Death of a Grandparent

Tomie dePaola's Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs (orignally published in 1973, reissued in 2000) tells how four-year-old Tommy deals with the death of his great-grandmother with help from his family. A patron request this morning prompted me to look for other picture books about the death of a grandparent. How one chooses to speak with a child about death is of course very personal. Here are five books that could be helpful in talking to a child about the death of a grandparent.

Come Back, Grandma by Sue Limb, picture by Claudio Munoz
Bessie's grandmother is always there for her when she needs someone to play with and Bessie misses her very much after she dies. When Bessie grows up, she has a little girl of her own who reminds her very much of her grandma.

The Grandad Tree by Trish Cooke, illustrated by Sharon Wilson
The changing nature of their apple tree, as it grows and goes through the seasons, reminds Leigh and Vin of their grandfather, who is gone but lives on in their memories.

Grandma's Gone to Live in the Stars by Max Haynes
In the moments after grandmother has passed away, her spirit is at peace as she says goodbye to her sleeping family and her home.

One More Wednesday by Malika Doray
When a little rabbit's grandmother dies, he remembers good times with her and asks his mother about death. He thinks about the fun they had together every Wednesday, and it is almost like they have another Wednesday together.

The Two of Them by Aliki
"The day she was born, her grandfather made her a ring of silver and a polished stone, because he loved her already. Someday it would fit her finger." This book tells the story of a grandfather and his granddaughter from her birth to his death. "She knew that one day he would die. But when he did, she was not ready, and she hurt inside and out." She picks the blossoms from her grandfather's apple tree and thinks about how the tree changes again and again with the seasons and remembers her grandfather.