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Quick answer: The best children’s books about the death of a grandparent explain death honestly and help kids hold on to memories. Top picks include Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola, The Memory Box, Grandad’s Island, Lifetimes, The Funeral, Badger’s Parting Gifts and The Rabbit Listened.
For many children, the death of a grandparent is their first experience of losing someone they love. They may have questions about what death means, worry about other people dying, or feel confused by the sadness around them. Picture books give children words for big feelings and give parents a gentle way to start difficult conversations. Grief specialists generally recommend using clear, simple language such as “died” rather than euphemisms like “went to sleep,” and many of the books below model that approach. They’re arranged roughly from youngest to oldest.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| The Goodbye Book | Todd Parr | Toddlers and preschoolers |
| The Rabbit Listened | Cori Doerrfeld | Processing feelings |
| The Memory Box | Joanna Rowland | Keeping memories |
| Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs | Tomie dePaola | Loss of a grandmother |
| Grandad’s Island | Benji Davies | Loss of a grandfather |
| Lifetimes | Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen | Explaining death simply |
| When Dinosaurs Die | Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown | Answering questions |
| The Funeral | Matt James | Attending a funeral |
| Badger’s Parting Gifts | Susan Varley | Remembering legacy |
| Always and Forever | Alan Durant | Shared grief |
| Grandpa’s Stories | Joseph Coelho | Celebrating a life |
| Grandma’s Gloves | Cecil Castellucci | Shared hobbies |
| The Heart and the Bottle | Oliver Jeffers | Bottled-up feelings |
| The Fall of Freddie the Leaf | Leo Buscaglia | Life cycles |
| Annie and the Old One | Miska Miles | Older children |
1. The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr
Todd Parr’s bold, colorful illustrations and very simple text acknowledge the feelings that come with losing someone: sadness, anger, confusion and hope. It doesn’t specify who died, so it works for any loss, and it’s ideal for the youngest children.
2. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
When Taylor’s block tower is destroyed, animals offer advice on how to feel, but only the rabbit simply listens. It’s not about death specifically, but it beautifully shows children and adults that grief needs presence, not fixing.
3. The Memory Box: A Book About Grief by Joanna Rowland
A child creates a memory box filled with reminders of a loved one who has died. The book validates every feeling and offers a hands-on activity families can do together. It includes a note for parents on supporting grieving children.
4. Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs by Tomie dePaola
Tommy loves visiting his grandmother and great-grandmother every Sunday. When Nana Upstairs dies, he learns about loss and remembrance. Based on the author’s own childhood, it’s a tender classic for children grieving a grandparent.
5. Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies
Syd and his grandad sail to a beautiful island, where Grandad decides to stay. Syd sails home alone, knowing Grandad is happy. The gentle metaphor and stunning illustrations make it comforting rather than frightening.
6. Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen
This classic explains that all living things, plants, animals and people, have a beginning, an ending and living in between. Its calm, factual approach helps children understand death as a natural part of life.
7. When Dinosaurs Die by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Using friendly dinosaur characters, this book answers children’s real questions: Why do people die? What does dead mean? What happens at a funeral? It’s straightforward, reassuring and widely used by counselors.
8. The Funeral by Matt James
Norma is excited to see her cousin at her great-great-uncle’s funeral, but unsure how she’s supposed to feel. This honest, sometimes funny book captures a child’s real experience of a funeral and is great preparation for attending one.
9. Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley
When old Badger dies, his woodland friends are heartbroken, until they realize each of them carries a skill or memory he gave them. It’s a lovely way to show kids that a grandparent’s influence lives on.
10. Always and Forever by Alan Durant
When Fox dies, Mole, Hare and Otter are lost in grief, until Squirrel helps them remember the funny things Fox used to do. It shows how sharing stories and laughter can be part of healing.
11. Grandpa’s Stories by Joseph Coelho
A child recalls a year of moments with Grandpa, season by season, and after his death, creates stories to remember him. Poetic and warm, it celebrates a grandparent’s life rather than focusing only on the loss.
12. Grandma’s Gloves by Cecil Castellucci
A girl and her grandmother love gardening together. After Grandma dies, the girl wears her gardening gloves and carries on their tradition. It’s especially comforting for children who shared a hobby with a grandparent.
13. The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers
A curious girl shares her wonder with an older man, implied to be her grandfather. When his chair is empty, she puts her heart in a bottle to protect it, until a child helps her rediscover joy. It’s a beautiful book about grief and opening up again.
14. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia
Freddie the leaf experiences the seasons with his friends and learns that falling in autumn is part of a larger cycle of life. This gentle allegory works well for children who need a softer, metaphorical introduction to death.
15. Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles
Annie, a young Navajo girl, learns her grandmother will die when the rug on the loom is finished, so she tries to stop the weaving. This Newbery Honor book is a moving story for older children about accepting the cycle of life.
How to Help a Child Grieving a Grandparent
- Use clear words. Say “died” instead of “lost” or “went to sleep,” which can confuse or frighten young children.
- Answer questions honestly. It’s okay to say “I don’t know.”
- Expect grief to come and go. Children often grieve in short bursts and may play normally soon after.
- Share memories. Look at photos, cook a favorite recipe or make a memory box.
- Watch for ongoing distress. Talk to a pediatrician or counselor if sleep, appetite or behavior changes persist.
Related: children’s books for loss of a pet and children’s books about divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good book for a child whose grandparent died?
Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs, Grandad’s Island and The Memory Box are among the most recommended.
How do you explain the death of a grandparent to a young child?
Use simple, honest language: their body stopped working and they can’t come back. Reassure the child that feeling sad is normal and that they are safe and loved.
Should children attend a grandparent’s funeral?
Many children benefit from attending if they’re prepared beforehand and given the choice. Books like The Funeral help explain what to expect.
Featured image: Photo by OC Gonzalez on Unsplash