Grief Support

How do you find good books on pet loss? It used to be harder, that's for sure; now, thanks to social media and the rapid growth of user-review websites, you can find dozens of recommended books on pet loss grief. Here we offer you, in addition to our recommended reading list compiled by members of our staff; a list of book review websites where you can view the suggestions of thousands of other readers.

Our Recommended Reading Lists

As we don't want to overwhelm you with long lists, we've kept ours short; including only six books in each of two categories: books on pet loss grief for adults, and books for children. But, we're not limiting you to only six books; the section following this one details how you can use book review sites to easily search online for other valuable titles.

• Pet Loss: A Thoughtful Guide for Adults and Children, Herbert A Nieburg and Arlene Fischer, Harper & Row, 1982
• When Your Pet Dies: How to Cope with Your Feelings, James E. Quackenbush and D. Graveline, Simon and Shuster, 1985
• Grieving the Death of a Pet, Dr. Betty Carmack, R.N., Ed.D., Augsburg Publishers, 2003
• Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet, D. Kowalski, Stillpoint Publishing, 1997
• Coping With Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet, Moira Anderson, M.Ed., Alpine Blue Ribbon Books, 1996
• The Loss of a Pet: A Guide to Coping with the Grieving Process When a Pet Dies, Fourth Edition Wallace Sife, Howell Book House, 2014

• The Tenth Good Thing about Barney, Judith Viorst, Aladdin Books, 1975
• Talking With Children about Death and Dying: A Workbook, M. Turner, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 1998
• A Snowflake in My Hand, Samantha Mooney, Delacorte, 1995
• When A Pet Dies, Fred Rogers, Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1988
• Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children, Bantam, 2009
• Dog Heaven, Cynthia Rylant, Blue Sky Press, 1995

Tamar Zmora, in her 2012 Boston post, "7 Book Recommendation Websites to Find Your Next Good Read", writes "It may be in your best interest to take a bold leap of faith and browse the cyber world's book recommendation websites. Using them is far easier than stepping foot in a bookstore as a salesperson hovers near to press purchase and much less uncomfortable than browsing a professor's bookshelf during office hours." Here are her recommendations:

Of course, Amazon's search engine and social review features also make it really easy to find recommended books on pet loss and pet loss grief for any age group. You really don't need to judge a book by its cover anymore; Amazon's customer reviews are much more insightful.

If you're searching for the perfect book on pet loss (whether for an adult or a child), we can certainly assist you. Our staff can offer you additional recommended books based on their personal reading lists and can share any updates to our in-house recommended reading list. Start the conversation by calling us at (956) 720-4414.