Rainbow Bridge Picture Books
If you didn’t know what the Rainbow Bridge was, you aren’t alone. I had to look it up myself! As someone who has an eighteen-year-old cat, I was so heart warmed by what I read.
The Rainbow Bridge refers to the place that pets go when they pass away. It’s a place where our pets can be happy, sickness doesn’t exist, and there is plenty of food, water, and sunshine. It’s full of sassy, pretty cats, and goofy, fluffy dogs. It’s the very best that our special friends deserve!
I hope that no one has to refer to this list soon, but when my sweet Mousie boy inevitably passes I will definitely be referring to these books. As a grown person! It’s hard to deal with grief, but these sweet picture books can be used to approach it in a gentle and loving way.
How do you say goodbye to a beloved pet?
Is it quiet? Is it lonely? Is it sad?
Or can it be wonderful?
Family dog Bailey has been sleeping more and eating less. And her human best friend knows the time has come to say goodbye. So together they sit under their favorite blanket, go on their favorite walk, and visit their favorite spot, choosing joy over sadness. Although Bailey will be gone soon, she will never be forgotten.
Atticus wakes at his usual time, ready to feed Chip. But when he reaches the fishbowl, Chip is gone. When Atticus asks his loved ones where Chip is, he gets a range of answers in the form of gentle but evasive ways of explaining the concept of death: Chip is in a better place; Chip has moved on. These ideas are confusing for Atticus.
“When our pets aren’t with us anymore, an Invisible Leash connects our hearts to each other. Forever.” That’s what Zack’s friend Emily tells him after his dog dies. Zack doesn’t believe it. He only believes in what he can see. But on an enlightening journey through their neighborhood—and through his grief—he comes to feel the comforting tug of the Invisible Leash. And it feels like love.
It’s hard to say goodbye to someone.
You might not know what to feel.
But you’ll remember that there will always be someone to love you and hold you tight.
Through the lens of a pet fish who has lost its companion, The Goodbye Book tells a touching and hopeful story about saying goodbye to someone you love. Addressing the host of emotions children experience, Todd reminds readers that it’s okay not to know all the answers, and that someone will always be there to support them. An invaluable resource for life’s toughest moments.
This book covers heavy topics in a more approachable way. According to Publisher’s Weekly, the Browns (of the Arthur series) “provide a commendable service for grieving children and adults in their lives.” This book is direct, but it addresses kids’ hardest-hitting questions, fears, and curiosities in a respectful way!
Straightforward and comprehensive, this indispensable book is a comforting aid to help young kids and families through a difficult time in their lives. No one can really understand death, but to children, the passing away of a loved one can be especially perplexing and troublesome. This is true whether the loss is a family member, friend, or pet. Here to offer advice and reassurance are the wise dinosaurs from the bestselling Dino Tale series. This succinct and thorough guide helps dispel the mystery and negative connotations associated with death, providing answers to kids’ most-often asked questions. 
A young girl and her lovable dog, Lulu, are the best of friends. They play games together, explore their neighborhood, and even cuddle up to read bedtime stories each night. Lulu is the best dog a girl could ever hope for, but when she grows older and gradually becomes weak, the little girl must face the sad possibility of losing her dear friend, and inevitably, cope with the death of her canine companion. Though she is deeply saddened by Lulu’s passing and misses her very much, over time the little girl discovers that the sweet memory of her beloved Lulu will live on forever… in her heart.
