Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

In preparing a series of annotated bibliographies on death-related literature for children and adolescents (Corr, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003a, 2003b), it became evident that this literature discusses topics related to bereavement, grief, and mourning in a variety of ways. That should not be surprising, since much of this literature was written to help children cope with experiences of death and loss. What is surprising, however, is the apparent absence of formal studies of bereavement issues in this body of literature in the major professional journals in the field of dying, death, and bereavement. This article is an initial attempt at rectifying that apparent gap in attention. It is also an effort to stimulate increased appreciation of these and other noteworthy aspects of death-related literature written to be read by or with children.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Corr

C. A.

(2000). Using books to help children and adolescents cope with death: Guidelines and bibliography. In Doka

K. J.

(Ed.), Living with grief: Children, adolescents, and loss (pp. 295–314). Washington, DC: Hospice Foundation of America.

Corr

C. A.

(2001). Death-related literature for children and adolescents: Selected, annotated, and with guidelines and resources for adults. In Armstrong-Dailey

& Zarbock

(Eds.), Hospice care for children (2nd ed.; pp. 378–401). New York: Oxford University Press.

Corr

C. A.

(2002). An annotated bibliography of death-related books for children and adolescents. Literature and Medicine, 21, 147–174.

Corr

C. A.

(2003a). Selected literature for children: Annotated descriptions. In Corr

C. A.

Nabe

C. M.

, & Corr

D. M.

, Death and dying, life and living (4th ed.; pp. 564–573). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Corr

C. A.

(2003b). Selected literature for adolescents: Annotated descriptions. In Corr

C. A.

Nabe

C. M.

, & Corr

D. M.

, Death and dying, life and living (4th ed.; pp. 574–578). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Corr

C. A.

Nabe

C. M.

, & Corr

D. M.

(2003). Death and dying, life and living (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Rudman

M. K.

Gagne

K. D.

, & Bernstein

J. E.

(1977–1993). Books to help children cope with separation and loss (vols. 1 & 2 by Bernstein alone, 1977, 1984; vol. 3 with Rudman, 1989, vol. 4, 1993). New Providence, NJ: R. R. Bowker.

Aiken

(2001). Anna's Scrapbook: Journal of a Sister's Love. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

Alexander

(1983). Nadia the Willful. New York: Pantheon Books.

10.

Arnold

(1987). What We Do When Someone Dies. New York: Franklin Watts.

11.

Bartoli

(1975). Nonna. New York: Harvey House.

12.

Blackburn

L. B.

(1987). Timothy Duck: The Story of the Death of a Friend. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

13.

Blackburn

L. B.

(1991). I Know I Made It Happen: A Gentle Book about Feelings. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

14.

Blume

(1981). Tiger Eyes. Scarsdale, NY: Bradbury.

15.

Brisson

(1999). Sky Memories. New York: Delacorte.

16.

Brown

M. W.

(1958). The Dead Bird. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

17.

Buck

P. S.

(1948). The Big Wave. New York: Scholastic.

18.

Bunting

(1982). The Happy Funeral. New York: Harper & Row.

19.

Bunting

(1999). Rudi's Pond. New York: Clarion Books.

20.

Carlstrom

N. W.

(1990). Blow Me a Kiss, Miss Lilly. New York: Harper & Row.

21.

Carney

K. L.

(1995). Our Special Garden: Understanding Cremation (Book 4 in the Barklay and Eve Activity and Coloring Book Series). Wethersfield, CT: Dragonfly Publishing Co.

22.

Carney

K. L.

(1999). Together, We'll Get Through This! (Book 1 in the Barklay and Eve Activity and Coloring Book Series). Wethersfield, CT: Dragonfly Publishing Co. (277 Folly Brook Blvd., Wethersfield, CT 06109; telephone 860–257–7635;)

23.

Carney

K. L.

(1999). Honoring Our Loved Ones: Going to a Funeral (Book 2 in the Barklay and Eve Activity and Coloring Book Series). Wethersfield, CT: Dragonfly Publishing Co.

24.

Carney

K. L.

(1999). Precious Gifts: Katie Coolican's Story. (Book 7 in the Barklay and Eve Activity and Coloring Book Series). Wethersfield, CT: Dragonfly Publishing Co.

25.

Carney

K. L.

(2001). What is the Meaning of Shiva? (rev. ed. of Book 3 in the Barklay and Eve Activity and Coloring Book Series). Wethersfield, CT: Dragonfly Publishing Co.

26.

Carson

(1992). You Hold Me and I'll Hold You. New York: Orchard Books.

27.

Chin-Yee

(1988). Sam's Story. Toronto, Canada: Canadian Foundation for the Study of Infant Death (586 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 308, Toronto, M4P 1P2; telephone 416–488–3260).

28.

Clardy

A. F.

(1984). Dusty Was My friend: Coming to Terms with Loss. New York: Human Sciences.

29.

Cleaver

, & Cleaver

(1970). Grover. Philadelphia: Lippincott.

30.

Coerr

(1977). Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons.

31.

Cohn

(1987). I Had a Friend Named Peter: Talking to Children about the Death of a Friend. New York: Morrow.

32.

Connolly

(1997). It Isn't Easy. New York: Oxford University Press.

33.

Corley

E. A.

(1973). Tell Me about Death, Tell Me about Funerals. Santa Clara, CA: Grammatical Sciences.

34.

Czech

(2000). The Garden Angel: A Young Child Discovers a Grand parent's Love Grows Even after Death. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

35.

Dean

(1992). Meggie's Magic. New York: Viking Penguin.

36.

Dodge

N. C.

(1984). Thumpy's Story: A Story of Love and Grief Shared by Thumpy, the Bunny. Springfield, IL: Prairie Lark Press (P.O. Box 699, Springfield, IL 62705).

37.

Doleski

(1983). The Hurt. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

38.

Donnelly

(1981). So Long, Grandpa. New York: Crown.

39.

Douglas

(1990). Rachel and the Upside Down Heart. Los Angeles: Price Stern Sloan.

40.

Dragonwagon

(1990). Winter Holding Spring. New York: Atheneum/Simon & Schuster.

41.

Duckworth

(2003). Ragtail Remembers: A Story that Helps Children Understand Feelings of Grief. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

42.

Evarts

D. M.

(1998). The Butterfly Bush: A Story about Love. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

43.

Farrington

, & Weil

J. C.

(1993). And Peter Said Goodbye. Woodside, CA: Enchanté Publishing (P.O. Box 620471, Woodside, CA, 94062; telephone 800–473–2363).

44.

Fassler

(1971). My Grandpa Died Today. New York: Human Sciences.

45.

Ferguson

(1992). A Bunch of Balloons. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

46.

Fox

(1994). Tough Boris. New York: Harcourt Brace & Co.

47.

Greene

A. A.

(1999). Sunflowers and Rainbows for Tia: Saying Goodbye to Daddy. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

48.

Greene

C. C.

(1976). Beat the Turtle Drum. New York: Viking.

49.

Grollman

, & Johnson

(2001). A Child's Book about Death. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

50.

Grollman

, & Johnson

(2001). A Child's Book about Funerals and Cemeteries. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

51.

Grollman

, & Johnson

(2001). A Child's Book about Burial and Cremation. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

52.

Harris

(1965). Why Did He Die? Minneapolis, MN: Lerner.

53.

Hazen

B. S.

(1985). Why Did Grandpa Die? A Book about Death. New York: Golden.

54.

Hemery

K. M.

(1998). The Brightest Star. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

55.

Hemery

K. M.

(2001). The Healing Tree. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

56.

Hodge

(1999). Finding Grandpa Everywhere: A Young Child Discovers Memories of a Grandparent. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

57.

Holmes

M. M.

(1999). Molly's Mom Died. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

58.

Holmes

M. M.

(1999). Sam's Dad Died. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

59.

Holmes

M. M.

(2000). A Terrible Thing Happened. Washington, DC: Magination Press.

60.

Hopkinson

(2001). Bluebird Summer. New York: Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins.

61.

Johnson

(2001). The Very Beautiful Dragon. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

62.

Johnson

, & Johnson

(1978). Tell Me, Papa: A Family Book for Children's Questions about Death and Funerals. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

63.

Johnson

, & Johnson

(1982). Where's Jess? Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

64.

Kantrowitz

(1973). When Violet Died. New York: Parents' Magazine Press.

65.

Klein

(1995). The Best Gift for Mom. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

66.

Krasny

, & Brown

(1998). When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death. Boston: Little Brown.

67.

Krementz

(1981). How It Feels when a Parent Dies. Boston: Little, Brown.

68.

Krementz

(1989). How It Feels to Fight for Your Life. Boston: Little, Brown.

69.

Landalf

(2000). Getting Used to Candy. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

70.

Lanton

(1991). Daddy's Chair. Rockville, MD: Kar-Ben Copies (telephone 800–4-KARBEN).

71.

Little

(1984). Mama's Going to Buy You a Mockingbird. New York: Viking Kestrel.

72.

Loring

, & Johnson

(1994). Lucy Lettuce: A Head of Her Time. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

73.

Lowden

S. G.

(1993). Emily's Sadhappy Season. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

74.

Mann

(1977). There Are Two Kinds of Terrible. New York: Doubleday/Avon.

75.

MacGregor

(1999). “Why Do People Die?”: Helping Your Child Understand—with Love and Illustrations. Secaucus, NJ: Carol Publishing Group.

76.

Mills

(1991). The Rag Coat. Boston: Little, Brown.

77.

O'Toole

(1988). Aarvy Aardvark finds Hope. Burnsville, NC: Compassion Books.

78.

Paterson

(1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Crowell.

79.

Peavy

(1981). Allison's Grandfather. New York: Chas. Scribners' Sons.

80.

Pellegrino

M. W.

(1999). I Don't Have an Uncle Phil Anymore. Washington, DC: Magination Press.

81.

Plourde

(2003). Thank You, Grandpa. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

82.

Powell

E. S.

(1990). Geranium Morning. Minneapolis, MN: CarolRhoda Books.

83.

Prestine

J. S.

(1993). Someone Special Died. Torrance, CA: Fearon Teacher Aids/Frank Schaeffer Publications (23740 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505–5927).

84.

Rappaport

(1995). The New King. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers.

85.

Schwiebert

, & DeKlyen

(1999). Tear Soup: A Recipe for Healing after Loss. Portland, OR: Grief Watch (telephone 503–284–7426; www.tearsoup.com).

86.

Scrivani

(1994). I Heard Your Mommy Died. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

87.

Scrivani

(1996). I Heard Your Daddy Died. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

88.

Simon

(2001). This Book Is for All Kids, but Especially My Sister Libby. Libby Died. Austin, TX: Idea University Press (telephone 877–598–2424; ideauniversitypress@gsdm.com).

89.

Simon

(1979). We Remember Philip. Chicago: Whitman.

90.

Simon

(1986). The Saddest Time. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Co.

91.

Smith

D. B.

(1973). A Taste of Blackberries. New York: HarperCollins (paperback edition by Harper Trophy, 1988).

92.

Stillwell

(1998). Sweet Memories. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

93.

Stull

E. G.

(1964). My Turtle Died Today. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

94.

Temes

(1992). The Empty Place: A Child's Guide through Grief. Far Hills, NJ: New Horizon Press (P.O. Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931).

95.

Turner

B. J.

(1996). A Little Bit of Rob. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Co.

96.

Varley

(1992). Badger's Parting Gifts. New York: Mulberry Books.

97.

Viorst

(1971). The Tenth Good Thing about Barney. New York: Atheneum.

98.

Vogel

R. H.

(2002). The Snowman (rev. ed.). Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

99.

Weir

A. B.

(1992). Am I Still a Big Sister? Newtown, PA: Fallen Leaf Press (P.O. Box 942, Newtown, PA 18940–0845).

100.

White

E. B.

(1952). Charlotte's Web. New York: Harper.

101.

Whitehead

(1971). The Mother Tree. New York: Seabury.

102.

Winsch

J. L.

(1995). After the Funeral. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press.

103.

Wrenn

(2001). The Christmas Cactus. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

104.

Yeomans

(2000). Lost and Found: Remembering a Sister. Omaha, NE: Centering Corp.

105.

Zeifert

(2001). Ode to Humpty Dumpty. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

106.

Zolotow

(1974). My Grandson Lew. New York: Harper & Row.

Bereavement,Grief,and Mourning in Death-Related Literature for Children

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References