Grief Lending Library

Social worker and educator Susan Hannifin-MacNab tackled these difficult questions after her husband was killed suddenly, leaving her to pick up the pieces of her young family's life. She eventually realized that grief and trauma healing do not occur by waiting for time to pass. Action and intention are the pillars needed to lay a foundation for rebirth and build a powerful roadmap for healing mind, body, and spirit.

• Sudden & Traumatic Death

Offers simple, realistic advice on how to live with grief day to day. Each reflection encourages healthy grieving and new ways of being in the world after experiencing profound loss.

• General

A book for both those who are grieving and those who wish to be helpful to grievers. Gives practical suggestions as well as thoughtful insights for one’s grief journey.

• General

• Professional

When her close friend since childhood murders his adoptive parents and kills himself, 17 year old Lynn is haunted by the tragedy.

• Teens

• Suicide

Separate texts for the adult and child.

• Children

• Helping Children / Historical

An essential guide for understanding, planning, and conducting meaningful and theologically sound funerals.

• General

• Funeral Rites/Religious

These essays survey the complex issues surrounding the crisis of bereavement.

• Professional

Guidelines for assisting adolescents presently struggling with the difficult issues of dying, death and bereavement.

• Helping Children & Teens

This work considers the potential effects of slavery, racism, and white ignorance and oppression on the African American experience and conception of death and grief in America. This book documents, describes, and analyzes the key phenomena of the unique African-American experience of grief.

• Professional

This book focuses on how to help children and teens in the aftermath of a parent’s suicide. The book provides an overview of current thinking/research on suicide and explores the increased risk of mental health issues for child survivors. In addition to information about how children grieve at different developmental levels, it also offers comfort to the bereaved, specific coping strategies for families facing this trauma, and insight into what promotes resiliency.

• Helping Children & Teens

• Suicide

A heartfelt and practical guide about what you can do after the death of someone loved.

• General

Offers much-needed information and clinically tested advice for those struggling to cope in the aftermath of suicide.

• Sudden & Traumatic Death

• Suicide

This booklet was written to help the reader understand some of what he or she may experience during the months after a suicide loss. The material is arranged chronologically: common experiences after the first few days, weeks, months, followed by the first full year and beyond. 

• Sudden & Traumatic Death

• Suicide

Written from her own experiences, Elizabeth answers the question every bereaved parent asks, Will I ever get over it? Both a guide and a meditation, this book is valuable to friends and relatives as well.

• Death of a Child

Ages 8-11. Twins Amy and Allie were eight years old and their brother was four when their beloved father died suddenly in his sleep. Encouraged and guided by their mother, the three children kept a journal for almost two years. They wrote about the night he died, the funeral, the first week, the first year, the cemetery, their thoughts and feelings-and the future.

• Children

• Death of a Father

Drawing on her own encounters with the ripple effects of early loss, as well as on interviews with dozens of researchers, therapists, and regular people who’ve been bereaved, New York Times bestselling author Edelman offers profound advice for reassessing loss and adjusting the stories we tell ourselves about its impact on our identities. In this book, she demonstrates that though grief is a lifelong process, it doesn’t have to be a lifelong struggle.

• General

Explores the life of Alicia, a popular sixteen-year-old, in the aftermath of a fatal car crash, as her friends, family members, and others recall key episodes that show her impact on their lives. Includes author’s note about the real Alicia and how she inspired the book, as well as resources on teen grief.

• Teens

• Sudden & Traumatic Death

“…describes grief as a normal reaction to significant loss that is first experienced at birth and repeated continually throughout life, although it is often unrecognized and unattended,.”

• General

The story of how the author found strength to survive her loneliness and loss of identity...

• Death of a Partner

• Historical

Join seven-year-old Grace on her journey through coping with the loss of her father while learning about the different ways that people grieve the loss of a loved one. In the process of learning about who her father was through the eyes of others, she learns about who she is today because of her father's personality and love.

• Children

• Death of a Father

Written while searching for answers to her brother's death that no adult seemed to have.

• Children

• Death of a Sibling

“…Insights concerning relationship patterns, validates individual differences and provides practical advice for many of the painful family problems associated with cancer."

• Before the Death

• Cancer / Historical

A spiritual and practical guide to healing after pregnancy loss. This book points grieving hearts to real hope, and equips family, friends, churches, counselors, and others with understanding and tools for ministering to hurting families after loss.

• Death of a Child

• Miscarriage

Contains the author’s personal observations and conclusions about grief after the death of a child. He describes techniques for working through grief that may be especially helpful for the bereaved father.

• Death of a Child

• Men and grief

Fried’s letters, written after their deaths to a number of his most memorable patients, surely served as a catharsis for him, a means of venting pent-up grief. Compiled, they iterate the life affirmations of the children he came to know and admire over the years

• General

A compilation of true stories from parents who have had a baby die.

• Death of a Child

In this touching, humorous, whimsical and illuminating follow-up to Dear God, What Religious Were the Dinosaurs, best-selling author David Heller and Elizabeth Heller once again tap into the minds and hearts of children to help answer some of life’s really important questions, such as: What is heaven?, Where is heaven?, What is an angel?, etc.

• Children

• Religious

When her grandmother starts forgetting things, has to go into a nursing home and then dies, a young girl tries to remember the good times they shared.

• Children

• Death of a Grandparent

Ages 4 and up. Anna's Corn portrays the love between a grandparent and grandchild and gently looks at loss and grief and the hope of new life. Barbara Santucci's simple story reassures young readers that memories can help heal our sadness, while Lloyd Bloom's poignant images capture the changing seasons of nature and life.

• Children

• Death of a Grandparent

After the Ant Hill School is destroyed, a little boy ant is afraid to go back to school. This story thoughtfully addresses fears associated with both natural and man-caused disasters. It models effective parenting and teaching responses. This book can help assure children that through love, empathetic understanding, preparation, and effective communication, they can stand strong, even in the midst of uncontrollable events

• Children

• Any Disaster

From the award-winning author of "The Undertaking" comes this debut fiction collection of heart-rending stories of life and death.

• General

…the focus is our own death, the intent throughout is exploration of our own living.

• General

• Historical

In the story, the members of the Bundren family must take the body of Addie, matriarch of the family, to the town where Addie wanted to be buried. Along the way, we listen to each of the members on the macabre pilgrimage.

• General

Examines the child's tie to the mother and also explains why this vital relationship is so crucial to the development of the child's personality.

• Professional

• Historical

Examines the effect of separation on the development of the child and the psychopathology that often follows separation.

• Professional

• Historical

The author analyzes the effects of a death in the family on the lives of children and adults.

• Professional

"This study examines how consumers think and feel about death and funerals, and updates a comparable study done in 1974 by the Casket Manufacturers of America."

• Professionals

• Funeral Rites

The author’s account of his courageous fight against an incurable, progressive illness, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”

• Anticipatory / Before the Death

• Lou Gerig's Disease / Historical

A middle-aged daughter helps her parents take one last journey together. As they drive through the fall mountain colors and long stretches of western highways, she recalls treasured childhood memories, agonizes with her father over his daily struggles against cancer, and ultimately understands what is being passed on to her.

• Anticipatory / Before the Death

• Cancer

Ages 5-10. About the death and life of a very special friend. At first, those who loved Badger felt overwhelmed by their loss. In time though, whenever Badger’s name was mentioned, someone would recall a special memory that made them all smile.

• Children

Aimed at the minister and seminary student.

• Professional

• Religious / Historical

When life becomes difficult, we set out on a search to find answers to significant questions: Why would God allow this to happen? What good could come out of this? What will it look like to trust him? This collection explores Scripture in regard to the causes and purposes of suffering, as well as what it means to trust God in the midst of hardship and pain.

• General

• Death of a Child / Religious

Organized into fifty-two short chapters, Bearing the Unbearable is a companion for life’s most difficult times, revealing how grief can open our hearts to connection, compassion, and the very essence of our shared humanity. Dr. Joanne Cacciatore—bereavement educator, researcher, Zen priest, and leading counselor in the field—accompanies us along the heartbreaking path of love, loss, and grief. Through moving stories of her encounters with grief over decades of supporting individuals, families, and communities—as well as her own experience with loss

• General

A keepsake book that including: Believe, On Earth As It Is In Heaven and All God's Creatures Go To Heaven. This book includes original paintings by N A Noel and original Poetry by John Wm Sisson.

• General

• Religious

Ages 4-8. When Emily’s brother dies after a long illness, she feels alone, angry, and sad. With the understanding and support of her parents, she learns that it helps when she snuggles with her parents, talks about her feelings, and asks questions about Ben. It helps when she does regular kid stuff, too. Mostly, she learns that remembering Ben and their happy life together builds healthy and helpful images that soothe her sad feelings and provide much comfort to her and her family.

• Children

• Death of a Sibling

This is the classic book for parents whose child has died - and for those who want to help them. Author offers timelines and practical step-by-step suggestions to help you cope with every stage of grief.

• Death of a Child

• Historical

This practical guide to the treatment of grief responses combines clinical and spiritual care. Topics addressed include universal grief processes and responses, dysfunctional grieving, therapies and treatment priorities, reorganization and recovery, the ways that perceptions, thoughts, and beliefs influence care, and more.

• Professional

• Religious

A study of the factors that affect the bereavement process and its impact on general and mental health.

• General

(The Springer series on death and suicide; v. 1) Includes bibliographical references and index.

• General

• Historical

Looks closely at the pioneering legacy of the work of Kubler-Ross and discusses how professional understanding of dying and grief has progressed and developed. Readers will find spirited discourse on the most current issues surrounding the questions of how people grieve and how professionals can best support them, in chapters and tools that will augment and even challenge their work.

• Professional

This book contains reassuring words about the questions and feelings which strike us in both expected and unexpected moments….thoughts gathered to help sustain you in your time of grief.

• General

• Historical

Nine mothers who lost a child and met in a support group give comfort and direction to bereaved parents. They candidly share with other grieving parents what to expect in the first year and long beyond.

• Death of a Child

Describes how widowed people of all ages contend with the loss of a spouse, and the equally important loss of their own marital identity.

• Death of a Partner

Intended for all who sense in the reality of mortality a problem of meaning and who are interested in how some of their fellow human beings have grappled with it.

• General

• Religious / Historical

A bibliography of books on death, bereavement, loss and grief from 1935-1968.

• Professional

• Historical

Ages 9-12. “A little girl’s brother has died and she shares with readers what this means to her. She tries to understand her own feelings and those of her family, illustrating that there are different ways that people react to losing someone they love. It arrives at a universal problem-how to acknowledge the birthday of a child who has died.”

• Children

• Death of a Sibling

Ages 8-13. Black Jack Jetty follows Jack as he copes with his father’s death in Afghanistan. Follow Jack’s journey through his grief, anger, anxiety, and guilt. A tip sheet for kids to help cope with a parent s death follows the story.

• Children

• Death of a Father / Military

A tool for parents, grandparents and others to help the children the love understand and appreciate the blessing of feelings. Helps children learn the names of emotions while they study the photographs of children’s facial expressions. They, in turn, can begin to label their own feelings and understand that all feelings are OK.

• Helping Children

The Burned Out Old Broads At Table 12. Grab your latest AARP advertisement for a bookmark and join Maggie Pattern (sand hills rancher), Robbie Leary (retired English professor), Hadley Joy Morris-Whitfield (wealthy and wise), Mary Rose McGill (sweet Catholic girl) and Edith Ann (rescued Schnauzer) for a laugh-out-loud fun read and a look into relationships every mature woman wants and deserves.

• General

Provides a wealth of information on books designed to help children from ages 3 to 16 overcome the grief of loss in whatever form it takes.

• Helping Children

• All Loss

A guide for helping children with complicated grief issues. Includes bibliographical references and index.

• Helping Children

• Complicated Grief

A father helps his grieving daughter, following the death of her mother, by pointing out a twinkling star that seems to be smiling down at them.

• Children

• Death of a Mother

A collection of poetry, fiction, and essays compiled by a journalist and a social worker, both of whom have had a child die.

• Death of a Child

A refreshing and practical approach to working with children who are suffering the loss of a loved one due to suicide. Rubel takes a very difficult topic and creates a manageable path for parents and professionals to follow when helping the young suicide survivor.

• Helping Children

• Suicide

The story follows a little girl processing her grief over the death of her father. In this first book of the series she is trying to figure out how to say goodbye to her father while her mother prepares for the funeral. The themes in the book deal with expressing emotions, non-traditional funeral, and remembrance of a loved one. (The second book of the series is titled, It's OK to Be Happy!) 

• Children

• Death of a Father

This book is a testament to a grieving mother who chose to pick the flowers on her journey, and share them with us. Fran's symbols of butterflies, angels, and roses offers comfort to those who mourn.

• Death of a Child

After her grandmother dies, Lindsay finds strength and beauty in the butterfly bush they planted together.

• Children

• Death of a Grandparent

A Beareavement Story for Children. "Oh Grandpa! Why did you leave me?" This is the question that lingers in little Billy's mind when his beloved Grandpa dies. Then he remembers his trip with his grandfather to a valley of butterflies.

• Children

• Death of a Grandparent

A listen-to/read-aloud book for children. A beautifully illustrated resource that can be used to educate and support any child who is facing the cancer of a loved one. The story, as told through the eyes of a little boy as he explains his mom's cancer to other children, lends itself to a simple and clear understanding of cancer.

• Children

• Cancer

This book is the account of Anthony's wife's murder, the grief he experienced, and how and why he made the radical choice to forgive the killer. But beyond that, Anthony goes on to teach what forgiveness can and should look like in each of our lives--both personally, in our communities, and even in our nation. After much pain, reflection, and study, Thompson shares how true biblical love and mercy differ from the way these ideas are reflected in our culture.

• Sudden & Traumatic Death

• Religious / Homicide

Grades 3-6. Presents information about cancer, emphasizing those things of particular interest to children and describing how the disease affects family members.

• Children

• Cancer

Guidance for those concerned with the depressed, the suicidal, and the terminally ill.

• Professional

• Religious / Historical

A valuable resource for those who care for dying patients and their families. A variety of articles by various professionals dealing with many end-of-life care issues.

• Professional

• Anticipatory / Before the Death

This book gives great insight into the painful journeys of donor families and how to successfully companion them before, during and after the donation experience.

• Professional

• Organ Donors

Deals with the physical as well as emotional aspects of terminal illness. A very practical guide for caregivers.

• Anticipatory / Before the Death

• Cancer

Written with the hope that you will understand your own reactions even as you try to comprehend your parents’ needs.

• Anticipatory / Before the Death

• Aging Parents / Historical

This book discusses Catholic funerals. A Catholic funeral is carried out in accordance with the prescribed rites of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Funeral include the vigil, the funeral Mass and the Rite of Committal, will be performed. It is preferred that the funeral Mass or the funeral liturgy outside Mass be performed before the body is cremated. The Rite of Committal is celebrated at the burial site, never at church.

• General

• Funeral Rites / Historical

This book includes suggestions for virtually every aspect of a faith-filled funeral including Scripture readings, liturgical music, intercessory prayers, roles for family and friends, the wake service, and the committal service.

• General

• Funeral Rites & Ceremonies

A revised edition of a cross-cultural study of rituals surrounding death that focuses on the notion that in understanding other people's death rituals we are able to gain a better understanding of our own.

• Professional

Because “grieving for an animal can be a pretty lonely place,” Barbara Abercrombie created this joyful, poignant, funny, and smart collection of commiseration. The essays highlight the sometimes surprising things animals add to a household — and how their loss reverberates.

• Death of a Pet

Chester Raccoon's good friend Skiddel Squirrel has had an accident and has died. Chester is upset and Mrs. Raccoon suggests that Chester and his friends create some memories of Skiddel, so that they will have good memories when they miss him. Chester, his brother Ronny, and their friends decide to gather at the pond, where they combine their memories and create a touching celebration of their friend's life.This sweet story will help children to understand the positive purpose behind memorial services and how "making memories" can provide cheer and comfort when missing an absent loved one.

• Children

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia affect millions of people, and this book is especially for caregivers. This collection, a joint project with the Alzheimer’s Association, is filled with 101 stories of love and lessons from others like you, will support and encourage you as you care for your loved one.

• Alzheimer's Disease

Physician-author Diane Komp uses tender stories of her work with children who have cancer to illustrate timeless biblical truth. Showing how medicine, science, and biblical faith are compatible, she gives readers inspiring insight into the spiritual re-education of a Yale medical professor by her young patients.

• Professional

• Anticipatory / Before the Death / Religious

This book will help children and adults understand the deep impact of loss and what it takes to begin to heal. This book will help you and the child you care about to manage their sorrow and begin to move forward.

• Helping Children

• Death of a Parent

The author explains how children and adolescents grieve after someone loved dies. For adults who want to help.

• Helping Children & Teens

Childhood and Death fills the need for a comprehensive source treating the highly sensitive, difficult, and complex issues of working with children in this area. It discusses the various ways in which death affects children and effective intervention techniques to help them cope.

• Helping Children

• Children Dying

Children Also Grieve is an imaginative resource that offers support and reassurance to children coming to terms with the loss of a close friend or relative and to adults who are supporting them through their bereavement.

• Helping Children

This book attempts to identify, illuminate, and broaden our repertoire of adaptive maneuvers so that both children and adults will be better equipped to deal with the crisis of death.

• Helping Children

This book teaches you how to answer your child's questions in specific, practical ways, help your child grieve by supporting his or her God-given emotions. It also teaches you to give your child a sense of security and safety amid disorienting events like funerals, disrupted routines and more.

• Helping Children

Drawing upon extensive interviews and assessments of school-age children who have lost a parent to death, this book offers a richly textured portrait of the mourning process in children.

• Helping Children

• Death of a Parent

Enables anyone who comes in contact with a bereaved child to have greater understanding of a child's grief.

• Helping Children

A readable book directed primarily at caregivers but might also benefit a family dealing with a pediatric related problem of grief and bereavement.

• Helping Children

Focused on the traumatic nature that death presents in children's lives. It also includes a rang over a variety of topics, from supporting children during disaster, through the benefits of death education, to the value of ritual in helping children adjust to a radically altered set of circumstances following loss.

• Helping Children

• Sudden & Traumatic Death

The Dougy Center and American Foundation For Suicide Prevention created this helpful book discussing children and teen suicide loss.

• Helping Children

Explores children's evolving views of death; describes and discusses what children themselves think of life and death. Offers guidelines for explaining death to a child.

• Helping Children

Mary Beth unveils her struggle to allow God to write the story of her life, both the happy chapters and the tragic ones. And as the story unfolds, she has been forced to wrestle with some of life’s biggest questions. No matter where you find yourself in your own life story, you will treasure the way Mary Beth shows that even in the hard times, there is hope if you choose to SEE.

• Death of a Child

• Sudden & Traumatic Death / Religious

The unique world between these covers is one of searing pain, but also one of love unvanquished. It conveys the precious value of life, the horror of homicide, and the power of the human spirit.

• Sudden & Traumatic Death

• Homicide

Megan doesn't want to hear that her Nana is dying. She picks up one of Nana's plants and tries to bring it back to health. The Christmas Season just isn't the same - all the colors of the season seem to be gone. But after Nana dies, Megan gets a very special present.

• Children

• Death of a Grandparent

A seventeen-year-old boy trying to recover from the loss of his girlfriend meets an unusual girl.

• Teens

• Death of a Partner

When it comes to the end of a relationship, the loss of a loved one, or even a national tragedy, we are often told we need “closure.” But while some people do find closure for their pain and grief, many more feel closure does not exist and believe the notion only promises false hopes. Sociologist Nancy Berns explores these ideas and their ramifications in her timely book, Closure. This book explains how to push for closure-whether we find it helpful, engaging, or enraging-is changing our society.

• General