Loss is one of the hardest parts of life—and one of the hardest subjects to talk about with children. How do you explain why someone they love is gone, or why a pet will never come back? How do you honor their sadness without overwhelming them? Books can be a bridge in those moments, offering language, comfort, and gentle honesty when words feel impossible.

The stories below take on grief in many forms—losing a grandparent, saying goodbye to a beloved pet, or facing the deeper questions of mortal...