At a glance: Children's books on grief

“Reading together is a great way to connect, share, relax and enjoy one another,” Dykstra said. “Books provide a variety of perspectives that may help people assimilate information and feelings and better cope with their life experiences.”

Books about tough situations and life changes can help children build vocabulary about new or scary feelings. Smart Start Central Oklahoma recommends the following books for young children. The organization suggests adults read books first before reading them to children to determine the books are fitting.

• “Goodbye, Mousie” by Robie H. Harris

• “Lifetimes” by Bryan Mellonie and Robert Ingpen

• “Samantha Jane's Missing Smile: Coping with the Loss of a Parent” by Julie Kaplow, Donna Pincus and Beth Spiege

• “Saying Goodbye to Lulu” by Corinne Demas

• “The Tenth Good Thing About Barney” by Judith Viorst

• “Water Bugs & Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children” by Doris Stickney

• “Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs” by Tomie dePaola

• “The Blue Roses” by Linda Boyden

• “The Purple Balloon” by Chris Raschka

• “Last Week My Brother Anthony Died” by M.W. Hickman

• “Tear Soup” by Pat Schweibert

• “A Terrible Thing Happened” by Margaret M. Holmes

• “A Quilt for Elizabeth” by B. Tiffault

• “I Miss You: A First Look at Death” by Pat Thomas