of nature. And they come to realize that those we've loved are always with us, even if we don't see them anymore.
Where Do They Go? by ISBN: 9781609806705Publication Date: 2016-11-02Alvarez's new picture book gently addresses the emotional side of death. The book asks, "When somebody dies, where do they go? Where Do They Go? is a comforting meditation on death, asking questions young readers might have about what happens to those they love after they die.
Mouseboat by ISBN: 9780593327357Publication Date: 2023-03-28A young girl feels lost after the death of her mother. Dad tries his best to manage everything alone, but things just aren't the same. When they take a trip to their lake house, the girl longs to feel a connection to her mom, and so she takes out the small mouseboat that she and her mom built together. And somehow, in the wind and the rain, protected by the mouseboat, she finds her mother's love.
Always Sisters by ISBN: 9781665901567Publication Date: 2023-08-22Raya can't wait for her baby sister to arrive. She's already got a name--Nura--and Raya is certain they'll be best friends. But one day, Mama returns from the doctor with tears in her eyes. Nura won't be coming home after all. With the help of family, friends, and her school counselor, though, Raya finds a way to grieve this loss and to share the love she'll always feel for her sister.
Flora's Wish by ISBN: 9780593462454Publication Date: 2023-08-01In this lyrical and visually stunning picture book, a young mouse learns how to grieve and honor her best friend.
Cape by ISBN: 9781250840509Publication Date: 2023-06-20After losing the person in his life he loves more than anything, a young child holds onto a cape as a source of comfort and strength as he navigates the sadness and joy of his memories.
A Walk in the Woods by ISBN: 9780823449651Publication Date: 2023-09-12A grieving son follows a treasure map his late father left him through the woods they used to explore together.
The Remembering Stone by ISBN: 9781773065892Publication Date: 2023-03-07Alice keeps a perfectly round skipping stone in her pocket to remember her grandfather by -- but the stone goes missing. It looked just like a regular stone, but Alice knew it was different: It was perfectly round so you could use it to trace circles, and sometimes she could trick her dad into thinking it was a quarter. It was also how Alice remembered her grandpa, who taught her how to skip stones, and who passed away last winter. Alice brings the stone to school for Show and Share, but when her classmate asks to see it again at recess, Alice discovers that the stone is gone! Her friends search high and low and can't find the stone--but their friendship gives Alice an idea of another way that she can remember. A gentle look at loss, grief, and how small everyday actions can connect us to those we love.
I Wish I Could Tell You by ISBN: 9781990252242Publication Date: 2023-08-15I Wish I Could Tell You is a touching, poetic tale that wrestles with the complex emotions we feel when we lose someone close to us, from an award-winning children's book author. Losing someone you love, someone close to you, can be difficult to talk about. But sometimes writing a letter can help you find the words you wish you could say. That's exactly what a young fox realizes one morning after learning about the death of his beloved grandmother, someone with whom he shared so many special memories. As he longingly searches for any trace of her presence in all their familiar haunts, the young fox soon discovers that only by embracing his grief will the right words--the words he wishes he could say to his grandmother--come to him.
Sylvester's Letter by ISBN: 9781592703807Publication Date: 2023-08-29A heartfelt story about the loss of a beloved grandparent that centers enthusiasm, adventure, and an ebullient creativity rarely seen in books about loss.
Because I Already Loved You by ISBN: 9781773069739Publication Date: 2023-08-01I never got the chance to know you and play with you, but I think of you a lot. A child eagerly waits for their younger sibling to be born. They help Daddy decorate the room, pick out toys with Grandma and build a sled with Grandpa. When Mommy and Daddy come back from the hospital, there is no baby with them -- only a dark cloud of sadness. The child doesn't understand where the new baby is, until their parents explain that the baby died at birth. The narrator's family explains that it's rare, and it's no one's fault. Daddy and Mommy are very sad, but they also say that--little by little--they will find their smiles again. Although the child never got the chance to get to know their sibling, they have saved them a special place in their heart.
Duck, Death and the Tulip by ISBN: 9781877467141Publication Date: 2016-08-01Duck and Death play together and discuss big questions. Death, dressed in a dressing gown and slippers, is sympathetic and kind and will be duck's companion until the end. "I'm cold," she said one evening. "Will you warm me a little?" Snowflakes drifted down. Something had happened. Death looked at the duck. She'd stopped breathing. She lay quite still. Explaining the topic of death in a way that is honest, lightly philosophical and with gentle humor, this enchanting book has been translated into multiple languages, adapted into an animated movie and short film and performed on stages worldwide.
Hamza Attends a Janaza by ISBN: 9780860378938Publication Date: 2023-08-22Hamza's usual fun Saturday is cancelled when his family receives the sad news that Uncle Sameer has died. Follow Hamza through the day as he learns about the various aspects of a janaza. This story is a gentle introduction to attending an Islamic funeral, told from a child's perspective.
Bug in a Vacuum by ISBN: 9781770496453Publication Date: 2015-08-25A bug flies through an open door into a house, through a bathroom, across a kitchen and bedroom and into a living room ... where its entire life changes with the switch of a button. Sucked into the void of a vacuum bag, this one little bug moves through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and eventually acceptance -- the five stages of grief -- as it comes to terms with its fate. Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel? Will there be dust bunnies in the void? A funny, suspenseful and poignant look at the travails of a bug trapped in a vacuum.
Numb to This by ISBN: 9780316462082Publication Date: 2022-10-11This searing graphic memoir portrays the impact of gun violence through a fresh lens with urgency, humanity, and a very personal hope.
Stealing Home by ISBN: 9781525303340Publication Date: 2021-10-05Sandy Saito is a happy boy who reads comic books and is obsessed with baseball - especially the Asahi team, the pride of his Japanese Canadian community. But when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, his life, like that of every other North American of Japanese descent, changes forever.
Angel of Greenwood by ISBN: 9781250768476Publication Date: 2021-01-12Isaiah Wilson is, on the surface, a town troublemaker, but is hiding that he is an avid reader and secret poet. Angel Hill is a loner, mostly disregarded by her peers as a goody-goody. Her father is dying, and her family's financial situation is in turmoil. Though they've attended the same schools, Isaiah never noticed Angel as anything but a dorky, Bible toting church girl. Then their English teacher offers them a job on her mobile library, a three-wheel, two-seater bike. But life changes on May 31, 1921 when a vicious white mob storms the Black community of Greenwood, leaving the town destroyed and thousands of residents displaced. Only then, Isaiah, Angel, and their peers realize who their real enemies are.
Anger Is a Gift by ISBN: 9781250167026Publication Date: 2018-05-22Six years ago, Moss Jefferies' father was murdered by an Oakland police officer. Along with losing a parent, the media's vilification of his father and lack of accountability has left Moss with near crippling panic attacks. Now, in his sophomore year of high school, Moss and his fellow classmates find themselves increasingly treated like criminals in their own school. New rules. Random locker searches. Constant intimidation and Oakland Police Department stationed in their halls. Despite their youth, the students decide to organize and push back against the administration. When tensions hit a fever pitch and tragedy strikes, Moss must face a difficult choice: give in to fear and hate or realize that anger can actually be a gift.
Black Birds in the Sky by ISBN: 9780063056664Publication Date: 2021-10-05In the early morning of June 1, 1921, a white mob marched across the train tracks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and into its predominantly Black Greenwood District--a thriving, affluent neighborhood known as America's Black Wall Street. They brought with them firearms, gasoline, and explosives. In a few short hours, they'd razed thirty-five square blocks to the ground, leaving hundreds dead. The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in US history. But how did it come to pass? What exactly happened? And why are the events unknown to so many of us today? This nonfiction book seeks to answer these questions.
Confess-O-Rama by ISBN: 0531095150Publication Date: 1996-09-01While his mother grieves the death of her fourth husband, Tony vents his feelings to the Confess-O-Rama, never suspecting who's on the other end of the line.
A Dog Called Homeless by ISBN: 9780062122209Publication Date: 2012-09-04Fifth-grader Cally Louise Fisher stops talking, partly because her father and brother never speak of her mother who died a year earlier, but visions of her mother, friendships with a homeless man and a disabled boy, and a huge dog ensure that she still communicates.
Ground Zero by ISBN: 9781338245752Publication Date: 2021-02-02Brandon is visiting his dad on the 107th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 when the attack comes; Reshmina is a girl in Afghanistan who has grown up in the aftermath of that attack but dreams of peace, becoming a teacher and escaping her village and the narrow role that the Taliban believes is appropriate for women--both are struggling to survive, both changed forever by the events of 9/11.
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero by ISBN: 9780593121399Publication Date: 2021-06-01Isaiah is now the big man of the house. But it's a lot harder than his dad made it look. And when things get really tough, there's Daddy's journal, filled with stories about the amazing Isaiah Dunn, a superhero who gets his powers from beans and rice. Isaiah wishes his dad's tales were real. He could use those powers right about now!
Me Three by ISBN: 9780735268722Publication Date: 2022-03-22Allegations against his father turn eleven-year-old Rodney's life upside down in a powerful and surprisingly funny novel about new beginnings, friendships and a fresh look at the way things really are.
The Notations of Cooper Cameron by ISBN: 9781512404159Publication Date: 2017-10-01Eleven-year-old Cooper Cameron likes things to be in order. When he eats, he chews every bite three times on each side. Sometimes he washes his hands in the air with invisible water. He invented these rituals after the death of his beloved grandfather to protect others he loves from terrible harm. But when Cooper's behavior drives a wedge between his parents, and his relationship with his older sister, Caddie, begins to fray, his mother's only solution is to take Cooper and Caddie to the family cabin for the summer.
Sardines by ISBN: 9780062995612Publication Date: 2022-10-18Nothing's been the same since Lucas's older brother died. After the accident, Lucas's mom disappeared without any warning, and his dad is struggling to cope. Lucas is pretty much alone--except for the other kids he meets at his middle school's aftercare program. Between games of Sardines, a reverse hide-and-seek, the kids realize that each group member has a secret wish. If they work together, the group might be able to help make each person's dream come true. But for that to happen, Lucas will have to find the strength to trust his new friends with his family's secrets.
Ten Thousand Tries by ISBN: 9781534482296Publication Date: 2021-07-13Twelve-year-old Golden Maroni is determined to channel his hero, soccer superstar Lionel Messi, and become captain of his soccer team and master of his eighth grade universe...especially since his home universe is spiraling out of orbit. Off the field, Golden's dad, once a pro soccer player himself, is now battling ALS, a disease that attacks his muscles, leaving him less and less physically able to control his body every day. And while Mom says there's no cure, Golden is convinced that his dad can beat this, just like any opponent, they just have to try. But when his dad continues to decline and his constant pushing starts to alienate his friends and team, Golden is forced to confront the idea that being master of your universe might not mean being in control of everything.
Tyler Johnson Was Here by ISBN: 9780316440776Publication Date: 2018-03-20When Marvin Johnson's twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid. The next day, Tyler has gone missing, and it's up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels and mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean.
Worst-Case Collin by ISBN: 9781623541453Publication Date: 2021-09-28Collin is always prepared for something to go wrong. Ever since he lost his mom in a car accident, he's been journaling about how to overcome things like avalanches, riptides, or even a bad case of halitosis. Meanwhile, Collin's father grows more distant by the day, and has started hoarding things throughout their house. Determined to hide his home life from his friends, Collin navigates middle school alongside the hilarious and clueless Liam, and Georgia, who Collin may have feelings for. Can Collin learn to be vulnerable around those he loves, even when he can't control every possible scenario?
Lolo's Light by ISBN: 9781797212944Publication Date: 2022-10-04Lolo's Light is a deeply honest middle grade novel about grief, redemption, and life as a kid facing both.
All the Fighting Parts by ISBN: 9781419762611Publication Date: 2023-09-19Sixteen-year-old Amina Conteh has always believed in using her words as her weapon--even when it gets her into trouble. After cursing at a classmate, her father forces her to volunteer at their church with Pastor Johnson. But Pastor Johnson isn't the holy man everyone thinks he is. The same voice Amina uses to fight falls quiet the night she is sexually assaulted by Pastor Johnson. After that, her life starts to unravel: Her father is frustrated that her grades are slipping, and her best friend and boyfriend don't understand why the once loud and proud girl is now quiet and distant. In a world that claims to support survivors, Amina wonders who will support her when her attacker is everyone's favorite community leader. When Pastor Johnson is arrested for a different crime, the community is shaken and divided; some call him a monster, and others defend him. But Amina is secretly relieved. She no longer has to speak, because Pastor Johnson can't hurt her anymore--or so she believes. To regain her voice and sense of self, Amina must find the power to confront her abuser--in the courtroom and in her heart--and learn to use all the fighting parts within her
Simon Sort of Says by ISBN: 9781368082853Publication Date: 2023-01-31Simon O'Keeffe's biggest claim to fame should be the time his dad accidentally gave a squirrel a holy sacrament. Or maybe the alpaca disaster that went viral on YouTube. But the story the whole world wants to tell about Simon is the one he'd do anything to forget: the story in which he's the only kid in his class who survived a school shooting. Two years after the infamous event, twelve-year-old Simon and his family move to the National Quiet Zone - the only place in America where the internet is banned. And when Simon makes a friend who's determined to give the scientists what they're looking for, he'll finally have the chance to spin a new story for the world to tell.
After Life by ISBN: 145981388XPublication Date: 2018-09-04Why do we die? Why can't we live forever? What happens to us after death? Moving between science and culture, After Life: Ways We Think About Death takes a straightforward look at these and other questions long taboo in our society.
Irena's Children by ISBN: 9781481449915Publication Date: 2016-09-27A gripping account of Irena Sendler, who took staggering risks to save 2,500 children from death and deportation in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II.
The Kids' Book about Death and Dying by ISBN: 0316753904Publication Date: 1985-05-01Fourteen children offer facts and advice to give young readers a better understanding of death.
When Dinosaurs Die by ISBN: 0316109177Publication Date: 1996-04-01Explains in simple language the feelings people may have regarding the death of a loved one and the ways to honor the memory of someone who has died.
Death Is Stupid by ISBN: 9781948340397Publication Date: 2020-08-04When someone we love dies, adults often say things like, "She's in a better place now," or "I know how you feel." You do not, one little boy thinks after his grandma passes away. Caught in the swirl of anger, confusion, and fear that accompanies grief and mourning, he doesn't just think death is unfair--he thinks death is stupid. It takes him some time, but when he starts sharing cherished memories of his grandma and working in her garden, he starts to feel just a little bit better.
I Will See You Again by ISBN: 9781553798552Publication Date: 2020-02-25When the author learns of the death of her brother overseas, she embarks on a journey to bring him home. Through memories and dreams of all they shared together and through her Dene traditions, she finds comfort and strength. The lyrical art and story leave readers with a universal message of hope and love.
Young People Talk about Death by ISBN: 0531028844Publication Date: 1980-01-01Presents opinions and experiences of young people concerning death, aging, prolonging life by extraordinary means, suicide, burial, cremation, explaining death to children, and what happens when one dies.
