Lending Library - Children & Junior Readers
The BV Hospice has a library of books on the subjects of grief, loss, death, bereavement and hope. They range from children’s stories to many adult titles which offer thoughtful advice, meditations, prayers and so much information for the journey you or your family, friends, coworkers or neighbours may be on. Please see the list of available titles and their short summaries to give you an idea of what the book is all about and if it can help you.
The books are available for loan from the BV Hospice office at 3862D Broadway Avenue. To arrange pick up for books, please leave a message at 250.877.7451 [messages checked daily] or email us at bvhospicesociety@gmail.com
Books for Children & Junior Readers
Cell wars
Fran Balkwill. 1990.
Explains how cells fight off diseases and viruses in the human body.
Shelf location: E BAL
The fall of Freddie the leaf: a story of life for all ages
Leo Buscaglia. 1982. [2 copies]
As Freddie experiences the changing seasons along with his companion leaves, he learns about the delicate balance between life and death.
Shelf location: E BUS
Sadako and the thousand paper cranes
Eleanor Coerr. 1977.
Hospitalized with the dreaded atom bomb disease, leukemia, a child in Hiroshima races against time to fold one thousand paper cranes to verify the legend that by doing so a sick person will become healthy.
Shelf location: E COE
Nana upstairs & Nana downstairs
Tomie dePaola. 1998.
Four-year-old Tommy enjoys his relationship with both his grandmother and great-grandmother, but eventually learns to face their inevitable death.
Shelf location: E DEP
The rabbit listened
Cori Doerrfeld. 2018. [2 copies]
A tale of empathy, kindness and friendship that follows the experiences of a small child who is offered well-intentioned advice from his animal friends in the wake of a loss but only finds comfort with the last animal, a rabbit, who just quietly and lovingly listens.
Shelf location: E DOE
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge
Mem Fox. 1984.
A small boy tries to discover the meaning of “memory” so he can restore that of an elderly friend.
Shelf location: E FOX
The mountains of Tibet
Mordicai Gerstein. 1987.
After dying, a Tibetan woodcutter is given the choice of going to heaven or to live another life anywhere in the universe.
Shelf location: E GER
When someone dies
Sharon Greenlee. 1992.
Provides guidance and comfort for those recovering from the death of someone they know, offering suggestions for how to survive the grief and remember the good times.
Shelf location: E GRE
Tim’s dad: a story about a boy whose father dies
Ruth A. Hitchcock. 1988.
Written for a boy who was having trouble dealing with his father’s death.
Shelf location: E HIT
Aunt Mary Buttons
Diane Jarvis Jones. 1995.
Intended for children ages 5 and up who are trying to cope with the death of a loved one, the book tells the tender story of a young girl and her terminally-ill aunt. When the girl is just a baby, the aunt begins making button blankets for her. These are pieces of cloth with all kinds and colors of buttons sewn on them to form people, animals, the night sky filled with angels, stars, etc. The blankets are delightful.
Shelf location: E JON
The invisible leash
Patrice Karst. 2019.
Emily tries to comfort her best friend, Zack, whose dog Jojo recently died, by telling him about the “Invisible Leash” that connects each owner to his or her deceased pet. “When our pets aren’t with us anymore, an invisible leash connects our hearts to each other. Forever.”
Shelf location: E KAR
The invisible string
Patrice Karst. 2018.
A mother tells her two children that they’re all connected by an invisible string made of love, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love. Does everybody have an Invisible String? How far does it reach? Does it ever go away? The Invisible String offers a very simple approach to overcoming loneliness, separation, or loss with an imaginative twist that children easily understand and embrace.
Shelf location: E KAR
Onion Tears
Diana Kidd. 1993. [Early chapter book]
A Vietnamese girl tries to come to terms with her grief over the loss of her birth family and her new life with an Australian family.
Shelf location: E KID
Remember the secret
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. 1987.
Because she has already discovered the wonders of God, Suzy understands the true meaning of her friend’s death.
Shelf location: E KUB
Remembering special days: activities for children
Jennifer Levine. 1992.
A simple workbook designed to create support for bereaved children. It focuses on the importance of remembering and living with changes and offers creative suggestions about
things to do on holidays and other special days.
Shelf location: E LEV
Ida, Always
Caron Levis. 2016.
A beautiful, honest portrait of loss and deep friendship told through the story of two polars bears, Gus and Ida, living in a New York city zoo. One sad day Gus learns that Ida is very sick, and she isn’t going to get better. The friends help each other face the difficult news and slowly Gus realizes that even after Ida is gone she will still be with him—through the sounds of their city, and the memories that live in their favourite spots. A gentle, moving reminder that loved ones lost will stay in our hearts, always.
Shelf location: E LEV
Lucy Lettuce, a head of her time: a new look at grief
Patrick Loring. 1994
The story lends itself to a visual demonstration of grief through the journey of a head of lettuce. People enjoy the action of Lucy and inevitably become involved in the puns that generate themselves naturally around the story.
Shelf location: E LOR
On the wings of a butterfly: a story about life and death
Marilyn Maple. 1992.
This is the story of Lisa, a child dying of cancer, who finds comfort and support in her friendship with a caterpillar preparing for transformation into a Monarch butterfly. The story provides a start in the delicate task of talking with children about death and dying.
Shelf location: E MAP
Sun song
Jean Marzollo. 1995.
Animals and plants respond to the sun’s changing light over the course of a single day.
Shelf location: E MAR
Lifetimes: the beautiful way to explain death to children
Byran Mellonie and Robert Ingpen. 1983
For all ages. It explains life and death in a sensitive, caring, beautiful way and shows the reader that dying is as much a part of living as being born.
Shelf location: E MEL
Morning light: an educational storybook for children and their caregivers about HIV/AIDS and saying goodbye
Margaret Merrifield. 1995.
This sensitive story will doubtless serve a useful purpose, but it is bibliotherapy, not
recreational reading. Morning Light is strong medicine with specific aims. This said, Morning
Light is good bibliotherapy, with five pages of suggestions at the end of the story to help children deal with HIV, AIDS, and grieving.
Shelf location: E MER
Aarvy Aardvark finds hope: a read-aloud story for all ages about loving and losing, friendship and hope
Donna O’Toole. 1988.
With the help of his friend, Ralphy, Aarvy comes to terms with the loss of his mother and brother. This book is a great story of two friends – perfect for kids and adults both. It serves as a reminder that the most important thing we can give someone is our time and presence, especially during times of grief.
Shelf location: E OTO
Teaching guide to Aarvy Aardvark finds hope: E OTO
Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson. 1977. [Chapter book]
The life of a ten-year-old boy in rural Virginia expands when he becomes friends with a newcomer who subsequently meets an untimely death trying to reach their hideaway, Terabithia,
during a storm. Newberry Award winner.
Shelf location: E PAT
Chester Raccoon and the acorn full of memories
Audrey Penn. 2009.
After his mother explains why his classmate is never returning to school, she teaches Chester Raccoon how to make a memory. This sweet story will help children to understand the positive purpose behind memorial services and how “making memories” can provide cheer and comfort when missing an absent loved one.
Shelf location: E PEN
Geranium morning
Sandy Powell. 1990.
Two friends who lose parents, one suddenly in an accident and one by illness, learn to deal with their grief.
Shelf location: E POW
Saying goodbye
John K. Saynor. 1990.
Telling a child about the death of a parent, brother or sister, grandparent or young friend is one of the most difficult tasks adults are called on to perform. The author, a funeral director, suggests involving children at a very young age in the funeral process as a helpful experience for them.
Shelf location: E SAY
Tear soup: a recipe for healing after loss
Pat Schwiebert and Chuck DeKlyen. 1999.
For all ages. Examines the process of grief through a story of Grandy and Pops as they face a great loss by making tear soup. The story is specifically about grieving the loss of a loved one, but could also be divorce, loss of a pet, loss of a job, loss of a dream.
Shelf location: E SCH
The saddest time
Norma Simon. 1986.
In three separate stories – an uncle with a terminal illness, a classmate killed in an accident, and a grandparent –the author focuses on the emotions children experience when someone close to them is dying or has died and provides ways to lessen their pain.
Shelf location: E SIM
The golden bird
Hans Stolp. 1990. [Early chapter book]
Engaged in a losing battle with cancer, eleven-year-old Daniel is comforted by many people but finds his greatest solace in the vision of a phoenix-like golden bird and its vision of promise and renewal. It provides a reassuring and realistic approach to discussing death and dying with children.
Shelf location: E STO
Bug in a vacuum
Melanie Watt. 2015
A bug flies through an open door into a house, through a bathroom, across a kitchen and bedroom and into a living room … where its entire life changes with the switch of a button. Sucked into the void of a vacuum bag, this one little bug moves through denial, bargaining, anger, despair and eventually acceptance — the five stages of grief — as it comes to terms with its fate. Will there be a light at the end of the tunnel? Will there be dust bunnies in the void? A funny, suspenseful and poignant look at the travails of a bug trapped in a vacuum.
Shelf location: E WAT
Maurice Maeterlinck’s Bluebird
White deer of autumn. 1992.
A Native American grandmother explains the meaning of death, or the Great Change, to her questioning granddaughter.
Shelf location: E WHI
Maurice Maeterlinck’s Bluebird
Brian Wildsmith. 1976.
Illustrated tale of a little girl whose illness can only be cured by a magical blue bird. To find the bird, Mytyl and Tyltyl must journey through the Land of Memory to the Palace of Night.” The magic and enchantment of Maeterlinck’s famous play have been adapted by Brian Wildsmith.
Shelf location: E WIL
The velveteen rabbit
Margery Williams 1921. [Early chapter book]
By the time the velveteen rabbit is dirty, worn out, and about to be burned, he has almost given up hope of ever finding the magic called Real.
Shelf location: E WIL