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Books - Children, teensback to top

A Kid's Journey of Grief

Coloring and Activity Book For Grieving Military Kids

Authors: R.N. abd Jo Anne Chung, B.S.R.N Susan K. Beeney

Ages 5-12

Available through TAPS: If a child or children in your life have lost a loved one in the armed forces, please request a copy of A Kids Journey of Grief, TAPS Edition simply by letting us know your address, the ages of the children, and the name and branch of service of their loved one.

A Soldier's Star

The love and loss between a parent and child Author: Deborah Petty

Ages 4-8

A Soldier’s Star is a heartwarming story about a little boy who loses his father in the Iraqi war. He is devastated by the death of his father and finds himself to be very angry and hurt. But he soon finds out that their love is stronger than death, and with a little faith and a little hope some wishes do come true, even if they are only in your dreams. The little boy gets to see his father one last time and the lesson he learns from this very special visit will carry him thoughout his life. This story is based upon a real life little boy named Oliver who struggled to come to terms with his own father’s death in 2006.

Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins

A Journal for Teenagers Experiencing a Loss

Author: Enid Samuel Traisman

Teens can write letters, copy down meaningful lyrics, write songs and poems, tell the person who died what they want them to know, finish business and use their creativity to work through the grieving process.

Klinger

A Story of Honor and Hope

Author: Betsy Beard

This beautifully illustrated, full color, hardback children's book tells the story of a young horse dreaming of fame as a racehorse. But his life is disrupted when he must leave his parents and start a new life. Faced with difficulty and disappointment, Klinger’s dream of significance seems unattainable. He then discovers that fame is not necessary, as he finds fulfillment in honoring fallen heroes and bringing comfort to their families. Based on a real horse that serves in the Caisson Platoon in Arlington National Cemetery, this work of fiction was written for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors in honor of all of America's beloved fallen heroes.

Perch, Mrs. Sackets, and Crow's Nest

Author: Karen Pavlicin

Ages 9-12

When 10-year-old Andy Parker reluctantly goes to Grandma's house for the summer, all he can think about is how much he misses his dad in heaven and his best friend Anthony, who moved away. What will he do in this sleepy small town for the entire summer? But it turns out even cow dung can be interesting and something wonderful can come from rotten apples.

FROM THE BACK COVER: Mom called this my Summer of Courage. She said that when you need courage the most is when you realize what's happened in your life and you decide to get up the next morning anyway. Mom and I did our best to keep going, to have courage. We prayed a lot. Sometimes I wondered if God ever listened. I prayed real hard for my dad to get better, but he died. I prayed that Anthony would be my best friend forever, but that was going to be harder now that we didn't live next door to each other. And I prayed that Mom would learn to cook something besides hot dogs and jelly sandwiches. I closed my eyes and prayed for God to send me a sign. Any sign he was listening. He sent me perch, Mrs. Sackets, and crow's nest.

Somewhere Special

Author: Sarah L. White, M.S, M.F.T.

Somewhere Special takes the reader on a walk through a national cemetery and the funeral of a United States military member. There are pictures for all branches of service. The purpose of this book is to help prepare children for the symbolism and traditions they may experience and to show them that they are not alone. Somewhere Special is a book for families who have recently lost a military member as well as for those who have family members buried at our national cemeteries. This is one of many books showing support for our service members and their families.

The Hero in My Pocket

Author: Marlene Lee

Ages 4-8

The Hero in My Pocket gives children a voice in their grief. Suitable for 6-12 yr-olds, this unique book helps children honor their own thoughts, feelings, and memories while honoring the loss of a military service member: Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman, Coast Guardsman, or Merchant Marine. The book is not limited to widow or widower parent-loss; a child's grief for a fallen hero may be a parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt/uncle, cousin, step-relation or other relative, friend, teacher, et al. Design includes interactive HERO PAGES for the child to draw or write; family-centered military themes; and warm, patriotic artwork by children. Book can be used in individual or group settings.

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Books - Other back to top

After the Flag has been Folded

A Daughter Remembers the Father She Lost to War--and the Mother Who Held Her Family Together

Author: Karen Spears Zacharias

Karen Spears was nine years old, living with her family in a trailer in rural Tennessee, when her father, David Spears, was killed in the Ia Drang Valley in Vietnam. It was 1966 -- in a nation being torn apart by a war nobody wanted, in an emotionally charged Southern landscape stained with racism and bigotry -- and suddenly the care and well-being of three small children were solely in the hands of a frightened young widow with no skills and a ninth-grade education. But thanks to a mother's remarkable courage, strength, and stubborn tenacity, a family in the midst of chaos and in severe crisis miraculously pulled together to achieve its own version of the American Dream.

Beginning on the day Karen learns of her father's death and ending thirty years later with her pilgrimage to the battlefield where he died, half a world away from the family's hometown, After the Flag Has Been Folded is a triumphant tale of reconciliation between a daughter and her father, a daughter and her nation -- and a poignant remembrance of a mother's love and heroism.

A Grief Observed

Author: C.S. Lewis

''No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.'' This intensely personal journal, written by Lewis after the death of his wife, probes the ''mad midnight moments'' of his mourning; moments when he questioned his beliefs in life and death, marriage, and even God. With brief, poignant insights, Lewis puts into words the feelings and struggles we all go through when we've lost a loved one.

A Path Through Suffering

Discovering the relationship between God's mercy and our pain

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

In this powerfully moving book, Elisabeth Elliot does not hesitate to ask hard questions, to examine tenderly the hurts we suffer, and to explore boldly the nature of a God whose sovereign, intimate and perfect care for us confounds our finite understanding. It's a book for anyone searching for faith, comfort and assurance. It is an honest book about the way our merciful God draws us close to Himself and expands our capacity for surrender and obedience in order that we might finally and fully share in His Resurrection glory.

Believe

A young widow's journey through brokenness and back

Author: Jennifer Silvera, Copyright @ 2009

After Jennifer's husband, a police officer, died in a line of duty accident, grief upended her life. Believe follows the story of her long road out of darkness and her struggle to believe in anything after she'd lost everything. As she recounts her journey back into the light, Jennifer offers empathy and encouragement to those who have experienced loss, including those who have been widowed far too young. In Jennifer's story, readers can find reason to believe.

Heart of a Hawk

One Family's Sacrifice and Journey Toward Healing

Author: Deborah H. Tainsh

David and Deborah Tainsh were living the happiest years of their lives until the dark morning of February 12, 2004, when a six a.m. knock at the door brought the news that their son, Sergeant Patrick Tainsh, had been killed in Iraq. Patrick, David’s only child, was the pride of his life. He was the son who overcame a rebellious, drug-addicted youth to become an outstanding U.S. Army Cavalry Scout, posthumously awarded the Bronze and Silver Stars for saving the lives of his commanding officer and other soldiers before succumbing to his own wounds. In the wake of their loss, David and Deborah battle horrific grief and anger while trying to hold their marriage—and one another—together in an unforgettable journey toward healing.

I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye Companion Workbook

Surviving, Coping and Healing after the Sudden Death of a Loved One

Author: Noel Brook

Playaway Audio Book available at www.militaryonesource.com

Companion workbook to I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye, a classic book about bereavement. Comfort for those suffering the challenges of the sudden death of a loved one. Covers such difficult topics as the first few weeks, suicide, children and grief, funerals and rituals, physical effects, homicide and depression.

Lament for a Son

Author: Nicholas Wolterstorff

Lament for a Son is a simple, honest, and poignant expression of one man's grief, but it is more. By sharing the depths of his grief, not in trite phrases but honestly, Nicholas Wolterstorff helps open the floodgates for those who grieve and those who, in love, reach out to comfort. Wolterstorff's words are, indeed, 'salve on our wounds.' Thank God he did not remain silent. -- Henri J. M. Nouwen

Military Parents

We Regret to Inform You Author: Joanne M. Steen

www.military-parents.com

Joanne Steen, author, counselor and military survivor, once again responds to an unmet need with a trustworthy, vital and repeatedly asked-for resource. This upcoming and critically needed survival guide will help Gold Star mothers and fathers who bear the burden of living the ultimate sacrifice made by their sons and daughters.

The loss of a son or daughter is devastating under any circumstances, for no parent ever expects to outlive a child. But it becomes more complicated when the death occurs in the line of duty.

Military Widow

A Survival Guide Author: Joanne M. Steen, M. Regina Asaro

This survival guide for widows of service personnel, a first-of-its-kind, tackles the unique and complex issues arising from the death of a spouse in the military. It speaks to loss in each of the service branches, across the span of rank and rates, and offers invaluable insights and practical strategies for dealing with this life-altering tragedy. The authors expertly blend personal experience with guidance from leading experts on grief and traumatic loss and translate ten years of lessons learned into an effective guide. Short, easy-to-read chapters provide realistic profiles of widows and their responses to loss and the complications generated in the unique world of the military, as well as insight on how to make difficult decisions and cope with everyday situations. Although written primarily for the widow, this book will also prove useful to other family members, friends, and military professionals.

Sacred Shadow, Sacred Ground

A Vietnam War Widow's Journey Through Unresolved Grief Author: Glenda M. Carter

After losing her husband, Bruce, Sept. 11, 1968, who was killed in Vietnam, author Glenda M. Carter spent a large portion of her life with unresolved grief. At the beginning of the new millenium, Glenda began a journey that few have faced with such courage and resolve. Sacred Shadow, Sacred Ground is a chronicle of her journey. Glenda invites you to walk with her and perhaps find resolution to your own unresloved grief or conflict.

Surviving the Folded Flag

Parents of war share stories of coping, courage, and faith

Author: Deborah H. Tainsh

Author and Gold Star mom Deborah Tainsh has gathered essays from more than twenty-five parents who received the dreaded news that their child had died in military service. These invaluable stories show how today's military families are surviving the folded flag and give a glimpse into the lives of fallen service members and their families. Also includes advice for other Gold Star families, their friends, and family members.

Bonus essays from a casualty notification officer and a former soldier give deeper insight into how wartime death affects comrades left behind.

Walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death

Understanding Life after a Loved One's Death & Understanding How to Help the Bereaved Around Us

Author: Kimberly Rose Carolan

Walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death is a book about one of the most uncomfortable subjects people will face--death. Written from a Christian perspective, it relates to the anatomy of grief, bereavement, and what people around those who have tasted the death of a loved one may be looking for from their friends. Delving into what the Bible says about grief and what friends and survivors can do to effectively minister to those grieving, the books practical guidelines will help both grievers and those trying to help their bereaved friends and family overcome their loss.

Here are some books I found that deal with grief. For a more comprehensive listing, I suggest that you visit The American Widow Project or Military OneSource websites.

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To be directed to the COMPLETE LISTING of resources for Loved Ones of the Fallen, click HERE.

Resources for the loved ones of fallen warriors