One of the most difficult moments in childhood is saying goodbye to a beloved family pet. Our animals fill our lives with joy, comfort, and love, and losing them can be an especially devastating time for the youngest family members, especially those who may not yet fully grasp the concept of death. One way to help children process their grief is to help them see that they are not alone in their feelings. Reading books on pet loss is an immensely beneficial way to accomplish this, so we’ve gathered seven books that can help readers, young and old, navigate the loss of a family pet.
Where Are You, Brontë? by Tomie dePaola, Illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Adapted from a manuscript by the beloved dePaola, this tender story is told from the late author-illustrator’s point of view as he mourns the loss of his real-life dog, Brontë. Reminiscing about Brontë’s life from puppyhood to the Airdale’s death, dePaola remembers cuddling in bed, their walks through nature, and the inspiration that Brontë’s antics provided him as an artist.
After Brontë has gone, dePaola wonders — as many youngsters might — where the dog has gone. However, spotting a rainbow along one of their walks, the author realizes that in some way, Brontë will always be with him. A moving tribute that remembers both Brontë and the life and works of dePaola, this simple story approaches grief with gentle understanding and a final message of hope.
The Invisible Leash by Patrice Karst, Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
A loose spin-off of Karst and Lew-Vriethoff’s Invisible String series, which explores how love connects us over great distances, this title focuses on the special bond between pet and owner, even after death. The story centers on Jack, who is facing his first weekend without his late dog, Jojo. Zack’s well-meaning parents attempt to cheer him up with treats and promises of a new dog in the future, but their offers only make Zack feel angrier and sadder.
It’s Zack’s friend Emily, who is similarly grieving the recent loss of her cat, who offers him an explanation of the “invisible leash,” which connects owners to their pets even after they have passed into the beyond. A gentle story and sweet illustrations explore the stages of grief and offer comfort to children while gently reminding caregivers that kids deserve space to feel heartbreak.
I’ll Be Your Friend Forever by Amulya Veldanda Vadali, Illustrated by Julia Moroko
Told from the voice of a recently deceased pet, this loving rhyme addresses the owners and family left behind with comforting words. Celebrating the short yet impactful life they shared — from cheek kisses to providing comfort during scary times — the animal narrator then goes on to explain the concept of the Rainbow Bridge, a non-dominational afterlife where late pets exist in happiness in comfort while waiting to be reunited with their owners.
The pet then offers compassionate suggestions on how their kid can remember their life, such as doing something nice for others or taking a moment to think of them. Acting as a grief workbook and a comforting story in and of itself, this title is also notable for the wide range of pets represented, including snakes, rabbits, birds, and goldfish, in addition to cats and dogs.
An Ofrenda for Perro by Judith Valdés B., Illustrated by Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Ofrendas are a Día de Muertos tradition that honors late loved ones by welcoming them back to the land of the living, and many families include their late pets in this remembrance. For Benito, who has recently lost his lifelong pal Perro, preparing the altar feels especially difficult; since Perro’s passing, the boy doesn’t want to do much of anything.
Yet as he and his parents place the flores de cempasuchil, candles, pan de muertos, and photographs, they share their memories of Perro and the special bond that he and Benito shared. At last, Benito feels the spirit of Perro (heartwarmingly depicted as an ephemeral alebrije) and knows that his friend will never truly leave him. A universal story combined with poignant cultural representation, this moving story may just warm a broken heart.
Chip by Federico Gastaldi
The platitudes that surround death — “moved on,” “in a better place,” etc. — can feel frustrating to children, especially those who would rather have things explained to them plainly. For Atticus, who wakes up one morning to find that the goldfish bowl that typically houses his friend Chip is empty, they become a mystery which only adds to his feeling of confusion.
Imagining what these puzzling words might mean (a better place… like the amusement park?), readers are offered brief moments of levity before Atticus wisely implores his parents to let him process his loss by remembering his dear fish. It seems impossible to inject a bit of gentle humor into such a sorrowful time, but this title manages spectacularly, while also nudging caregivers to approach loss and grief with openness and honesty.
Tim’s Goodbye by Steven Salerno
Margot is sad because Tim is gone. She leaves for a moment to be alone. Melinda arrives with her French horn, and Roger brings a box. Vincent holds balloons, and Otto wears his best hat. The friends contribute what they can: the box, the balloons, flowers, a song. Then Margot delicately places Tim — her late pet turtle — into the box with the flowers, and watches his balloon-powered rise into the sky. She thinks of Tim swimming among the stars, with warm sun to bask in and cool waters to swim, “forever a happy turtle.”
Heartbreaking, uplifting, comforting, and dear all at once, Margot’s progression of grief is a subtle and powerful way of letting kids know that mourning is just that: a process. Furthermore, her friends’ gentle and thoughtful actions show young children how they can be there for someone who is dealing with loss.
A Stone for Sascha by Aaron Becker
This wordless story opens on a child collecting yellow flowers; she brings them to her family, who are holding a funeral for their late dog. The family then leaves for a lakeside retreat, where the girl finds a small oval stone near the water. The art cuts to a large meteorite falling from space. It impacts, and the reader follows along as the stone takes an eons-long journey: first a sharp natural feature, then carved into a rock circle centerpiece. With each new life, the rock finds new purpose: part of a great statue, a gifted sculpture, a stolen treasure.
As history plays out around it, the rock remains, until it finds itself at the shore of a lake, picked up by a little girl and brought home. She lays it on her dog’s grave in memory — a piece of time and the universe as the symbol of her love. This breathtaking yet comforting book approaches grief from a unique perspective, encouraging the reader to think about life, death, and the passage of time as something enormous and vast and small and personal, all at once.
Grieving is a natural and important process, and readers are never too young to be told that whatever their feelings are, they are okay to have. We hope that you and your young readers find comfort in these books and that they offer some peace and healing during a difficult time.
One of the most powerful ways to convey love during tough times is a hug. Check out our article on Nine Heartwarming Picture Books About Hugs for some comfort reads.
To see all of our recommendations for mini bookworms, check out our Bookshop bookshelf.
