All the Pieces When a Loved One Dies From Substance Use

A compassionate picture book that gives children honest, age-appropriate answers about the loss of a loved one due to drug overdose

When a loved one dies from a drug overdose, the adults around a child often struggle with what to say. The stigma surrounding this kind of loss can lead to silence, half-truths, or explanations that leave children confused, ashamed, or blaming themselves. All the Pieces breaks through that silence with gentle, honest language that gives kids the truth they need and the comfort they deserve.

This book helps children understand that addiction is a disease, that their loved one's death was not their fault, and that it is okay to feel sad, angry, confused, or all of these things at once. It also reassures young readers that remembering and loving the person they lost is not only okay but important. Written for shared reading with a parent, caregiver, or therapist, this is a book that opens the door to the hardest conversation many families will ever face and walks them through it with honesty, care, and compassion.

Key features:

• breaks the silence around overdose loss: gives children truthful, age-appropriate language to understand what happened without shame or stigma
• addresses the guilt children carry: directly reassures kids that their loved one's death was not their fault and that addiction is a disease, not a choice they could have prevented
• validates big, complicated feelings: normalizes grief responses like anger, confusion, sadness, and even relief, helping children understand that all of their feelings are okay
• gives permission to remember: encourages children to hold onto happy memories and continue loving the person they lost without guilt or secrecy
• an essential tool for parents, counselors, and therapists: ideal for families navigating overdose loss, grief counseling sessions, support groups, and school-based bereavement programs
• trusted publisher: from Magination Press®, the children’s imprint of the American Psychological Association, dedicated to emotional well-being and healthy development

Hallie Riggs, MSW, LICSW is a licensed clinical social worker. She lives in Rhode Island.

Adriana Predoi grew up in Romania. After earning a B.A. in Fine Art, she started working as a freelance illustrator. Adriana's style is whimsical with a touch of magic.