The following list of books, Web sites, and organizations may provide information and support for adults who are dealing with the death of a child. There are also resources for helping other children in the family who have lost a brother or sister. Some of these resources may be helpful for those who have lost an adult child or adult sibling.

Books and reading materials*

For parents

Anne McCracken and Mary Semel. A Broken Heart Still Beats: After Your Child Dies. Hazelden Publishing, 2000.

Elizabeth Mehren and Harold Kushner, After the Darkest Hour the Sun Will Shine Again: A Parent's Guide to Coping With the Loss of a Child. Fireside, 1997.

Ellen Mitchell, Rita Volpe, Ariella Long, and others. Beyond Tears: Living After Losing a Child. St. Martin's Press, 2009.

Loss, Grief, and Bereavement, from the National Cancer Institute Web site. (Can be found at: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/supportivecare/bereavement/patient).

Theresa A. Rando. Grieving: How to Go on Living When Someone You Love Dies, Lexington Books, 1995.

Alan Wolfelt. Healing a Parent's Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas After Your Child Dies, Landmark, 2002.

Susan Huff and Stacy Orloff. Home Care for Seriously Ill Children, Children's Hospice International. (Can be found at www.chionline.org/publications/programs_support.php.)

Catherine Sander. How to Survive the Loss of a Child: Filling the Emptiness and Rebuilding Your Life, Prima Lifestyles, 1994.

Dorothy Rowe, Judy Merry, and Clare Jenkins. Relative Grief: Parents and Children, Sisters and Brothers, Husbands, Wives and Partners, Grandparents and Grandchildren Talk About Their Experience of Death and Grief, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2005.

Joanne Hilden, MD. Shelter from the Storm, Perseus, 2002.

Harriet Sarnoff Schiff. The Bereaved Parent, Penguin, 1977.

Jeanne Webster Blank. The Death of an Adult Child: A Book for and About Bereaved Parents (Death, Value and Meaning), Baywood Publishing Company, Inc., 1997.

Barbara D. Rosof. The Worst Loss: How Families Heal From the Death of a Child, Owl Books, 1995.

Alan Wolfelt. Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Home and Healing Your Heart, Companion Press, 2004.

Harold Kushner. When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Anchor, 2004.

Judith Andrews Bernstein. When the Bough Breaks: Forever after the Death of a Son or Daughter, McMeel Publishing, 1998.

For adults helping a child who has lost a brother or sister

The Dougy Center Staff. 35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child, The Dougy Center, 1999. (Contact information in Web section.)

Maria Trozzie. Talking with Children About Loss: Words, Strategies, and Wisdom to Help Children Cope with Death, Divorce, and Other Difficult Times, Childhood Education, 2000.

Helen Fitzgerald. The Grieving Child, a Parent's Guide, Fireside, 1992.

Donna L. Schuurman. Helping Children Cope with Death, The Dougy Center, 1997. Also available in Spanish.

William C. Kroen and Pamela Espeland. Helping Children Cope with the Loss of a Loved One: A Guide for Grownups, Free Spirit Publishing, 1996.

Helping Teens Cope with Death, The Dougy Center, 1999.

Helen Rosen. Unspoken Grief: Coping with Childhood Sibling Loss, Lexington Books, 1990.

For children and teens who have lost a sister or brother

Earl Grollman and Joy Johnson. A Complete Book About Death for Kids, The Centering Corporation, 2009. Ages 4 to 8. (Contact information in web section.)

Alicia Sims. Am I Still a Sister? The Centering Corporation, 2008. Ages 4 to 12.

Jane Loretta Winsch. After the Funeral, Paulist Press, 1995. Ages 4 to 8.

Alan Durant and Debi Gliori. Always and Forever, Harcourt Children's Books, 2004. Preschool to Grade 3.

Karen L. Carney. Barklay and Eve: What is the Meaning of Shiva, 2005. Available from www.barklayandeve.com. Ages 4 to 8.

Adolph Moser and David Melton. Don't Despair on Thursdays!: The Children's Grief-Management Book (The Emotional Impact Series), Landmark Editions, 1996. Ages 9 to 12.

Enid Samuel-Traisman. Fire in My Heart: Ice in My Veins, The Centering Corporation, 2003. Best for teens.

Janis Silverman. Help Me Say Goodbye: Activities for Helping Kids Cope When a Special Person Dies, Fairview Press, 1999.

Lynn Bennett Blackburn. I Know I Made It Happen, The Centering Corporation, 2003. Ages 6 to 12.

Pat Thomas and Lesley Harker. I Miss You: A First Look At Death, Barron's Educational Series, 2001.

Ellen Yeomans. Lost and Found: Remembering a Sister, The Centering Corporation, 2000. Ages 4 to 8.

Donna Shavatt and Eve Shavatt. My Grieving Journey Book, Paulist Press, 2002. Ages 4 to 8.

Michaelene Mundy and R.W. Alley. Sad Isn't Bad: A Good-Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing With Loss (Elf-Help Books for Kids), Abbey Press, 1998. Ages 5 to 12.

Marisol Munoz-Kiehne and Glenda Dietrich. Since My Brother Died, The Centering Corporation, 2000 (includes Spanish translation). Ages 5 to 10.

Roberta Temes. The Empty Place: A Child's Guide Through Grief, New Horizon Press, 1992. Ages 4 to 8.

John D. Morgan, editor. The Dying and Bereaved Teenager, The Charles Press Publishers, 1990. Ages 12 and up.

Leo Buscaglia. The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages, Henry Holt & Co, 1982. Ages 4 to 8.

Norma Simon and Jacqueline Rogers. The Saddest Time (An Albert Whitman Prairie Book), Albert Whitman & Company, reprinted 1992. Ages 4 to 8.

Stephanie Jonah. Transitions Along the Way: A Guide to the Dying Process for Children and Young Adults, Visions, 1999. Ages 9 to 12.

Ted O'Neal and Robert W. Alley. When Bad Things Happen: A Guide to Help Kids Cope (Elf-Help Books for Kids), One Caring Place, 2003. Ages 5 to 12.

*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.

On the Web*

Compassionate Friends
Toll-free number: 1-877-969-0010
Web site: www.compassionatefriends.org
Brochures for families who have lost children (for parents and for siblings), as well as electronic newsletters, local support groups, and phone support for those who cannot attend chapter meetings. Some chapters have groups for children 12 and older.

GriefNet
Rivendell Resources, Inc.
Telephone number: 734-761-1960
Web site for adults: www.griefnet.org
Web site for children: http://kidsaid.com
Online groups for grief support, with a sub site for children only

The Centering Corporation
Toll-free number: 1-866-218-0101
Web site: www.centering.org
Information on the death of a child, children and grief, and infant loss, including materials in Spanish

The Dougy Center
Toll-free number: 1-866-775-5683
Web site: www.dougy.org
Information on grieving, and referrals to programs across the country that serve grieving children, teens, and their families; some international programs

SuperSibs!
Toll-free number: 1-866-444-7427
Web site: www.supersibs.org
Aimed at the sisters and brothers of children diagnosed with cancer, SuperSibs also offers a grief support package and ongoing support for children who have lost a brother or sister to cancer.

*Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement by the American Cancer Society.

No matter who you are, we can help. Contact us anytime, day or night, for information and support. Call us at 1-800-227-2345 or visit www.cancer.org.

Last Medical Review: 06/26/2009
Last Revised: 06/26/2009