Children's books to help approach the topics of death and grief

Many of you have living children who were also affected when their sibling died. Or maybe you have had another baby, or are expecting again after your loss, and have an older child in your life. How can you help these children understand about baby loss? 

One way is to use children’s books to help you approach the topics of death and grief. There are an enormous number of books about loss for children out there, and it can be a bit overwhelming to know which is right for the child or children in your life. I’ve put together a list of books that specifically address the death of a baby. Some of these books are available at the public library. Some are available through online sellers such as Amazon, Centering Corporation- grief resources, and Grief Watch. Some may be out of print and more difficult to find. Bereaved Parents of Madison will supply you with two free books per month. You can request these books through our BPOM Book Request Form.

Note: Many of these books mention two parents, a father and a mother, and many discuss God or heaven. You may wish to review these books before you share them with your child depending on your beliefs or family structure. I also estimated the age of the child that the books, where appropriate, for many of the books.

Books About Baby Loss

• Always Ours by Christy Wopat (For ages 5-10, death right after birth)
• Dancing on the Moon by Janice Roper (For ages 3-8, infant loss)
• We Were Going to Have a Baby, but We had an Angel Instead by Pat Schwiebert (For ages 2-6, miscarriage, stillbirth, NICU death)
• Our Baby Died by Katrina Villegas (For ages 4 and up)
  • THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS - one for termination for medical reasons through surgery and one for termination for medical reason through labor and delivery
• Our Baby is Going to Die by Katrina Villegas (For ages 4 and up, in preparation for termination due to medical reasons)
• Remembering Our Baby by Katrina Villegas (For ages 4 and up, termination for medical reasons, miscarriage, and stillbirth)
• Oh No! Where Did the Baby Go by Ilene Fernandez (For ages 4 and up, miscarriage, stillbirth, features a family of color)
• I Miss the Baby by Irma Prosser (For ages 2 and up, termination for medical reasons, miscarriage, stillbirth, includes families of color)
• Remembering Our Baby by Patti Keough (A workbook for ages 8 and up, any loss circumstance)
• No New Baby by Marilyn Gryte (For ages 6 and up, premature birth loss)

​Books for Children who were Born After their Sibling Died

• Perfectly Imperfect Family by Natia Gogiashvili (For ages 2 and up, remembering a sister who died)
• Someone Came Before You by Pat Schwiebert (For ages 2-6, special baby died)
• The Baby Before You Died by Katrina Villegas (For ages 6 and up, termination for medical reasons)
• A Rainbow Baby Story: The Rainbow After the Storm by Crystal Falk and Kim Roman (For ages 4 and up, a family of birds discuss their baby bird who died)
• Mommy Says I Have a Brother by Stephany Resendes (For ages 2 and up, baby brother who died for any reason is watching over his little brother)

These are just some of the books out there specific to baby loss for children. We hope that you will be able to find a book that helps to comfort your child.

Tanya Mudrick
Chair of the Bereaved Parents of Madison Education and Outreach Committee