Can you recommend any books?

Reading is a great way to escape and get lost in a new world, but it’s also really useful for making sense of real life.

Below we’ve rounded up some books that talk about death, coping with grief or books that address emotions associated with bereavement. . Of course, there is not one book suitable for all situations but here are a mixture of suggestions for different ages,

First up, something great for all ages, we’ve got “The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse”. This book by Charlie Mackesy gives us a window to all the emotions we can have when we are struggling with something in life.

With the help of these four unlikely friends, we are shown some of our most difficult feelings in a positive new light. Each character shows us the different parts of a person feeling these emotions. There’s the curious boy, the excited but a bit greedy mole, the shy fox who has been hurt and the clever horse who acts as the deepest part of us. The book quickly became a best-seller and has sold hundreds of thousands of copies. It is made for people aged 12 and up, but we think it’s great for all ages!

Best Bits: “‘What is the bravest thing that you’ve ever said?’ asked the boy. ‘Help’ said the horse."

The next two are aimed at young people and adults.

Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Surviving by Julia Samuel. This book shows us the ways grief can change us, helping us understand who we truly are. It gives some eye opening insights into stories of people, and a specific chapter on sibling grief.

We Get It: Voices of Grieving College Students and Young People by Heather Servaty-Seib and David Fajgenbaum. This book is designed specifically for young people and students dealing with death. It follows the stories of 33 bereaved students and young adults.

This book is suited for people aged between 4-8 years old.

Some people really like “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst. The story goes that a brother and sister are woken up by a storm and want their mum to stay in the room so that they don’t feel alone. But their mum teaches them about the invisible string, which connects friends and family with love no matter how far away they are. People really like this book, because it’s a great way to learn how we are connected to those we love most, even when they're not with us.

Best Bits: “Isn’t it just so pretty to think, all along there was some invisible string tying you to me?”

So far we’ve made five free booklets, which help young people of all ages understand the death of their sibling.

Some are for people whose brother has died and others are for people whose sister has died.

We also have a booklet that explains grief and the grieving process.

All of our booklets are easy to read, ready to personalise and designed for young people.

They also have spaces where you can draw things to help you understand your emotions and remember your sibling.

Head to our resources section to order the booklets.

Do you have any book recommendations for other bereaved siblings?

Perhaps a particular book has helped you, your child or a young person you work with. Let us know here.