Hard Goodbyes: Books To Help Children Grieve the Death of a Pet
by Sharon Holbrook
No matter what your age, losing a pet is hard. For many kids, though, the death of a pet brings an added challenge: It’s often their first experience of losing someone they love.
At our house, we’re on the brink. We have two beloved and elderly cats, one of whom has a serious chronic illness that requires daily pills and needles. It can’t last forever.
My five- and eight-year-old daughters know the sad truth about our kitty, and they wanted to help make this experience a bit easier for other kids. So they bravely chose to read twenty-two books about pet loss with me so that, together, we could select the best ones for other parents to read with their children. Tears were shed by all — including me — but I think we’ll be more ready when the time comes. If you’ve got furry friends in your house, I hope these books will help your family, too.
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On Death
Little ones may not understand what it even means to die, or why it must happen. These stories start with the clear facts, introduced with compassion.
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Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children
Buy from:This lyrical, poetic picture book is not at all scary or particularly sad. It explains “how things are” for plants, insects and other animals, and even people — that we all have lifetimes, which must begin and end. True to its subtitle, the book is quite beautiful, thanks in large part to Ingpen’s soothing depictions of the natural world.
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When a Pet Dies
Buy from:This nonfiction book is a classic from the gentle Mr. Rogers. When a Pet Dies helps children understand death itself: “When a pet dies, it isn’t alive anymore, so it can’t wake up again. A pet that dies stops breathing and moving.” But it also connects the experience of death to children’s emotional lives, explaining: “There will come a time when your sadness and anger have gone away … a time when you can feel happy again about the good times you and your pet had together.” Honestly addressing children and their concerns, this book both clarifies and comforts.
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Goodbye: A First Conversation About Grief
Buy from:If you don’t know how to start a difficult conversation with your child, this board book about grief can help. It offers answers to many questions surrounding death, such as why things die, what happens after death, how long grief lasts, and how to support people who are grieving.
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I'll Always Love You
Buy from:A child grows up alongside their beloved dachshund, Elfie, sharing everyday moments and a nightly promise: “I’ll always love you.” When Elfie dies, that promise becomes a source of comfort, reminding children that love doesn’t disappear with loss. This simple, heartfelt story offers reassurance during one of childhood’s hardest goodbyes.
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On What Happens to Pets After Death
We don’t know what, if anything, happens to pets after they die. But this doesn’t keep children from imagining, especially when it comes to glorious afterlives. Your kids are going to ask where their beloved pet is now — so you might as well have books on hand that will help you find encouraging answers. As my eight-year-old said, “I like these books because they are about good things, and that makes me feel happier.”
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God Gave Us Heaven
A polar bear cub peppers her Papa with questions about heaven, and learns that it is a place full of goodness and joy. If your family believes in heaven, this book is a comforting and reassuring read for children grieving the loss of a beloved pet.
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Rodney Was a Tortoise
Buy from:This quietly charming story traces the life of Rodney, a humble tortoise whose slow-paced days are filled with small wonders, dependable routines, and the love of the ones who care for him. As readers follow Rodney’s gentle journey, the story explores how every creature — no matter how quiet or small — holds a special place in our hearts.
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On Feeling Better … Eventually
When sadness is fresh, it can be hard to see hope ahead. These books help kids realize that even losing a pet is a wound time can heal.
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When Sadness is at Your Door
Buy from:Losing a pet is often the first time a child will experience deep sadness and grief. This book helps explain the feeling and how to deal with it. Rather than ignoring it, this story encourages children to let the sadness in, treat it with kindness, and comfort it (and themselves) with activities like drawing or going for a walk.
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Crocodiles Everywhere
Buy from:This story is about a little girl whose best friend moves away, leaving her with feelings of sadness and anger that manifest as crocodiles. It isn’t until the girl confronts her feelings directly that she manages to process them and eventually move on.
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Sweet, Sweet Memory
Buy from:While this heartfelt book is about losing a grandparent, it will also comfort children who have lost a pet. It’s about a girl named Sarah who realizes that her grandpa’s legacy lives on when friends and family share their favorite memories about him.
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Fish Friends Forever
Buy from:Told through a young girl's diary entries, this gentle story follows the friendship between a child and their pet fish, Frank — from silly games to quiet moments together. When one day Frank doesn’t come out of his hiding place, the child feels heartbreak and confusion in an honest, real way. Then, slowly, she finds comfort in remembering their bond. This book offers an honest, reassuring look at grieving a pet and healing over time.
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Little by Little
Buy from:After losing someone they love, a child learns that sadness doesn’t fade all at once — it softens little by little. With spare, poetic text and gentle illustrations, this book honors big feelings while showing that healing can happen in small, meaningful moments.
(On sale: 9/8/2026)
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2026.