8 Kids Books About Losing A Pet: Gentle Stories To Help Kids Heal
Saying goodbye to a pet is never easy. For many children, life with their pet might be all they’ve ever known. Plus, it can be their first experience with grief and loss, making it even more confusing and painful.
If you’re looking to support students who have experienced the loss of a pet, you’ll find these 8 picture books helpful. They approach the topic in a gentle way while helping kids process the loss, reflect on memories they’ve had with their own pet, and feel less alone in the experience.
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remembering blue fish from daniel tiger’s neighborhood
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to K
Daniel Tiger was playing with his sister when he noticed that Blue Fish wasn’t moving. After Daniel’s dad tells him that Blue Fish is dead, he and Daniel’s mom encourage Daniel to ask questions about what happened. Through Daniel’s questions, he’s able to better understand what happened and how he can cope with his feelings about it.
when a pet dies by fred rogers
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to 1
In this book, Mr. Rogers shares about experiences and feelings that someone might have after a pet dies. This book offers a clear but gentle definition of death and addresses the fears, thoughts, and concerns that a child might have in this situation. The photos in this book are dated, but the message is one that is helpful for any year or time period.
i’ll always love you by hans willhelm
Recommended Grades: K to 2
The little boy in this story grew up with his dog Elfie. They shared many great memories. As Elfie got older, she wasn’t able to do as much. One day, the boy woke up to find that Elfie had died. The boy was sad, but was able to find peace in the fact that he always told Elfie how much he loved her.
The invisible leash by patrice karst
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Zack and his dog Jojo have shared so many memories together. Now that Jojo is gone, it seems like nothing can bring Zack’s joy back. Thankfully, his friend Emily tells him about the invisible leash, which connects our hearts to the pets who aren’t here anymore. At first, Zack doesn’t believe in the invisible leash, but eventually he embraces the idea and finds the joy that comes from still being connected to Jojo.
the day tiger rose said goodbye by jane yolen
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Tiger Rose was a cat who was getting old and tired, and knew it was time to say goodbye. She took time to go around and let her friends and family know what was happening. Then, she said goodbye. This is a gentle book that encourages readers to see a pet’s death from their perspective, and to see the the pet really is okay.
saying goodbye to lulu by corinne demas
Recommended Grades: K to 3
When Lulu the dog got older and wasn’t able to do as much, the girl in the story took good care of her and helped her to do the things she couldn’t do on her own. Still, the girl missed how Lulu used to be and the memories they had shared together. When Lulu died, the girl grieves the loss and eventually comes to a place of acceptance. She’ll never forget Lulu or her love for her but is able to move on and share the love with a new puppy too.
the longest letsgoboy by derick wilder
Recommended Grades: 1 to 3
This story is told from the perspective of an old dog who has loved his time with Little, but now knows that it’s time to go. Kids will love the fun language that the dog uses. They’ll also see that death isn’t always an event of suffering for our pets, which brings peace.
the end of something wonderful by stephanie v.w. lucianovic
Recommended Grades: 2 to 4
This book offers comic relief in a difficult situation by offering hilarious instructions for burying a pet. It’s a great way to help kids understand how they can honor their pet and the memories they’ve had while saying goodbye.
Losing a pet can be absolutely heartbreaking. I hope that these 8 books will help you support kids as they navigate saying their goodbyes, reflecting on their memories, and coping with their feelings.
