Available from the Bookshop

If you buy from the Bookshop at St Christopher’s, you are donating to our work.

Alexander J
Bullies, bigmouths and so-called friends
Hodder Children''s Books, 2003
£4.99

Children''s book with advice on how to deal with bullying.  From the blurb "An important book for young people who want to become bully-proof".
 

Candle Someone close to you has died St Christopher''s Hospice, 2001 £2.00

A short 12 page booklet which describes many feelings experienced by teenagers - it covers issues such as not being understood, wondering if normality can ever be possible again, changes, and unfinished business. It ends with some dos and don''ts to help through the grieving process. Black and white photographs illustrate the text.  
 

Candle Someone has died suddenly St Christopher’s Hospice, 1999 £2.00

This booklet guides children (age range 8-14) through the aftermath of an unexpected death, and includes information on procedures such as inquests and funerals. It explains the emotions which children are likely to experience and is reassuring about the guilt some children may feel at showing few visible signs of grief. Throughout there is practical advice about how to cope, with an emphasis on the benefits of sharing feelings and worries with a trusted adult. It is illustrated with black and white photographs.   
 
Couldrick A
When your Mum or Dad has cancer
Sobell Publications, 1991
£3.00

A book for children to read on their own or to read with an adult.  Simple line drawings and text explore the feelings of a young child when a parent has cancer.  It also provides a brief description of cancer and broaches the subject of dying and death.  Like many books for children in this situation, the book enables various aspects of these subjects to be discussed between parent and child.

Gleitzman M
Two weeks with the Queen
Puffin 1989
£4.99

This is a well-told story about a young boy who is sent to England as his brother is dying from cancer in Australia. It can be read as a ''good read'', but also provides insight into illness and attitudes to death within a family. Age group c.7-14 year olds.  
 

Grollman E Straight talk about death for teenagers. Beacon Press 1993 £11.99

It is not always easy to hit the right note for teenagers. This book has short, pithy sentences explaining likely powerful feelings in grieving the death of someone close - the most important message it conveys is that the tremendous mixture of feelings is normal and that there are positive ways of dealing with them. It will be useful to many people - not just teenagers.

 

Heegaard E When someone very special dies. Children can learn to cope with grief Woodland Press, 1991 £8.99

Published in the United States, this is one of a series of workbooks on illness and loss issues. It is designed so that children (aged c. 6–12) can provide answers to important questions or comments in the text. The first 4 pages have drawings but the rest of the book has just enough text to start a child thinking about a subject, for example: ‘Sometimes I get angry because----‘ or ‘I remember being told about the death----‘ However, most of the space is left free for drawing or further text on the theme of that page. It can be useful for parents, relatives or counsellors to help children to articulate their feelings. 32 pages.   
 
Laird E
Red sky in the morning
Macmillan, 1988
£4.99

This is a well-written story about a girl whose baby brother has spina bifida and dies months later. It contains much humour but it also illustrates the emotional difficulties that children can face when they have a sibling with a physical disability. Age group 7–14 year olds. 

Mood P, Whittaker L Finding a way through when someone close has died. A workbook by young people for young people Jessica Kingsley, 2001 £7.95

The subtitle of this book, ‘A workbook by young people for young people’, is the key aspect of this interactive book that can be helpful for children between 5-15 years old. Young people and teenagers offer advice, based on their own experiences, on how to cope with the practical and emotional upheaval of bereavement. It also provides adults with an understanding of issues, which are important to young people at the time of bereavement.   
 
Onyefulu I
Saying goodbye: a special farewell to Mama Nkwelle
Frances Lincoln Children''s Books, 2004
£5.99

In this child''s eye view, a little boy describes what happens at the ceremonial goodbye given to his great grandmother before and after her burial.  The text and photographs treat the death of a much-loved relation in a thoughtful and sensitive way.  The author dedicates the book to her own grandmother who was from eastern Nigeria.

Rosen M Blake Q
Michael Rosen’s sad book
Walker Books, 2004.
£10.99

What makes Michael Rosen most sad is thinking about his son, Eddie, who died. In this book he writes about his sadness, how it affects him and some of the things he does to try to cope with it. This book has been described as a sophisticated picture book for children but it is a text that all ages can relate to. This is a very honest, open and moving account of coping with bereavement. It is beautifully illustrated and would be appreciated by young people over the age of 10 and adults experiencing bereavement.


Smith Walter
Grandad''s ashes.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2007
£8.99

This provides humour to the serious business of disposing of the ashes of a very dear husband and grandfather.  It will help young children to understand more clearly what is involved in a funeral and, in addition, how to respect the wishes of the dead.

St Christopher’s Hospice
My book about
St Christopher’s Hospice, Dept. of Social Work 1989
£2.50

This is a workbook for children. It is designed so that they can write and draw information about themselves and about any person close to them who is very ill. This enables them to express their feelings on paper. It can then also be the catalyst for discussing relevant issues regarding the situation. It could be used in any situation where someone is seriously ill. 
 

St Christopher’s Hospice Someone special has died St Christopher’s Hospice, Dept of Social Work 1989 £2.00

This has been a bestseller at St Christopher’s. It is for children up to age 11, although adults have also found it useful. Apart from describing emotions likely to occur after bereavement, it has a brief description of what happens to a body after death. 
 
Stickney D
Waterbugs and dragonflies: explaining death to children
Cassell, 1997
£2.30

The belief in life beyond death is simply and effectively explained in this mini-book. It helps young children to understand death and, quite as importantly, to ask questions about it. It is written from a Christian viewpoint.  
 

Varley S Badger’s parting gifts Picture Lions, 1985 £5.99

This is a picture book about an elderly badger – everyone is sad when he dies but each of his animal friends remembers how he helped them. The story can be used to help children face the reality of death and it can be used with bereaved children. It is usually regarded as useful and comforting, and will enable the child to ask questions about death. 
 

CD-ROM A death in the lives of… Childhood Bereavement Network, 2002 £12.50

Young people discuss the support they needed to help them cope with bereavement. This depicts a group of young people involved in the Candle Project at St Christopher’s.

For further information and details please contact the Librarian, St Christopher''s Hospice

 click here to return to The Bookshop - Comprehensive List