Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles

Illustrated by Peter Parnall. 48 p., Little, Brown, 1971.

Annie, who is about 10 years old, tries to keep her beloved grandmother's death from happening. Because the Old One has said that she will die when Annie's mother has finished weaving her rug, Annie does disruptive things intended to keep her mother from weaving. Finally, with help from her grandmother herself, Annie realizes that we are all part of the earth, and accepts her grandmother's impending death. A limitation of this story is that it uses phrases such as "go to Mother Earth" to represent death. However, this story can help children hold simultaneously their sadness in losing someone they love, and their wonder in the interconnection of all things.

Ages: 8-12
Cultural Context: Native American

Home Now by Lesley Beake

Illustrated by Karin Littlewood. 28 pages. Charlesbridge, 2007.

As this story begins, Sieta is living in a new home, her "Home Now," with her Aunty. She has been traumatized by her parents' deaths (explained in an afterword as due to AIDS). Emotionally disconnected from the friendly world of Home Now, Sieta lives in her memories - both the happy memories of her parents alive and healthy, and the sad, painful memories of their illness and death. This begins to change when her school visits a park where orphaned elephants are cared for. Sieta realizes that she and the smallest elephant, Satara, have in common being orphaned and being Home Now. Meeting Satara is an emotionally meaningful experience, with the result that Sieta finds herself thinking about him along with her memories of her old home. Now she can allow herself to notice that although her new community isn't perfect, it's alive and good. With this realization, she begins to feel a sense of connection with her Aunty and with another child. This story offers compassion and hope to children who have been traumatized by death.

Ages: 4-8
Cultural Context: African

Bud and Gabby by Anne Davis

32 p., HarperCollins, 2006.

Bud and Gabby, two cats, are best friends, even if Bud is, by his own admission, "the bossy one." They do everything together, both cat things and people things, and Bud genuinely appreciates Gabby. When Gabby gets sick and Bud can't even make her laugh, she has to stay at the hospital. Bud misses her terribly, remembering all her admirable qualities and moping as only a cat can. (He grooms so much that he gets a big hairball). When Gabby comes home healthy, Bud is so happy that he decides not to be so bossy any more. This charming story empathizes with how hard it is to miss a friend who is sick and offers hope, all the while using humor to help readers cheer up.

Ages: 3-7
Cultural Context: non-human

Sophie's Window by Holly Keller

32 p., Greenwillow, 2005.

Here's a story that both makes room for being little and celebrates being big when you're ready. Caruso, a little pigeon, doesn't feel ready to fly, but one night, a gust of wind carries him off the roof where he lives and onto another building's windowsill. Inside the window is Sophie, a dog. Sophie become's Caruso's friend and takes him home on her back. Although Caruso is relieved to be home, he misses Sophie. One day, he's ready to fly, and he goes straight to Sophie's house. They reunite joyfully, and look forward to seeing each other often. Illustrated with charming watercolors, this story allows children permission to be as little as they need to be, while showing how being big opens the door to the joys of friendship.

Ages: 3-7
Cultural Context: multicultural