Books About the Death of a Pet

Last updated: May 13, 2025

Many kids experience serious loss for the first time when a pet dies. Books that deal with this sad event can help prepare them and make it easier for them to process their feelings. These compelling stories can even help kids cope with the death of a family member or friend. For more books that deal with death and animals, see our Books About Grief and Best Animal Books for Kids lists.

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Big Cat, Little Cat Poster Image

BOOK

Big Cat, Little Cat

age 3+

Strikingly designed tale of cat-kitten friendship.

Elisha Cooper Picture Book (2017)

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Koko's Kitten Poster Image

BOOK

Koko's Kitten

age 3+

Amazing true story of pet loss helps kids understand grief.

Dr. Francine Patterson Animals (1985)

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The Goodbye Book Poster Image

BOOK

The Goodbye Book

age 3+

Comforting story about grief, loss, and finding joy again.

Todd Parr Emotions (2015)

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Remembering Book Cover: Frame has photo of child with long brown hair in low ponytail and black dog with Día de Muertos altar

BOOK

Remembering

age 4+

Heartfelt tale of pet loss, remembrance on Day of the Dead.

Xelena González Picture Book (2023)

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The Invisible Leash book cover: White girl with her ghost-like image of her cat and and brown-skinned boy with a ghost version of his dog sit looking at the moon

BOOK

The Invisible Leash: An Invisible String Story About the Loss of a Pet

age 4+

Boy finds connection to deceased dog in warm grief tale.

Patrice Karst Picture Book (2019)

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Where Are you Brontë book cover: White-haired man draws picture of dog on drafting table, with paint brushes, art pencils, empty dog bed nearby

BOOK

Where Are You, Brontë?

age 4+

Man misses dog but loves him always in sweet grief tale.

Tomie dePaola Picture Book (2025)

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Bluebird Poster Image

BOOK

Bluebird

age 6+

Striking, vibrant tale of friendship, bullying, and loss.

Bob Staake Picture Book (2013)

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Love That Dog Poster Image

BOOK

Love That Dog

age 8+

Boy pours his grief into poetry in moving free-verse gem.

Sharon Creech School (2004)

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Short Poster Image

BOOK

Short

age 8+

Small girl grows inside in funny, inspiring theater tale.

Holly Goldberg Sloan Coming of Age (2017)

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The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook Poster Image

BOOK

The Five Lives of Our Cat Zook

age 8+

Realistic story of girl coping with sick cat, dad's death.

Joanne Rocklin Contemporary Fiction (2012)

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The Penderwicks in Spring Poster Image

BOOK

The Penderwicks in Spring

age 8+

Charming family series spotlights Batty in 4th volume.

Jeanne Birdsall Family Life (2015)

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Paper Wishes Poster Image

BOOK

Paper Wishes

age 9+

Sad, soulful story of grieving girl interned during WWII.

Lois Sepahban Historical Fiction (2016)

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Welcome to Dog Beach Poster Image

BOOK

Welcome to Dog Beach

age 9+

Tween girls learn to accept change in light summer read.

Lisa Greenwald Friendship (2014)

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Where the Red Fern Grows Poster Image

BOOK

Where the Red Fern Grows

age 9+

Tearjerker about country boy and his hound dogs.

Wilson Rawls Animals (1961)

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The Twistrose Key Poster Image

BOOK

The Twistrose Key

age 10+

Magical animal-afterlife adventures of a girl and her mouse.

Tone Almhiell Fantasy (2013)

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Wonder Book Cover: A white face, featureless except for one blue eye, against a light blue background

BOOK

Wonder

age 10+

Moving tale of facially different boy with inner beauty.

R.J. Palacio Coming of Age (2012)

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Sounder Poster Image

BOOK

Sounder

age 12+

Sharecropper boy finds hope, dignity amid racism, hardship.

William H. Armstrong Coming of Age (1969)

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