Best Children’s Books About Losing a Pet (2026)

When a family pet dies, the best children’s books about losing a pet give a grieving child words and pictures for a hard feeling. We compared four picture books by listed reading age, grade level, page count and what each description says, to help a parent or grandparent choose the right one for the child in front of them.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Heaven of Animals by Tillman	9.7/10	Buy
2	Friend Forever by Vadali	9.7/10	Buy
3	Dogs In Heaven by Salas	9.6/10	Buy
4	My Pet Memory Book by Wallace	9.5/10	Buy

1

Heaven of Animals by Tillman

Nancy Tillman·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A gentle, illustrated picture book that imagines a heaven where every animal is loved and comforted, suited to a young child grieving any kind of pet; skip it if your reader wants a story about one specific dog.

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Pros

• Reading age of 2 to 10 years and grade level Preschool and up cover a broad span of young readers
• Illustrated edition from a children's book publisher, suited to reading aloud together
• Fits any kind of pet, not just dogs or cats, since the description names dogs, cats and horses

Cons

• Published September 2, 2014, the oldest of these picks
• The description names pet loss and grief, which a parent will want to preview first
• Reading age is marked as from customers, not as a publisher statement

2

Friend Forever by Vadali

Amulya Veldanda Vadali·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rhyming rainbow-bridge message with a dedication page and celebration ideas, for a child who wants something comforting to personalize; skip it if the reader prefers a story with characters rather than a message book.

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Pros

• Dedication page and inspiration page let the child name their pet and celebrate its life
• The description says it includes several types of pets beyond the most common
• Published July 18, 2024, the newest of these picks

Cons

• Reading age of 5+ is marked as from customers
• The description deals with the death of a pet, which a parent will want to preview first
• No grade level is stated on the listing

3

Dogs In Heaven by Salas

Melanie Salas·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A rhyming picture book that pictures a dog happy in heaven, for a young child grieving a dog; skip it if the pet lost was not a dog, since every page is about dogs.

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Pros

• Rhymes and hopeful imagery suit a very young child, with a listed reading age of 2 to 12 years
• Gives families a concrete way to talk about the loss, with prompts to remember shared moments
• Published April 29, 2021, the second newest of these picks

Cons

• About dogs only, so it does not suit a child grieving a cat or another pet
• The description deals with pet death and heaven, which a parent will want to preview first
• No grade level is stated on the listing

4

My Pet Memory Book by Wallace

S Wallace·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 49 page fill-in keepsake book with 22 prompted pages for memories and photos, for a child who grieves by writing and drawing; skip it if the reader wants a story to read rather than a book to complete.

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Pros

• 22 prompted pages with a blank page behind each one, so drawings will not bleed through
• Prompts like The Silliest Things My Pet Did focus on happy memories, and the author works in education
• The child sets the pace and can fill in as much or as little as they like

Cons

• No reading age or grade level is stated on the listing
• It is a book to fill in, not a storybook, so it suits a different mood
• The description deals with the death of a pet, which a parent will want to preview first

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More picks to compare

• My Forever Friend by WillowFor ages 3 to 8, a rhyming story about grief and an unbreakable bond.Check on Amazon
• Pet Heaven by EloiseFor ages 4 to 10, a Rainbow Bridge story with bonus keepsake pages.Check on Amazon
• Angel Pet by LEANFor ages 3 to 8, a gentle rhyming poem with a memory keepsake page.Check on Amazon
• Charlie Says Goodbye by EspaillatFor ages 3 to 8, a dog's-grief story by a behavior analyst and teacher.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the grieving reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. Three of the four picks list a reading age, two of them marked as from customers, and one listing also gives a grade level of Preschool and up. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books about losing a pet

Match the book to the reader’s age

The reading age on a listing is the fastest filter. The Heaven of Animals lists a reading age of 2 to 10 years and a grade level of Preschool and up, so it covers a broad span of young readers, while I’ll Be Your Friend Forever lists a reading age of 5+ years. For more options by shelf, browse the picture books lists.

Pick a story or an activity

My Pet Memory Book is a fill-in keepsake with 22 prompted pages rather than a story, so it suits a child who processes feelings by writing and drawing. The other three picks are picture books to read aloud together. More comfort reads are listed among the books about mental health.

Check which pet the book is about

Dogs In Heaven is about dogs only, so it will not help a child grieving a cat, while The Heaven of Animals names dogs, cats and horses. Match the animal in the book to the animal the child lost before you buy.

Before you buy

• Confirm the reading age on the listing, and read it together with any grade level: two of these listings mark the reading age as from customers.
• Decide between a story to read aloud and an activity book to fill in, since My Pet Memory Book is not a story.
• Preview each book’s description for how it talks about death and heaven before sharing it with a sensitive child.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age are these books for?

The listings give reading ages from 2 to 12 years: The Heaven of Animals lists 2 to 10 years, Dogs In Heaven lists 2 to 12 years, and I’ll Be Your Friend Forever lists 5+ years, while My Pet Memory Book states no reading age.

Which book suits a child who lost a cat?

The Heaven of Animals names dogs, cats and horses, so it suits any kind of pet. Dogs In Heaven is about dogs only.

Is there a book my child can write in?

My Pet Memory Book is a 49 page fill-in keepsake with 22 prompted pages for memories and photos. The listing says the child can fill in as much or as little as they like, at their own pace.

Still deciding? Our top pickHeaven of Animals by Tillman

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Related lists

See every picture books list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: see books for loss of pet, books about mental health and books about moving.