When Someone Dies: A Children’s Mindful How-To Guide on Grief and Loss

Book Synopsis: “Andrea Dorn’s When Someone Dies helps kids explore and understand their feelings about loss in a concrete, easy-to-follow way. This is a wonderful new resource on grief for professionals, kids, and families.”—David Kessler, author of Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief and founder of Grief.com

“When Someone Dies is the best book I’ve ever read addressing death through a child’s eyes. Practical yet compassionate, this book offers hope and the tools to build a foundational understanding of the loss we will all experience throughout our lifetimes.”―Claire Bidwell Smith, LCPC, author of Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief

Navigating the grief and bereavement process can be a challenging and unpredictable experience, especially for children. Whether it’s the loss of a family member, friend, pet, or other loved one, children often don’t know how to cope with the complicated and complex emotions that accompany death.

Written and illustrated by a therapist (and mother), Andrea Dorn, MSW, When Someone Dies walks children through the bereavement process in a simple, concrete, and developmentally appropriate way. Through the lens of mindfulness, children will learn how to say goodbye, make space for any emotions that arise, and work through their grief.

Written for parents, teachers, and therapists alike, this straightforward yet powerful book includes:

• Optional engagement questions to build connection and personalize the reading experience
• Short mindfulness and self-compassion meditations
• A developmental guide to children’s understanding of death