When Someone You Love Dies: An Explanation of Death for Children

Written as a resource for children, the text includes an introduction for parents/guardians, but the body of the book is written for children to read themselves. Or, an adult or older sibling can read the book to a younger child.

Pastors will find it helpful to keep a quantity on hand to give to people during grief experiences and in grief counseling.

Did you know. . .
Grief is the normal response of sorrow, emotion, and confusion that comes from losing someone important to you. The word "grief" comes from the same root as "grave."

Although many times focused only on emotional responses to loss, grief also has physical, cognitive, behavioral, social, and philosophical dimensions. Grief responses are influenced by personality, family, culture, and spiritual and religious beliefs and practices.

While many who grieve may be able to work through their grief independently, accepting additional support from counseling and support groups may promote the process of healing.

The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us "For everything there is a season...
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance..."

Robert V. Dodd is a United Methodist minister and the author of seventeen books and booklets, as well as a variety of devotional and Bible study materials. He is a member of the Western North Carolina Conference and a graduate of High Point University and Duke Divinity School. A prolific writer, his writing has been featured in Daily Bible Study, Adult Bible Studies, Mature Years and Circuit Rider magazines. He is the author of When Someone You Love Dies: An Explanation of Death for Children, published by Abingdon Press. He also wrote The Sanctuary for Lent 2012.