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Stories About Losing A Pet
compiled by Linda Williams
(download this list with bibliographic information and review citations)

A Funeral for Whiskers : Understanding Death by Lawrence Balter. Barrons, 1991.
Sandy is very sad and upset when her cat Whiskers dies, but her parents help her understand and accept the loss.
Angel Cat by Michael Garland. Boyds Mills, 1998. Age 5+
This is a book for any child who has ever loved an animal--a book for those who will always remember the pet that brought them joy.
Mustard by Charlotte Towner Graeber. Macmillan, 1982.
Eight-year-old Alex and his family try to come to terms with the old age and death of their beloved cat.
The Bug Cemetery by Frances Hill. Henry Holt, 2002. Age 4+
Neighborhood children imaginatively stage funerals for dead bugs, but they experience real sadness following the death of a pet.
Six is So Much Less Than Seven by Ronald Himler. Star Bright, 2002. Age 4+
After the death of one of his seven cats, an old man finds how much he misses his cat as he goes about the activities of each day.
The Best Cat in the World by Leslea Newman. Eerdmans, 2004. Age 3+
A young boy deals with the loss of his beloved cat Charlie, eventually accepting the arrival of another, very different cat.
Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant. Scholastic, 1997. Ages 4+
God created Cat Heaven, with fields of sweet grass where cats can play, kitty-toys for them to enjoy, and angels to rub their noses and ears.
Desser the Best Ever Cat by Maggie Smith. Knopf, 2001. Age 5+
A child describes how Dexter the cat had always been part of the family and how much he was loved even after he died.
Bimmi Finds a Cat by Elisabeth Jane Stewart. Clarion, 1996. Grade 3+
An eight-year-old Creole boy on Galveston Island grieves the death of his cat Crabmeat, but when another lost cat leads him to a new friend he starts to heal.
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst. Atheneum, 1971.
In an attempt to overcome his grief, a boy tries to think of the ten best things about his dead cat.
Goodbye, Mitch by Ruth Wallace-Brodeur. Albert Whitman, 1995. Age 4+
A young boy describes how he feels when the family cat dies.

Return of Rex and Ethel by Arnold Adoff. Harcourt, 2000. Age 5+
Two girls who share many wonderful times with their beloved dogs, Rex and Ethel, find a special way to remember them when they die.
The Day Scooter Died : A Book About the Death of a Pet by Kathleen Long Bostrom. Zonderkidz, 2005. Age 4+
Mikey feels responsible for his dog Scooter's accidental death, but his parents remind him that the dog loved him best of all and they can still love each other, although Scooter is now with God.
The Accident by Carol Carrick. Houghton Mifflin, 1976. Age 5+
After his dog is hit by a truck and killed, Christopher must deal with his own feelings of depression and guilt.
Up in Heaven by Emma Chichester Clark. Doubleday, 2004. Age 2+
When Arthur’s dog, Daisy, goes to live in heaven, she is sad because she knows Arthur misses her so much. Then she thinks of a way to show him she’s thinking of him, and that lets him know she’s safe in heaven.
The Forever Dog by Bill Cochran. HarperCollins, 2007. Age 4+
Mike and his dog Corky plan to be best friends forever, so when Corky becomes sick and dies, Mike is angry about the broken promise.
Jim's Dog Muffins by Miriam Cohen. Greenwillow, 1984. Age 5+
When Jim's dog is killed, the other first graders experience with him his natural reactions to death.
Saying Goodbye to Lulu by Corinne Demas. Little Brown, 2004. Age 3+
When her dog Lulu dies, a girl grieves but then continues with her life.
A Dog Like Jack by DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan. Holiday House, 1999. Age 4+
After a long life of chasing squirrels, licking ice cream cones, and loving his adoptive family, an old dog comes to the end of his days.
Murphy and Kate by Ellen Howard. Simon & Schuster, 1995. Age 5+
Kate and her dog Murphy are best friends, and when Murphy dies Kate does not think she can ever be happy again.
The Black Dog Who Went Into the Woods by Edith Thacher Hurd. Harper, 1980.
The various members of a family react to the death of their dog.
Better With Two by Barbara M. Joosse. Harper & Row, 1988. Age 4+
Laura tries to make Mrs. Brady feel better when her dog Max dies.
Goodbye, Max by Holly Keller. Greenwillow, 1987. Age 4+
Ben blames his parents for the death of his dog, Max, and does not want the new puppy they brought home.
Ada's Pal by George Ella Lyon. Orchard, 1996. Age 4+
A small dog suffers from a broken heart when her dog companion dies until a veterinarian advises the family that there is only one thing to do.
Jasper’s Day by Marjorie Blain Parker. Kids Can Press, 2002. Age 5+
This debut picture book deals with a subject fearful to every child's heart--a beloved pet who is dying. This celebration of a dog's last day speaks of acceptance, remembrance, and the importance of cherishing life's every moment. (BWI)
Toby by Margaret Wild. Ticknor & Fields, 1994. Age 5+
When Toby the dog gets old and sick and finally dies, the children who love him express their love in different ways. (BWI)
I'll Always Love You by Hans Wilhelm. Crown, 1985. Age 4+
A child's sadness at the death of a beloved dog is tempered by the remembrance of saying to it every nignt, "I'll always love you."
The Old Dog by Charlotte Zolotow. HarperCollins, 1995. Age 3+
When a young boy finds his old dog dead one morning, he spends the rest of the day thinking about all the good times they had together.

Goodbye Mousie by Robie Harris. Margaret McElderry, 2001. Age 4+
A boy grieves for his dead pet Mousie, helps to bury him, and begins to come to terms with his loss.

Helen the Fish by Virginia L. Kroll. Albert Whitman, 1992. Age 3+
When six-year-old Hannah's beloved goldfish dies after a relatively long life, she seeks comfort from her older brother Seth.

Good-bye, Vivi! by Antonie Schneider. North-South, 1998. Age 4+
When Granny's beloved canary Vivi dies, the family comes to accept it, as well as the idea that some day they will lose Granny as well.

Petey by Tobi Tobias. Putnam, 1978.
Emily has enjoyed her pet gerbil for five years, but one day after school she finds Petey huddled up in a corner of his cage.

No Dogs Allowed! by Bill Wallace. Holiday House, 2004. Age 8+
Twelve-year-old Kristina, still struggling to come to terms with the death of her beloved horse, finds it difficult to accept the new dog she receives for her birthday.