Recommended Reading
A collection of works to help you HEAL your heart
We have selected the books listed here for you. You will find books that cater to all age groups and backgrounds as well as professional and educational works.
Please contact us if you would like assistance in choosing a book.
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/91NnIDvBwwL-212x300.jpg)
Gr. 3-6, younger for reading aloud. Floppy-eared Charlee (feminine for Charlie) was already part of the family when narrator Mark was born. Boy and pup grew up together and were best friends and playmates. Years later, when Charlee needed to...
Children, Guide, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Debby Morehead
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The angel paintings of artist Nancy Noel beautifully portray Amy Nolfo-Wheeler's story of Jacob, a child angel on a journey of discovery. This keepsake book, in heavenly color, features a glow-in-the-dark cover. An inspiring message of hope and joy for...
Children, Pet Loss & Bereavement
N.A. Noel
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/51g76QA9SVL-245x300.jpg)
How can children begin to heal after losing a pet? Balloons for Tiger takes an imaginative look at this tough topic as colorful balloons travel from the hands of children to their beloved cat who has passed on. This book lets children...
Cat Lovers, Children, Family, Great Gift, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Pre-school
Lori Orlinsky
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/61ef1OUomiL-200x300.jpg)
A true story, BEAUDY is about a no-name ranch horse, the person who rescues him, and the wondrous mystery of the communication between them. It is also about the legacy of another horse, the most famous and beloved horse character...
Children, Horses, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Susan Barry
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Freddy has a golden labrador called Biscuit, who loves going for runs in the park. Lately, Biscuit has been feeling exhausted and doesn't want to play any more. Freddy is really worried. Then, one night, Freddy is woken by Biscuit,...
Children, Dog Lovers, Illustrated, Teen
Coleen Carlile and Mark Archer
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A joyous celebration of a cat's journey after a happy life on Earth by Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant. "The way to Cat Heaven is a field of sweet grass, where crickets and butterflies play!" With a gentle, playful rhyme, Newbery...
Cat Lovers, Children, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Pre-school
Cynthia Rylant
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/91pOsRCFQL-199x300.jpg)
Don’t miss one of America’s top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS’s The Great American Read. This beloved book by E. B. White, author of Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan, is a classic of children's literature that is "just about perfect."...
Children, Great Gift, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Young Adult
E. B. White
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/51XG5JPQ82L-196x300.jpg)
This guide is a practical tool for veterinarians, teachers, counselors, parents, grandparents and others who are in a position to help children cope with the loss of a pet. Topics include understanding children's attachment to their pets and the significance...
Children, Guide, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Marty Tousley
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/41PVm80rMlL-243x300.jpg)
This gentle and heartwarming story captures the love between a boy and his dog, and the sadness that follows after his cherished dog passes away. Written in the form of a letter from the dog to the boy, the letter...
Children, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Leigh Ann Gerk
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/71A7ovdr35L-200x300.jpg)
A comforting and playful exploration of a beloved dog's journey after a happy life on Earth. In Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant's classic bestseller, the author comforts readers young and old who have lost a dog, as she did for cats...
Children, Dog Lovers, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Pre-school
Cynthia Rylant
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/519Lvgx5RXL-199x300.jpg)
A spiritual guide and practical primer designed to help people of all ages and backgrounds cope with and recover from grief over the loss of beloved pet.
Children, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Spiritual
Diane Pomerance PH.D.
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/51tmwrLQrL-216x300.jpg)
For Every Cat An Angel celebrates the timeless connection between people and their "forever cats." From the moment a kitten is born, the book tells us, a guardian angel is there to welcome the kitten into the world and let...
All Ages, Cat Lovers, Children, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Spiritual
Christine Davis
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/51y7PkolubL-227x300.jpg)
For Every Dog An Angel celebrates the timeless connection between people and their "forever dogs." From the moment a puppy is born, the book tells us, a guardian angel is there to welcome the puppy into the world and to...
All Ages, Children, Dog Lovers, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Spiritual
Christine Davis
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/41-GmIVGHqL-188x300.jpg)
Is your child suffering from the loss of their pet and you want to know how to help them? Discover a step-by-step guide to navigating the emotional journey of your child and family when losing a beloved pet. Are you...
Adult, Children, Family, Guide, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Wendy Van de Poll
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/91HCHakvbdL-300x235.jpg)
A gentle and moving story about losing a friend, and the importance of always expressing your love. Elfie the dachshund is the best dog anyone could every ask for. Every day, she and her owner explore and play together. And...
Children, Family, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Pre-school
Hans Wilhelm
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/61VAOB81zSL-271x300.jpg)
Today Riley's family is celebrating Jasper's Day. Everything they do will be in honor of Jasper -- sort of like a birthday. But it isn't Jasper's birthday. The old dog's cancer has gotten really bad. Riley knows they can't let...
Children, Family, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Marjorie Blain Parker
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/51dLMUDhaL-208x300.jpg)
Koko the gorilla uses sign language to talk to her handlers. When she asks for a pet, her handlers search high and low for the perfect companion.
Children, Family, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement, Pre-school
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/81ewe9xTK8L-300x243.jpg)
Animals, like human beings, experience deep emotional bonds, too. Lee and Limbo is a story of genuine friendship and love between two cats in Chapel Hill, a beautiful, small University town in North Carolina where love abounds. When Lee...
Children, Family, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Uzoma (Uzo) Rita Ezekwudo
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/51MDd5WAG4L-300x285.jpg)
Describes the feelings that you might have when your pet dies and discusses how to cope with these feelings
Children, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Marianne Johnston
![](https://www.aplb.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/81hr8XelEoL-300x298.jpg)
When the death of a relative, a friend, or a pet happens or is about to happen . . . how can we help a child to understand? Lifetimes is a moving book for children of all ages, even parents too....
Children, Family, Guide, Illustrated, Pet Loss & Bereavement
Bryan Mellonie